This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
HOU (-1.5) vs. CHA, O/U: 220.5
TOR (-3) vs. MEM, O/U: 224.5
WAS vs. CHI (-2.5), O/U: 237.5
GS vs. SA (-1), O/U: 233
MIN vs. DAL (-8.5), O/U: 223.5
CLE vs. PHX (-6.5), O/U: 216.5
MIL (-4.5) vs. DEN, O/U: 229.5
OKC vs. LAL (-12), O/U: 216.5
Monday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and includes eight games. Christian Wood has already been ruled out and Anthony Davis is expected to rest. Russell Westbrook hasn't played a back-to-back all season but could be available tonight. Lauri Markkanen is doubtful while D'Angelo Russell, Jamal Murray and Devonte' Graham are listed as questionable. The Bucks and Nuggets will face off in the marquee matchup of the night.
The WAS-CHI matchup features two bad defenses and the highest total on the slate. Keep an eye on the status of Westbrook, who has been resting on back-to-backs but could play tonight. If he sits, Bradley Beal would be a popular spend-up option while Raul Neto would be a chalky value play. If Westbrook plays, I like the Chicago side as they'll be short-handed and all their main pieces are affordable. The DEN-MIL matchup is another good target. The game should be fast-paced and competitive, making Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo the two most appealing spend-up options on the slate.
Injuries to Monitor
Karl-Anthony Towns (COVID-19): DOUBTFUL
Towns has missed the past 12 games due to the league's COVID protocols and is unlikely to play tonight. Naz Reid ($6,000) should continue to start at center.
Anthony Davis (leg): QUESTIONABLE
Davis is expected to sit out tonight for rest purposes. Kyle Kuzma ($5,200) will likely step into the starting lineup.
Christian Wood (ankle): OUT
Wood will miss his second consecutive game and could miss extended time due to a right ankle sprain. DeMarcus Cousins ($7,100) will start in his place.
Russell Westbrook (rest): QUESTIONABLE
Westbrook hasn't played both halves of a back-to-back all season but he could be available tonight. If he were to sit, Ish Smith ($5,000) and Raul Neto ($3,000) would see increased run.
D'Angelo Russell (quad): QUESTIONABLE
Russell missed Saturday's game with quad soreness and is listed as questionable for tonight. If he sits tonight, Ricky Rubio ($5,300) would be in line for another start.
Jamal Murray (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Murray missed Saturday's game with knee soreness and is listed as questionable for tonight. If he sits tonight, Monte Morris ($5,100) would likely start again.
Lauri Markkanen (shoulder): DOUBTFUL
Markkanen missed Saturday's game due to a shoulder sprain and is listed as doubtful for tonight. Denzel Valentine ($4,800) could get another start in his place.
Devonte' Graham (groin): QUESTIONABLE
Graham sat out yesterday after injuring his groin in Friday's game. If he sits tonight, LaMelo Ball ($8,300) and Terry Rozier ($6,300) would start at the guard positions.
Theo Maledon (health and safety): OUT
Maledon is listed as out tonight due to the league's health and safety protocols. Hamidou Diallo ($6,000) will likely start at shooting guard.
Elite Players
Nikola Jokic ($11,100) and Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,900) sit atop the list of centers tonight. Jokic is coming off Saturday's career-high 50 points that saw him rack up 88.5 DK points. He continues to be the most consistent of the elite players, as that monster performance upped his season average to 60 DK points per game. Giannis has put up at least 60 DK points in five of the past seven games with two blowouts contributing to his "off" nights. It's a good matchup for both as they will face each other in a game that should be competitive. Jokic could come in slightly less popular as DeMarcus Cousins ($7,100) will be a chalky option at center, while Giannis can be rostered at power forward.
Luka Doncic ($11,000), LeBron James ($10,500) and Stephen Curry ($10,300) are the guards with five-figure salaries on tonight's slate. Doncic and Curry are coming off an epic dual that saw both players score over 70 DK points, with Curry dropping 57 real points in the process. Doncic has a great matchup against a bad Minnesota defense. Curry also has a favorable matchup against the Spurs in a game that should be fast-paced and competitive. LeBron has seen a slight increase in salary after consecutive 60 DK point outings. Normally I wouldn't have much interest in this spot as the Lakers are 12-point favorites against the Thunder, but Anthony Davis is expected to sit out tonight and LeBron should see a bump in usage. I have interest in all three players tonight, but if I had to choose one, I'd avoid the chance of a blowout, save some salary, and pick Curry.
Bradley Beal ($9,000) and Zach LaVine ($8,900) round out the elite guards. Beal would be a popular option if Russell Westbrook were to sit tonight. The WAS-CHI matchup is an appealing target as it features bad defenses and the slate's highest total. If Westbrook ends up playing, I would have more interest in LaVine.
Expected Chalk
DeMarcus Cousins ($7,100)
Christian Wood will miss a second consecutive game and Cousins is always a popular play in his absence. DraftKings did raise his salary, but for a player who averages 1.34 DK points per minute, it's still not high enough. Cousins is projected for low 30s minutes, making him a safe value option with a good chance for a ceiling game. He will be popular in all contests tonight.
If Russell Westbrook ends up sitting out, Raul Neto ($3,000) has a minimum salary and would be a popular option.
Value Picks
LaMelo Ball ($8,300) and Terry Rozier ($6,300)
This is contingent on the status of Devonte' Graham, who is listed as questionable, but if he sits Ball and Rozier will play the bulk of the minutes at guard. Ball has seen a significant salary increase that could scare some managers away, but he still projects for mid-30s minutes and always carries a high ceiling.
John Wall ($7,400)
Wall is coming off 41.5 DK points in 32 minutes last time out. The minutes increase is encouraging as his salary is still very affordable. Cousins will be chalky in the same game and Wall could be used as a pivot for leverage or even in a game stack.
Devin Booker ($7,400)
Booker has seen his salary drop to a season low and it's now at a point where it makes sense to take some shots with him. He's coming off 47.75 DK points in 38 minutes last time out, and the Suns have a favorable matchup against the Cavs tonight.
Hamidou Diallo ($6,000)
Diallo dropped back to the bench last game but still played 31 minutes and scored 30.5 DK points. He should be back in the starting lineup tonight with Theo Maledon having already been ruled out.
Kyle Kuzma ($5,200)
With Anthony Davis expected to sit, Kuzma will likely step into the starting lineup. He put up 39 DK points in 30 minutes the last time he started in place of Davis.
Patrick Williams ($5,100) and Denzel Valentine ($4,800)
Lauri Markkanen is doubtful after missing Saturday's game while Otto Porter is also still out. Valentine started last game and played 37 minutes, dropping 33.75 DK points. Williams has played mid-30s minutes each of the last three games and has had consecutive outings of at least 33 DK points. The Bulls also have a great matchup against a bad Wizards defense.
