This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
SAC (-4) vs. CLE, O/U: 225
OKC vs. MIN (-1.5), O/U: 226.5
CHA vs. SA (-5.5), O/U: 225.5
BOS vs. MEM (-1.5), O/U: 221.5
IND vs. MIL (-5.5), O/U: 228.5
TOR (-8.5) vs. HOU, O/U: 223.5
UTA (-8.5) vs. CHI, O/U: 230.5
ATL vs. LAC (-6.5), O/U: 224.5
Monday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:30 p.m. EDT and includes eight games. There are some significant pieces of injury news to consider. Giannis Antetokounmpo is doubtful and if he sits, other Bucks like Khris Middleton could be the most popular targets on the slate. LaMelo Ball is likely done for the season while Kemba Walker and Serge Ibaka have been ruled out tonight. Rudy Gobert (hip) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (shoulder) are listed as questionable. The Rockets are playing the second game of a back-to-back, so keep an eye on the status of John Wall and Victor Oladipo. There is a lack of elite spend-up options compared to most nights. but with all the cheap value available I'd still expect stars and scrubs style builds to be the most popular construction.
The MIL-IND matchup is going to be a popular game to target assuming Giannis is out. The Bucks would have popular mid-range pieces in Middleton and Jrue Holiday while Bobby Portis would likely be the chalkiest of the bunch. There are plenty of appealing run-back options on the Pacers side, as all of their starters have seen dips in salary for what would be a favorable matchup against a Bucks defense missing its top player.
Injuries to Monitor
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee): DOUBTFUL
Giannis tweaked his knee Saturday and is listed as doubtful for tonight. Bobby Portis ($4,900) will likely start at power forward in his place.
Rudy Gobert (hip): QUESTIONABLE
Gobert bruised his hip Friday and is listed as questionable for tonight. If he were to sit, Derrick Favors ($3,500) would likely get the start at center.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (shoulder): QUESTIONABLE
Gilgeous-Alexander sat out yesterday's game with a lingering shoulder injury and is listed as questionable for tonight. Luguentz Dort ($5,200) and Ty Jerome ($4,800) saw expanded roles in his absence.
LaMelo Ball (wrist): OUT
Ball fractured his wrist Friday and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. Devonte' Graham ($4,800) will likely start in his absence.
Kemba Walker (rest): OUT
Walker will sit out the second game of a back-to-back tonight. Marcus Smart ($5,600) got the start at point guard the last time Walker rested.
Kevin Love (calf): QUESTIONABLE
Love has missed four consecutive games with calf soreness and is listed as questionable for tonight. Larry Nance ($6,100) has been starting at power forward in his absence.
Serge Ibaka (back): OUT
Back soreness will cause Ibaka to miss his fourth consecutive game. Ivica Zubac ($5,100) will continue to start at center.
Victor Oladipo and John Wall (possible rest): QUESTIONABLE
Keep an eye the status of Oladipo and Wall as the Rockets are playing the second game of a back-to-back. If they rest, Kevin Porter ($6,500) and Sterling Brown ($4,400) would be in line for expanded roles.
Elite Players
Center:
Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,500)
Assuming Antetokounmpo sits, Towns is the most expensive player on the slate tonight. He's put up at least 60 DK points in two of his last five games while consistently seeing mid-30s minutes. The Wolves have a favorable matchup against the Thunder and I'd expect Towns to be a popular spend-up option considering the amount of cheap value available.
Domantas Sabonis ($9,000) has also topped 60 DK points in two of his last five games. The IND-MIL matchup will be a popular target with Giannis likely out, and pairing Sabonis with a couple players from the Bucks would be an appealing mini-stack.
Guard:
Donovan Mitchell ($8,700)
There are a lack of elite guards on the slate as De'Aaron Fox ($9,100) has the most expensive salary. Mitchell has posted consecutive games of at least 50 DK points and the Jazz have a favorable matchup against the Bulls.
Zach LaVine ($8,400) and Paul George ($8,200) are appealing options as well. They both have depressed salaries and the upside to be the slate's highest scorer.
Forward:
Kawhi Leonard ($8,900)
Leonard has topped 50 DK points just three times in his last 10 games and hasn't hit ceiling for awhile, but there aren't many places for your cap space to go, and the Clippers have a favorable matchup against the Hawks.
Jayson Tatum ($8,600) is coming off back-to-back duds but has seen a significant drop in salary, and the Celtics will be without Kemba Walker for tonight's matchup against the Grizzlies.
Expected Chalk
Bobby Portis ($4,100)
Antetokounmpo is listed as doubtful and assuming he sits, Portis will likely get the start at power forward. He's averaging well over a fantasy point per minute this season and should see plenty of run for a very affordable salary. He would still be an appealing play if he came off the bench but if he starts, I'd expect him to be the most popular play on the slate.
Devonte' Graham ($4,800)
Graham will likely move back into the starting lineup in place of the injured LaMelo Ball. His usual salary was somewhere in the mid 6K range when he was starting earlier this season and $4,800 is just too low for his projected minutes and usage. I'd expect him to be quite popular assuming he starts.
Value Picks
Khris Middleton ($7,600)
Giannis is listed as doubtful for tonight and assuming he sits, Middleton would get a significant bump in usage. The salary is too cheap for what his role is without Antetokounmpo and I'd expect him to be one of the more popular plays on the slate.
Gordon Hayward ($7,400)
Ball will likely miss the rest of the season and Hayward should see increased usage in absence. Cody Zeller has also been ruled out for tonight's matchup against the Spurs.
Jrue Holiday ($6,800)
Holiday is another Buck who would stand to benefit if Giannis sits. I'd expect Holiday to be one of the more popular plays on the slate, and rightfully so for that salary.
Terry Rozier ($6,600)
Rozier will likely see a bump in minutes and usage going forward now that the Hornets are without LaMelo. He has considerable upside for his salary tonight.
Ivica Zubac ($5,100)
Zubac will start his fourth consecutive game at center in place of the injured Ibaka. He's topped 30 DK points in two of three starts and should see plenty of minutes tonight dealing with Atlanta's front court.
