This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
CHI vs. HOU (-1), O/U: 227.5
MEM vs. DAL (-5), O/U: 231.5
CHA vs. UTA (-12), O/U: 228.5
MIA (-4.5) vs. OKC, O/U: 213.5
POR vs. PHX (-6.5), O/U: 230
WAS vs. LAL (-6.5), O/U: 226
Monday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 8:00 p.m. EST and includes six games. Victor Oladipo and DeMarcus Cousins are listed as questionable for the Rockets. Oladipo isn't expected to play while Cousins' status is up in the air as he's dealing with a heel injury after the Rockets announced plans to trade the center over the weekend. The Lakers will be without Anthony Davis and Dennis Schroder.
The CHI-HOU matchup seems like a decent game to target. The Rockets are already missing multiple key players and the DeMarcus Cousins news will have an impact on the slate whichever way it goes. John Wall and Zach LaVine are both appealing options and there is viable cheap value on the Rockets side tonight for a game that should be fast paced and competitive. The CHA-UTA matchup could be one to fade. The Jazz are 12-point favorites and fully healthy while the Hornets backcourt has been priced up, making neither side overly desirable. Avoiding a likely blowout on a six-game slate when there are other appealing targets is rarely a bad option.
Injuries to Monitor
Anthony Davis (calf/Achilles): OUT
Davis is facing a four-week recovery timetable according to head coach Frank Vogel. Kyle Kuzma ($6,700) has been starting at power forward in his place.
Victor Oladipo (foot): QUESTIONABLE
According to head coach Stephen Silas, Oladipo is considered doubtful and likely to miss his fourth consecutive game. Eric Gordon ($6,300) should continue to start at shooting guard.
DeMarcus Cousins (heel): QUESTIONABLE
Cousins is listed as questionable with a heel injury after the Rockets announced their intent to trade him over the weekend. They don't have any other healthy centers so if he's unable to go tonight, Danuel House ($4,700) and P.J. Tucker ($3,500) would likely start in the frontcourt.
Tyler Herro (hip): QUESTIONABLE
Herro bruised his hip Saturday and is considered questionable for tonight. If he's unable to play, Gabe Vincent ($3,200) would likely see extra run off the bench.
Dennis Schroder (COVID-19): OUT
Schroder will miss at least the next two games due to the league's health and safety protocols. Wesley Matthews ($3,700) started in his place last time out.
Dillon Brooks (thigh): OUT
Brooks will miss his third consecutive game tonight. Grayson Allen ($5,200) will likely start at shooting guard while De'Anthony Melton ($5,000) and Desmond Bane ($3,900) will see run off the bench.
Elite Players
Guard:
Luka Doncic ($11,400) is the most expensive player on the slate. He's seen his salary hit a season high after three consecutive games of at least 64.5 DK points. Damian Lillard ($10,900) has a similar story as he's topped 61 DK points in each of his last three games and has also seen his salary hit a high point for the season. LeBron James ($10,400) and Russell Westbrook ($10,100) round out the players with five-figure salaries on tonight's slate. James has put up at least 51 DK points in four of the past five games while shooting just 4-for-27 from three-point range. Westbrook has notched three consecutive triple-doubles. Point guard will be the popular position to pay up for tonight as there aren't any elite options at center. Of this group, I prefer Doncic from a raw points perspective, but I like the Lakers matchup against the Wizards so saving $1000 and rostering LeBron is appealing as well.
Forward:
Jimmy Butler ($9,200) has scored at least 50 DK points in five of his last seven games. He's the only player on tonight's slate with a salary in the 9K range. LeBron is the only other elite option at small forward so I'd expect them both to be popular. Kristaps Porzingis ($8,500) is the only player with power forward eligibility that has a salary above $7,100. He's had a couple big games recently and I think rostering him at PF makes sense because a ceiling game would provide bigger leverage due to positional scarcity.
Center:
Bam Adebayo ($8,800) is the most expensive center. He's put up at least 40 DK points in five consecutive games while topping 50 once in that span. Popularity at the position will likely be spread around with no truly elite options to choose from. I prefer paying down here and using the salary to spend up at guard.
Expected Chalk
There isn't really any chalk jumping off the page the way things stand, but there is news to monitor in Houston that could change that. The Rockets are likely to be without Victor Oladipo again and DeMarcus Cousins ($6,400) is listed as questionable with a heel injury after it was announced over the weekend that they intend to trade the center. The Rockets don't have any healthy centers besides Cousins so if he were to sit, House and Tucker would get plenty of attention. So would John Wall, who along with Gordon would have all the usage to themselves. If Cousins plays, his salary is appealing for a player who averages well over a fantasy point per minute and could be showcasing his potential trade value.
LeBron will be a popular spend-up option at small forward due to positional scarcity, the Lakers being without AD and Schroder, and a matchup against a bad Wizards defense.
Value Picks
John Wall ($8,000)
Wall has been impressive for the short-handed Rockets and they have a favorable matchup against the Bulls tonight. He's seen at least 35 minutes in three of the last four and has back-to-back games of 45.75 and 52.75 DK points.
Chris Paul ($7,800)
Paul has topped 47 DK points in four of his last six games with the two exceptions being blowouts. The Suns have a prime matchup against the Blazers tonight
Rudy Gobert ($7,400)
Gobert is the third-most expensive center on the slate but he can be rostered for considerably cheaper than Adebayo and Porzingis. He has two 50-point outings in his last five games and the Jazz are big favorites tonight.
Kendrick Nunn ($5,700)
Nunn continues to see big minutes and the Heat are still without Goran Dragic while Herro is listed as questionable for tonight. Nunn has seen at least 40 minutes in three of the last six games and he's put up at least 34 DK points three times in the same span.
Darius Bazley ($5,600)
Bazley has seen his salary hit a 10-game low and the Thunder could be without Al Horford for the second game of a back-to-back tonight. If Horford were to rest, Isaiah Roby ($4,900) would be a decent value option as well.
