This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
MIL (-9.5) vs. WAS, O/U: 238.5
SAC vs. CHA (-3.5), O/U: 239.5
NY vs. BKN (-8), O/U: 225
SA (-3.5) vs. DET, O/U: 219.5
IND vs. DEN (-5), O/U: 225.5
LAC (-1.5) vs. DAL, O/U: 227.5
MEM vs. PHX (-7), O/U: 228
LAL (-2.5) vs. GS, O/U: 222.5
Monday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. EDT and includes eight games. The Knicks are likely to be without Derrick Rose (COVID-19) and Elfrid Payton (hamstring) while the Clippers are playing on a back-to-back and could be missing Serge Ibaka (back).
The MIL-WAS and SAC-CHA matchups have significantly higher totals than the other six games and they also tip off earliest, as the games are staggered in blocks of two tonight. I would expect them to be popular especially because the opportunity cost of doing so seems to be lower than usual with the lack of significant news expected. The MIL-WAS matchup has a 238.5 total and features two of the premier spend-up options on the slate in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Russell Westbrook. The SAC-CHA matchup has a massive 240 total and both teams have affordable value options. Keep an eye out for the Clippers starting lineup as they are on a back-to-back.
Injuries to Monitor
DeMar DeRozan (personal): QUESTIONABLE
DeRozan missed yesterday's game after he attended the funeral of his father and his status for tonight is uncertain. Keldon Johnson ($5,000) and Trey Lyles ($3,900) started at the forward positions last time out.
Derrick Rose (COVID-19): OUT
Elfrid Payton (hamstring): DOUBTFUL
Rose will miss a fifth consecutive game as he remains in the league's health and safety protocols, while Payton will sit out for sixth time in eight games as he continues to deal with a lingering hamstring injury. Frank Ntilikina ($3,000) has been starting at point guard while Immanuel Quickley ($5,600) has seen increased run off the bench.
Serge Ibaka (back): QUESTIONABLE
Ibaka left yesterday's game due to back tightness and his status for tonight remains uncertain. Ivica Zubac ($4,600) would likely start at center if he were to sit.
Elite Players
Center:
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,100)
Giannis is the most expensive player on the slate tonight. He has posted back-to-back triple doubles and is coming off 70.75 DK points in the same matchup against the Wizards on Saturday. Tonight's game has a whopping 238.5 total and it's a prime spot for Giannis as the Wizards don't have anyone who can contain him. Nikola Jokic ($10,700) is the other elite option at center. He continues to be incredibly consistent as he flirts with triple-doubles nearly every game while he has topped 70 DK points in two of his last five games. I prefer spending up for Giannis tonight based on matchup and higher ceiling, but if Jokic is going to be considerably less popular, he would make for a good pivot.
Guard:
James Harden ($11,000)
Harden has recorded triple-doubles in three of his last four games as he continues to run the show in the absence of Kevin Durant. He's consistently been playing upwards of 40 minutes per night and at his usage rate, those minutes give him the safest floor and highest ceiling of all the guards. He will continue to be my preferred spend-up option as long as Durant remains sidelined.
Luka Doncic ($10,600), Russell Westbrook ($10,500) and Stephen Curry ($10,000) round out the guards with five-figure salaries on tonight's slate. Doncic has struggled a bit of late as he's topped 60 DK points just once in his last five games. Westbrook is coming off a massive 80.5 DK point performance against the Bucks on Saturday, and the two teams will run it back tonight in a game that features a 238.5 total. Curry has put up 60 DK points just once in his last 10 games and would be a contrarian option in a matchup against the Lakers. Out of these three, I would lean towards Westbrook based on matchup but keep in mind that Bradley Beal will return tonight after sitting out Saturday, and that could sap some of Westbrook's usage.
Forward:
LeBron James ($10,300)
James is coming off another dud Friday as he continues to be inconsistent in the absence of Anthony Davis. He has failed to reach 42 DK points in three of his last five games while topping 60 in just two of his last 10. With more appealing spend-up options at other positions, he could go somewhat overlooked tonight, thus making him more viable in a matchup against the Warriors.
Expected Chalk
Chalk is difficult to project tonight without knowing starting lineups but I will speculate about a couple of players that will be popular if they start.
Josh Jackson ($5,400)
Wayne Ellington (groin) is doubtful and Dennis Smith (COVID-19) isn't likely to play either. If Jackson starts at shooting guard I'd expect him to be one of the more popular mid-range options on the slate. If Rodney McGruder ($3,400) gets the start instead, then I'd expect him to be a relatively popular cheap value option.
Ivica Zubac ($4,600)
Serge Ibaka left yesterday's game with a back injury and Zubac started the second half at center in his place. If he starts tonight, I'd expect him to be popular as he averages over a fantasy point per minute for the season.
Value Picks
Draymond Green ($6,500)
Green has seen a significant drop in salary for no obvious reason. He's coming off a triple-double that saw him put up 56.5 DK points last time out and he has a favorable matchup against the Lakers without Anthony Davis tonight.
Richaun Holmes ($6,400)
Holmes has scored at least 38 DK points in three consecutive games while playing 35 minutes in each of his last two. The SAC-CHA matchup features the highest total on the slate tonight.
RJ Barrett ($6,200)
Barrett should see a slight usage bump as the Knicks are likely to be without both Derrick Rose and Elfrid Payton. He's coming off a stand-out performance that saw him put up 49.75 DK points, and tonight's matchup against the Nets is a pace-up spot.
Delon Wright ($5,600)
The Pistons will be short-handed at guard with Wayne Ellington and Dennis Smith both likely to be sidelined. Wright has seen a drop in salary since coming back from injury Mar. 11th and should get some extra usage tonight.
Immanuel Quickley ($5,600)
Quickley should see plenty of run tonight with Rose and Payton likely out for the Knicks. He's coming off 35.75 DK points in 33 minutes last time out.
Will Barton ($5,300)
Barton will likely get another start at shooing guard with Monte Morris ruled out again. He's scored 35 DK points in three of his last four games and played 36 minutes last time out.
