This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Saturday's NBA featured slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and consists of seven games. Nine of the 14 teams in action are playing their second game in as many nights, so there will be a lot of tired legs, and you should make sure to double check for any maintenance-related scratches before tip-off. There are plenty of enticing options to choose from here, as five of the seven games have an over/under of 225 or higher.
Slate Overview
Games to Target
Rockets (-6.5) at Suns O/U: 236.5
This one should be played at a frenetic pace, giving it the highest line in a slate filled with them. Houston ranks second with 119.8 points per game while the Suns are sixth at 114.5. They're both among the eight teams allowing over 114 points per game as well. The Rockets will be fresher after being off Friday.
76ers (-12) vs. Wizards O/U: 230.5
Both of these teams are finishing back-to-back sets, but that shouldn't keep them from racking up offense, as the Wizards score the third-most points per game (117.7) and allow the most (121.8). Philadelphia's talented team should capitalize on Washington's porous defense.
Games to Fade
Kings (-1.5) at Grizzlies O/U: 218.5
This is one of the two games with an over/under below 225. Both teams struggle to put the ball in the basket, as the Kings score the sixth-fewest points (104.8) while the Grizzlies are right around league average at 110.5.
Pistons (-3) vs. Bulls O/U: 213.5
This clash of bottom-10 offenses has by far the lowest line in this slate. The only player you should consider from this game is Pistons center Andre Drummond, who can hog the paint for himself with Blake Griffin (knee) likely sidelined.
Positional Breakdown
Point guard has the most enticing top options, with five guys priced at $8,200 or more, all of whom have matchups ranging from decent to excellent. Power forward has the least depth, with only five players priced at $7,000 or more. Still, filling a lineup with players you like shouldn't be difficult in a slate that doesn't lack exploitable defenses.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Giannis Antetokounmpo is dealing with back soreness, but he's probable against the Knicks. If the Bucks get up big as expected, he could see his minutes cut, making Antetokounmpo a risky play.
Karl-Anthony Towns has missed the last two games due to a knee injury. He's unlikely to suit up one day after sitting out Friday.
Like Towns for Minnesota, Blake Griffin sat out Detroit's game Friday due to a knee injury, leaving him unlikely to suit up against Chicago.
Zach LaVine is probable for the Bulls with a right shin contusion.
Devin Booker scored 18 points in 28 minutes Friday after missing the previous three games due to a forearm injury. He's battling rust and the Suns could opt to limit his minutes one day after his return, so he'll have a low floor to go with his high ceiling in the favorable matchup against Houston. Teammate Deandre Ayton missed Friday's game with a sprained ankle, so it appears he's right back out of action after returning from a suspension Tuesday.
Elite Players
Russell Westbrook ($9,400) is enjoying a tremendous stretch over his past eight appearances, averaging 26.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG and 7.6 APG. There's a good chance the stat-stuffing Rockets point guard provides better value against the Suns than teammate James Harden ($11,600), though Harden's always a threat to carry GPP lineups.
Paul George ($9,500) has scored at least 59.25 fantasy points three times in the past six games while teammate Kawhi Leonard ($8,500) hasn't done so in the last 10, but Leonard should have a little extra motivation facing one of his former teams in San Antonio. Both Clippers stars are primed for strong performances against a Spurs defense that's allowing 115.0 points per game.
Joel Embiid ($10,200) has been on a tear for Philadelphia, averaging 59.6 fantasy points over the past four games. He'll run the risk of seeing his minutes limited in the second leg of a back-to-back, but Embiid should dominate Washington's league-worst defense while he's on the court.
Expected Chalk
Ben Simmons ($8,200) should put his well-rounded skill set (14.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 8.1 APG and 2.2 steals per game) to good use in what should be a fast-paced affair against the Wizards. With Philadelphia likely looking to lighten Embiid's load in this second leg of a back-to-back, look for Simmons to pick up the slack, making him an even more enticing option here.
Ricky Rubio ($7,200) has averaged 15.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 11.6 APG over the past eight games, contributing heavily as both a scorer and a distributor. His assists ceiling only climbs with the sharpshooting Booker back in the fold, so Phoenix's floor general is primed to orchestrate another strong offensive performance against Houston's generous defense.
Those who opt for Westbrook over Harden should have no problem also fitting Clint Capela ($8,000) into a Rockets stack. The Suns have had trouble containing centers without Ayton available, while Capela's averaging a robust 14.0 PPG, 14.4 RPG and 2.0 blocks per game.
Assuming Towns sits out, Gorgui Dieng ($4,600) should continue to be a nice cheap filler, especially with his team facing a Portland club that's had trouble defending on the interior. Dieng has started the past two games in Towns' absence, averaging 15.5 PPG and 7.0 RPG.
Key Values
Patty Mills ($4,200) has poured in at least 26 points twice in the last three games, knocking down 13-of-24 three-point attempts in those two scoring outbursts. If you're looking to catch lightning in a bottle for a GPP lineup, the Australian guard could give you just that at home against the Clippers.
The Bucks are one of the five fresh teams in this slate, making this home matchup against the Knicks even more lopsided. Milwaukee likely won't need to ride its top players too hard, giving ancillary pieces like Donte DiVincenzo ($5,400) a chance to shine. DiVincenzo has showcased his strong all-around skill set over the past three games, averaging 8.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.3 APG and 2.3 steals per game.
Julius Randle ($6,700) has averaged 18.7 PPG and 9.9 RPG in seven games under new coach Mike Miller. That slight uptick in production could turn into an even larger improvement against a Bucks team that has had trouble defending power forwards on the interior with a roster that values spacing over bully ball from its big men.
