This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
We have a nice-sized slate for a Saturday night, as nine games are on the ledger. There are many rematches from Thursday and Friday set to unfold, which will likely lead to stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Vucevic, who had outstanding performances Friday, being even more popular than usual. However, there are some major names on the injury report, including Kevin Durant, who was pulled mid-game Friday due to health and safety protocols.
Slate Overview
Here's a closer look at the two games on Saturday night's slate that have totals on DraftKings Sportsbook as of early Saturday:
Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks (Projected total: 231.0 points)
The Warriors put up 147 points on the Mavs in a Thursday victory that finished with a combined total of 263 points. While that figure is doubtful to come close to being replicated, the 231 total isn't an unrealistic one by any means. Both teams will once again take the floor with all their stars at full health. Golden State (120.1 PPG allowed on the road) and Dallas (114.8 PPG allowed at home) have both displayed plenty of defensive vulnerability in the respective home/road splits that apply Saturday.
Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Pelicans (Projected total: 227.5 points)
The Pelicans have given up 115 points per game and allowed 47.7 percent shooting over the last three games, while the Grizzlies have some of the most drastic home/road scoring splits in the NBA. While Memphis is averaging just 104.3 points per home game, they're putting up 116.0 per road contest. The Grizzlies also have Jonas Valanciunas back in the fold following his lengthy COVID-19 sabbatical, and New Orleans comes into Saturday's contest with its starting five at full health.
Injury Situations to Monitor
NOTE: Injury reporting is especially fluid in the NBA, where the status of multiple players can change during the course of a day. Therefore, although the following serves as a foundation for the latest injury report as of the time the article is written, check back throughout the day with RotoWire for the latest news regarding all players' status on that night's slate.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
Towns' expected ongoing absence Saturday should afford Naz Reid a start at center.
Joel Embiid, PHI (knee)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Embiid were to sit out, Dwight Howard would likely draw a spot start at center, while the usage rates of the remaining members of the starting five would see a bump.
Kevin Durant, BKN (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
Durant will not play after being pulled from Friday's game for contact tracing purposes, meaning Kyrie Irving and James Harden's usage rates should be through the roof. Bruce Brown could enter the starting five in Durant's stead as well.
Trae Young, ATL (calf)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Young were to sit out for a second straight game, Rajon Rondo would be set for another start at point guard.
Ben Simmons, PHI (calf)/ Status: PROBABLE
Simmons is likely to return from his one-game absence Saturday and would be in for some elevated usage if Joel Embiid sits out with knee soreness.
Christian Wood, HOU (ankle)/Status: OUT
Wood's absence projects to afford DeMarcus Cousins a start at center and give a significant boost to the usage of the remaining members of the starting five.
John Wall, HOU (back)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Wall were to sit out, Eric Gordon or Victor Oladipo could slide over into the starting point guard role, and with Christian Wood (ankle) already declared out, the usage rates for any remaining healthy members of the starting five could see a significant rise.
Dejounte Murray, SAN (ankle)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Murray were to sit out Saturday, he'd join LaMarcus Aldridge in terms of absentees for San Antonio, which would significantly boost the usage rates of DeMar DeRozan, Keldon Johnson and Derrick White.
De'Andre Hunter, ATL (knee)/ Status: OUT
Hunter's ongoing absence should give Cam Reddish another run with the starting five.
LaMarcus Aldridge, SAN (hip)/ Status: OUT
Aldridge's ongoing absence should give Jakob Poeltl another start at center.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC (knee)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If SGA logs another absence Saturday, Hamidou Diallo should be in line for another start at shooting guard.
Larry Nance, CLE (wrist)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Nance sits out again Saturday, Taurean Prince should see another start at power forward.
OG Anunoby, TOR (calf)/ Status: OUT
Anunoby's ongoing absence should afford Norman Powell another start at small forward.
Other notable injuries:
Brandon Clarke, MEM (calf)/Status: QUESTIONABLE
Kevin Huerter, ATL (ankle)/ Status: PROBABLE
Theo Maledon, OKC (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Seth Curry, PHI (illness)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
David Nwaba, HOU (ankle)/ Status: PROBABLE
Eric Paschall, GS (knee)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Wayne Ellington, DET (calf)/ Status: OUT
Lonnie Walker, SAN (illness)/ Status: OUT
Otto Porter, CHI (back)/ Status: OUT
Luguentz Dort, OKC (knee)/ Status: OUT
George Hill, OKC (thumb)/ Status: OUT
Elite Players
There are five players with five-figure salaries on Saturday's big slate, beginning with Luka Doncic ($11,100), and continuing with Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,000), James Harden ($10,700), Joel Embiid ($10,500) and LeBron James ($10,300).
Antetokounmpo gets another crack at a Cavaliers team that he accumulated 64.5 DK points against in just 33 minutes Friday, while Embiid's condition will need to be closely monitored considering his questionable status due to knee soreness. Harden will be particularly valuable with Kevin Durant (COVID-19 protocols) ruled out. James draws an outstanding matchup against the Pistons, but there's a certain amount of blowout risk attached.
There are also several players with salaries in the high four figures that have the ability to deliver elite scores, including Stephen Curry ($9,700), Anthony Davis ($9,600), Trae Young ($9,500), Kyrie Irving ($9,400) and Nikola Vucevic ($8,900). Young's injury status will naturally need to be monitored leading up to tip-off, Irving will see a huge bump in usage with Durant out, and Vucevic should be especially popular after decimating the Bulls for 77.8 DK points Friday.
Expected Chalk
All of the names mentioned in the Elite Players section are naturally going to be very popular Saturday. However, with 18 teams hitting the floor, there should still be plenty of opportunities to differentiate in tournaments. Concerning injury-created chalk, Timberwolves such as D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Naz Reid should be heavily rostered with Towns still out, while DeMar DeRozan should also find himself in plenty of rosters with Aldridge out of action, and even more so if Murray also sits out. DeMarcus Cousins, Victor Oladipo and Eric Gordon are set for elevated rostering as well with Christian Wood already declared out and John Wall questionable.
Key Values
Draymond Green, GS at DAL ($6,000)
Green racked up 42.0 DK points across 29 minutes against these same Mavericks on Thursday night as he took on extra responsibility down low with James Wiseman (wrist) and Kevon Looney (ankle) out. The big man duo remains out of action Saturday, which means Green should be in for heavy usage again in the rematch. Dallas is giving up the seventh-most DK points per game to centers and allowing 47.3 percent shooting to frontcourt players on the season, and Green could be heavily involved again as a facilitator Saturday after dishing out 15 assists in Thursday's rout. Saturday's game should be a lot more competitive as well, so Green could well log closer to the 36 minutes he saw against the Celtics in a much narrower win for Golden State on Wednesday.
Montrezl Harrell, LAL vs. DET ($5,300)
Harrell is averaging 26.8 DK points across nine home games while shooting an outstanding 71.6 percent in that sample. The big man has scored 26.0 to 32.75 DK points in three of his last six games, and Saturday, he draws the type of matchup that could elicit one of his better performances. The opposing Pistons rank in the bottom 10 of the league in offensive efficiency surrendered to centers (33.4 percent), and they're also giving up the second-most DK points and fourth-most rebounds per game (16.5) to fives. Finally, consider Detroit is ranked in the bottom half of the league in points in the paint allowed per road game (48.2), while Harrell records just over 75 percent of his points in that part of the floor.
Jalen Brunson, DAL vs. GS ($4,500)
Brunson has rather quietly averaged 21.2 DK points this season, and he just put up 28.8 Thursday against these same Warriors. His success against Golden State's second unit isn't necessarily surprising, considering the Dubs have given up the third-highest offensive efficiency (46.5 percent), the most points (41.7) and the most rebounds (19.1) per contest to opposing bench players. Brunson is also shooting a career-high 52.3 percent, including 41.2 percent from behind the arc, and three of the six instances he's delivered over 5x on his current salary this season have come in the last nine contests.
Other value plays to consider: DeMarcus Cousins, HOU vs. SA ($6,300); Eric Gordon, HOU vs. SA ($5,800); Keldon Johnson, SA at HOU ($5,800); Jae'Sean Tate, HOU vs. SA ($5,000); Derrick White, SA at HOU ($4,700); Patrick Williams, CHI at ORL ($4,400); Juan Toscano-Anderson, GS at DAL ($4,200)
