This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
CHI vs. IND (-5.5), O/U: 229
HOU vs. WAS (-1.5), O/U: 228.5
ATL (-1.5) vs. NY, O/U: 216.5
PHI vs. UTA (-6.5), O/U: 227.5
BKN (-4.5) vs. SAC, O/U: 237.5
CLE vs. GS (-8), O/U: 224.5
MIA vs. LAC (-5.5), O/U: 220.5
Monday's DraftKings NBA slate tips of at 7:00 p.m. EST and includes seven games. Kevin Durant will miss the next two games for Brooklyn. Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook are listed as questionable. Embiid seems to be truly questionable and could be a game-time decision, but Leonard is expected to play after sitting out the front end of a back-to-back yesterday. Westbrook's availability seems iffy, as he hasn't played on consecutive days all season.
The BKN-SAC game should be a popular target. The Nets will be without Durant and that means James Harden and Kyrie Irving would be popular spend-up options regardless of matchup, but tonight's game against the Kings is particularly favorable. There are multiple intriguing options on the Kings side as well, considering the Nets have the worst defense in the league since the Harden trade. The HOU-WAS matchup is another appealing target, especially if the Wizards are without Westbrook. Bradley Beal would be a popular spend-up option in his absence. The Rockets are missing Victor Oladipo and that should give a bump to John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Gordon, who would've been in a good spot anyway against a bad Washington defense.
Injuries to Monitor
Joel Embiid (back): QUESTIONABLE
Embiid is listed as questionable for tonight with back tightness. If he were to sit, Dwight Howard ($3,600) and Tony Bradley ($3,000) would see increased run.
Kawhi Leonard (leg): QUESTIONABLE
Leonard sat out yesterday with a lower-leg bruise and is listed as questionable for tonight. Lou Williams ($6,400) got his first start of the season in his absence.
Russell Westbrook (possible rest): QUESTIONABLE
Coach Scott Brooks said the team has yet to determine Westbrook's status for the second half of a back-to-back tonight. If he were to sit, Raul Neto ($4,600) and Troy Brown ($3,200) should see increased minutes.
Kevin Durant (hamstring): OUT
Durant will miss the next two games with a mild hamstring strain. Jeff Green ($5,100), Bruce Brown ($4,100) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot ($3,600) will see increased roles in his absence.
Paul George (toe): QUESTIONABLE
George has missed the last five games and is listed as questionable for tonight. Reggie Jackson ($4,900) has been starting in his place.
Victor Oladipo (foot): OUT
Oladipo will miss a second consecutive game due to a foot injury he sustained Thursday. Eric Gordon ($6,400) will get another start at shooting guard.
Mike Conley (hamstring): OUT
Conley will miss a fifth consecutive game tonight. Joe Ingles ($5,700) will start in his place.
Wendell Carter (quad): QUESTIONABLE
Carter has been out for a month with a bruised quad, but he practiced fully Sunday and is listed as questionable for tonight. Thaddeus Young ($6,100) and Daniel Gafford ($3,300) have seen increased roles in his absence.
Mitchell Robinson (hand): OUT
Robinson will undergo surgery and miss 4-6 weeks. Nerlens Noel ($4,600) and Taj Gibson ($3,300) could have expanded roles in his absence.
Elite Players
James Harden ($10,700) and Joel Embiid ($10,500) are the only two players with five-figure salaries on tonight's slate. The Nets will be without Kevin Durant and have a favorable matchup against the Kings. Embiid seems to be truly questionable and could miss a tough matchup against the Jazz. Harden is the top spend-up option on the slate and I'd expect him to be very popular, especially considering that there are cheap value options at center.
Kawhi Leonard ($9,600) is the elite forward option tonight. He's listed as questionable after sitting out Sunday's game with a lower-leg bruise but is expected to play. Kawhi has been great in the absence of Paul George, who has missed the last five games and is also listed as questionable. Assuming George sits again, I'll have interest in Leonard and he could be somewhat forgotten about with the Nets game drawing so much attention.
Stephen Curry ($9,900), Trae Young ($9,500), Zach LaVine ($9,200) and Kyrie Irving ($9,000) make up the guards in the 9K range. I left out Russell Westbrook at $9,400 because he isn't likely to play the second night of a back-to-back and I wouldn't have interest on this slate even if he was playing. Curry has seen his salary drop under 10K for the first time in five games and the Warriors are big favorites against the Cavs tonight. Young is coming off consecutive sub-par games and the Hawks face a relatively stingy Knicks defense. LaVine always has a ceiling game in him and won't be popular at all given the other appealing options at guard. Kyrie would be my pick from this group, as the Nets will be without Durant and have a favorable matchup against the Kings. I'd expect him to be a popular option, so rostering anyone else in this range would give a lineup significant leverage.
Expected Chalk
James Harden ($10,700) and Kyrie Irving ($9,000)
The Nets will be without Durant and they have a great matchup against the Kings. Harden has put up at least 60 DK points in five of his last eight games. Kyrie scored 58 DK points the last time Durant sat. Both guards can expect a slight bump in usage with an increase in shot attempts.
Bradley Beal ($8,900)
Westbrook is listed as questionable for the second night of a back-to-back against the Rockets. He hasn't played on consecutive days all season and if he sits tonight, Beal will be a popular spend-up option. His salary has dropped significantly and is now at a point that he's just too cheap for what his role is without Westbrook on the floor.
Value Picks
John Wall ($7,500)
The Rockets will be without Victor Oladipo. Wall is back to playing mid-30's minutes and tonight's matchup against the Wizards is a favorable one. Eric Gordon ($6,400) benefits most from Oladipo's absence and is another appealing mid-range option at guard.
DeMarcus Cousins ($6,200)
Cousins has seen a significant drop in salary after a few blowouts limited his minutes and production. The Rockets are in a great spot against the Wizards tonight and he could go somewhat overlooked due to recency bias.
Nerlens Noel ($4,400)
Noel will start his second consecutive game in place of the injured Mitchell Robinson. He put up 23 DK points in 32 minutes and should see significant run again tonight.
Bruce Brown ($4,100)
Brown is likely to see an expanded role in the absence of KD. He's scored at least 25 DK points in three of the past five games. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot ($3,600) should see more minutes as well and is another decent value option in this range.
Moritz Wagner ($3,200)
Wagner made his first start of the season yesterday and scored 24.5 DK points in 22 minutes. It was almost out of nowhere as he hadn't been seeing much playing time recently. If he's announced as the starter again tonight, I'd expect him to be a popular value play at center.
