This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
DAL (-7) vs. ORL, O/U: 223.5
IND vs. PHI (-5.5), O/U: 223.5
DEN (-5.5) vs. CHI, O/U: 230.5
UTA (-7) vs. NO, O/U: 235
BKN (-3.5) vs. SA, O/U: 234.5
CLE vs. HOU (-4.5), O/U: 217.5
CHA vs. POR (-7.5), O/U: 235.5
Monday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and includes seven games. Kevin Durant remains out until after the All-Star break. Joel Embiid, Malcolm Brogdon, Gordon Hayward and Tobias Harris are listed as questionable. The Spurs are still missing players due to the league's health and safety protocols. The are seven players with five-figure salaries and not much for cheap value as things stand, so it could be beneficial to use a more balanced roster construction tonight.
The CHA-POR matchup would be a good option to target. It features the highest total on the slate and is also the last game of the night. Hayward is listed as questionable and there would be some value on the Hornets side should he sit. Damian Lillard and LaMelo Ball are appealing spend-up options with ceiling potential in a game that should be fast paced and high scoring. The CLE-HOU matchup could be one to fade. The Rockets have been bad and unpredictable while players who had previously been appealing from the Cavs side, such as Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, have seen significant salary bumps. Not to mention, it also has the lowest total on the slate.
Injuries to Monitor
Joel Embiid (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Embiid is listed as questionable with an ankle injury after playing 40 minutes Saturday. If he were to sit tonight, Dwight Howard ($3,500) and Tony Bradley ($3,000) would see increased run.
Kevin Durant (hamstring): OUT
Durant will not play before the All-Star break. Bruce Brown ($5,400) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot ($3,800) should continue to have expanded roles in his absence.
Malcolm Brogdon (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Brogdon missed his first game of the season Saturday and is listed as questionable for tonight. T.J. McConnell ($6,100) played 46 minutes in his absence.
Tobias Harris (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Harris missed Saturday's game with a bruised knee and is listed as questionable for tonight. Furkan Korkmaz ($3,700) got the start in his absence while Shake Milton ($4,500) saw increased run off the bench.
Gordon Hayward (hand): QUESTIONABLE
Hayward has missed three consecutive games and is listed as questionable for tonight. Jalen McDaniels ($3,100) started in his place last time out while Miles Bridges ($4,800) saw increased minutes off the bench.
Keldon Johnson (COVID-19): QUESTIONABLE
Johnson has missed the past two games due to the league's health and safety protocols and is listed questionable for tonight. Trey Lyles ($4,400) has seen an expanded role in his absence.
Derrick White and Rudy Gay (COVID-19): OUT
White and Gay will each miss their third consecutive game tonight, but there is hope they could return before the All-Star break. Lonnie Walker ($5,000) has been starting at shooting guard while Patty Mills ($4,700) has seen increased run off the bench.
Elite Players
Guard:
James Harden ($11,000)
Harden is the most expensive player on the slate. He's coming off consecutive underwhelming performances after only playing 33 minutes in each of the last two games as the Nets have been involved in blowouts. Prior to those two duds, Harden had regularly been scoring upwards of 70 DK points without Durant on the floor.
Damian Lillard ($10,400)
Lillard has put up at least 60 DK points in three of his last six games. Tonight's matchup against the Hornets is a favorable one as it features the highest total on the slate. Luka Doncic ($10,700) is the other elite guard option. He's failed to top 50 DK points in five of his last 10 games. With Kristaps Porzingis back in the lineup and a slower-paced matchup against Orlando, I prefer Harden and Lillard.
Center:
Nikola Jokic ($10,800)
Jokic continues to be incredibly consistent as he's topped 56 DK points in eight of his last nine games. The Nuggets have a favorable matchup against the Bulls, who specifically struggle with size. He's my preferred spend-up option at center.
Joel Embiid ($10,600)
Keep an eye on Embiid's status, as he's listed as questionable due to an ankle injury. He's coming off 74.25 DK points in 40 minutes Saturday and, assuming he's healthy, I'll have interest. Usually players are less popular when they have a questionable tag next to their name, and that's always appealing too.
Nikola Vucevic ($10,200)
Vucevic continues to show up with ceiling games for the short-handed Magic, as he's scored at least 60 DK points in four of his last 10 games. He's playing big minutes and taking mid-20s shots per game. The Magic will need him to play well if they're going to stay competitive with the Mavericks.
Expected Chalk
There really isn't any glaring chalk as things stand but I will speculate on where it could come from. Embiid is listed as questionable and if he were to sit, Dwight Howard ($3,500) would likely be a popular value option as he's been solid off the bench recently. Brogdon is also listed as questionable and if he were to sit, McConnell would likely be a popular mid-range play. Brogdon missed his first game of the season Saturday and McConnell put up 46.5 DK points while playing 46 minutes as he rarely left the floor. Hayward is listed as questionable after missing three consecutive games and if he were to sit, Bridges could be a popular value play. If we don't get any injury absences, DeMar DeRozan ($8,400) will likely be a popular option at small forward. The Spurs are still undermanned, the matchup against the Nets is ideal and there are no elite spend-up options at the position.
Value Picks
Kristaps Porzingis ($8,200)
Porzingis is listed as probable after returning from a three-game absence due to back stiffness Saturday. He could go overlooked.
Michael Porter ($7,000)
The Nuggets are still short-handed in the frontcourt and have a favorable matchup against the Bulls. Porter has seen a salary increase after hitting value in three consecutive games, but he should see big minutes if the game stays competitive.
Coby White ($6,300)
White has scored at least 30 DK points in four consecutive games. There isn't much that stands out for value at guard tonight but he would make sense opposite Jokic or Porter.
Wendell Carter ($5,800)
Carter has a tough matchup against the Nuggets but he should see plenty of minutes trying to contain Jokic and Porter.
Eric Bledsoe ($5,300)
Bledsoe has finally started to show some signs of life. He's topped 30 DK points in back-to-back games and has seen at least 33 minutes in three consecutive. His salary is favorable, especially on a slate that doesn't have much value.
