This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
CHA vs. MIA (-4.5), O/U: 218.5
LAL (-5.5) vs. ATL, O/U: 220.5
HOU (-5) vs. OKC, O/U: 224
MIN vs. CLE (-5.5), O/U: 217.5
NY vs. CHI (-4), O/U: 218
POR vs. MIL (-9.5), O/U: 235.5
SAC vs. NO (-3.5), O/U: 233
MEM vs. SA (-3.5), O/U: 221.5
PHX vs. DAL (-1.5), O/U: 219.5
DET vs. DEN (-9.5), O/U: 220.5
Monday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:30 p.m. EST and includes 10 games. Karl-Anthony Towns is listed as a game-time decision after being out since testing positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 15th. Devin Booker and Tyler Herro are also questionable. The news of the night will be the status of Terry Rozier, who left Saturday's game with a sprained ankle and is listed as questionable for tonight. If he were to sit, expect LaMelo Ball to be the chalk of the slate.
The SAC-NO matchup is an appealing target. The game has a 233 total and no player from either side has a salary over $8,300. POR-MIL features the slate's highest total, and if the game stays competitive it should produce some big fantasy scores. As far as games to fade, I will look to avoid the PHX-DAL matchup unless I'm rostering Luka Doncic, and the DET-DEN matchup if I'm not building around Nikola Jokic. The Mavericks are fully healthy after being short-handed for most of the season while the Nuggets are the biggest favorites on the slate. With 10 games to choose from, I prefer targeting matchups that project to be competitive and feature multiple players with appealing salaries.
Injuries to Monitor
LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (quad): QUESTIONABLE
James and Davis have their usual questionable tags. LeBron hasn't missed a game this season while Davis sat out Friday but returned Saturday. If Davis were to sit tonight, Kyle Kuzma ($4,900) would likely start.
Karl-Anthony Towns (COVID-19): QUESTIONABLE
Towns is nearing a return after testing positive Jan. 15th. He's listed as a game-time decision tonight. Naz Reid ($5,800) had been starting in his place but he's also listed as questionable after missing Sunday's game with a wrist injury. Ed Davis ($3,800) got the start last time out.
Trae Young (knee): PROBABLE
Young has been dealing with left knee soreness but should be fine for tonight.
Devin Booker (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
Booker has missed four consecutive games but has a chance to return tonight. Jae Crowder ($5,700) has been starting in his place.
Tyler Herro (COVID-19): QUESTIONABLE
Someone that Herro lives with tested positive and his status for tonight is in doubt. If he were to sit, Kendrick Nunn ($6,000) would be in line for increased run.
Jonas Valanciunas (COVID-19): OUT
Valanciunas will be unavailable for the third straight game. Xavier Tillman ($4,800) should continue to start at center.
Goran Dragic (groin): QUESTIONABLE
Dragic has missed the past three games with a groin strain. Kendrick Nunn ($6,000) has seen increased run in his absence.
De'Andre Hunter (knee): OUT
Hunter underwent an MRI after leaving Friday's game early with a knee injury and will be evaluated next week. Cam Reddish ($4,800) and Danilo Gallinari ($5,000) could see extra run.
Terry Rozier (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Rozier left Saturday's game early after spraining his ankle. LaMelo Ball ($6,500) and Malik Monk ($3,300) would be in line for increased minutes if Rozier were to miss tonight's game.
Steven Adams (calf): QUESTIONABLE
Adams left Sunday's game early with tightness in his calf. Jaxson Hayes ($4,000) could see more minutes if Adams were to sit.
Gary Harris (thigh): QUESTIONABLE
Harris left Sunday's game early with an abductor strain in his thigh. If he misses tonight's action, Monte Morris ($3,800) could be in line for increased minutes.
Derrick Jones (foot): OUT
Jones will miss a second consecutive game tonight with a sprained foot. Gary Trent ($5,700), Carmelo Anthony ($4,900), Rodney Hood ($3,400) and Nassir Little ($3,100) could see extra run in his absence.
Elite Players
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,000), Nikola Jokic ($10,900), Luka Doncic ($10,800), Damian Lillard ($10,700) and LeBron James ($10,200) are the five players with five-figure salaries on tonight's slate. Giannis has posted three straight games of at least 63 DK points. Jokic is coming off a monster 77 DK point performance yesterday but Denver are big favorites against Detroit tonight. Doncic has struggled of late, failing to top 50 DK points in each of the past three games and will face a tough Suns defense for the second game in a row. Lillard put up 67.75 DK points and hit the game-winning shot Saturday but will face a stiffer test in Jrue Holiday tonight. With the exception of his 75 DK point outburst against Cleveland last week, LeBron hasn't eclipsed 60 DK points in any of the past 10 games. I will likely be spending up at center tonight due to the limited value at the position and available value at guard and forward. Of this group and for that reason, I prefer Giannis and Jokic.
Anthony Davis ($9,800), Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,800), Bam Adebayo ($9,400) and Julius Randle ($9,200) are the center options with salaries in the 9K range. Davis and Towns are both listed as questionable but I'd have interest in both, assuming Towns isn't on some type of minutes restriction. I can't see myself spending $9,400 on Adebayo now that Jimmy Butler is back. Randle has seen a slight decline in usage as the Knicks have gotten healthier and I think there are better options on a 10-game slate. Assuming all four play tonight, my pick would be Davis in a favorable matchup against Atlanta.
Trae Young ($9,300) and Zach LaVine ($9,000) round out the elite options at guard. Young has been incredibly consistent, scoring at least 50 DK points in seven straight games. It's somewhat surprising that he hasn't seen a salary increase. LaVine always has upside, but a matchup against the stingy Knicks defense might not be the best spot. I have interest in Young but there are appealing cheaper options at guard tonight and spending down could be the better route.
Expected Chalk
LaMelo Ball ($6,500)
Terry Rozier is listed as questionable after leaving Saturday's game early with a sprained ankle and if he sits tonight, LaMelo will be the chalk of the slate. Minutes have been the only thing holding Ball back this season, but he played 31 on Saturday and put up 55.25 DK points. I will be comfortable locking him in tonight assuming Rozier is unavailable.
Lonzo Ball ($5,500)
If Rozier plays and we don't get the LaMelo chalk, his brother Lonzo will be popular. The Pelicans have a great matchup against the Kings and Ball fills up the stat sheet in a myriad of ways. $5,500 seems like a bargain for a player who was priced in the mid to upper 6K range prior to his injury.
Value Picks
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($8,100)
Though he may not have quite the ceiling that the other elite guards possess, Gilgeous-Alexander has a similar median projection and can be rostered for significantly less salary. The Thunder are in good spot, at home against the Rockets tonight.
Victor Oladipo ($8,000)
Oladipo is coming off 41.5 DK points in just 25 minutes Saturday. He seems to be thriving in Houston and they have a favorable matchup against the Thunder tonight.
John Collins ($7,300)
Collins is a player who could get overlooked on a 10-game slate, but the Hawks will be facing a big Lakers front court without De'Andre Hunter. Collins has topped 41 DK points in three of the past six games and should get a slight usage bump and plenty of minutes tonight.
Robert Covington ($5,000)
Covington hasn't been very good this season but Derrick Jones will be out again and there isn't much for cheap value as things stand. He should see big minutes in a matchup against the Bucks that features the highest total on the slate.
Xavier Tillman ($4,800)
Jonas Valanciunas will be unavailable for the third straight game. Tillman was chalky last time out but a $1,300 salary increase will make him less so tonight. He still offers good value, especially at center, where pay-down options are few and far between.
