This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Today's article excludes the early contests on the slate and goes with DraftKings' six-game offering later in the day.
SLATE OVERVIEW
NY (-1.5) vs. BKN O/U: 221.5
LAC (-4,5) @ ORL O/U: 218.5
NO (-0.5) vs. BOS O/U: 230
ATL (-0.5) vs. WAS O/U: 240.5
MEM (-3) vs. PHO O//U: 234.5
POR (-1.5) vs. IND O/U: 220.5
You'll find I gave a lot of love to the WAS/ATL and PHO/MEM lineups, but kept away from IND/POR, BKN/NY and the Boston end of the BOS/NO game due to the number of question marks leading up to game lock. However, I could definitely see myself making some adjustments as I learn more there.
INJURY SITUATIONS TO MONITOR
The landscape is littered with ongoing injuries so we will only touch on the most relevant of those, but pivots for all of them should be available in the DraftKings player notes - as provided by our staff.
Paul George (hamstring) OUT
Still no George on Sunday, so Landry Shamet ($3,600) will get his sixth consecutive start. He's coming off a 35.5 DKFP score on Friday, his best total in George's absence.
Malcolm Brogdon (concussion) OUT
Pivot to T.J. McConnell ($5,000) and Aaron Holiday ($4,500) as Brogdon misses his second straight game.
Jayson Tatum (groin) QUESTIONABLE
Jaylen Brown (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
Marcus Smart (hand) PROBABLE
Enes Kanter (hip) OUT
We'll start with the most obvious pivot in Daniel Theis ($5,500), who will start for Kanter. The point spread for this game makes a lot more sense now that we see these question marks. And although it looks like Smart will be fine to play, his production depends heavily on Jaylen Brown's participation. Tread lightly if you go in Boston's direction - I'd wait for tip-off to make selections here.
RJ Barrett (ankle) OUT
I felt it prudent to check back in with this ongoing injury and see who's benefitting the most from his absence. Reggie Bullock ($3,900) has garnered the starting nod for four straight games, but Elfrid Payton ($5,500) and Marcus Morris ($5,900) have both seen the most significant bumps in production.
ELITE PLAYS
Trae Young, ATL ($9,500) @ WAS
Young and the Hawks are in a great spot against the Wizards, so the talented point guard is my top selection over Kawhi Leonard and Damian Lillard - both of whom join Young at the top of this slate. I wouldn't fade Kawhi, but his defensive matchup is substantially tougher and he churned out his season average in one matchup against the Magic. I don't think Young's subpar matchup against the Wizards should cause much concern as it is was on the tail end of a back-to-back that followed a huge stat line. He returned from a one-game absence with a brilliant 16-assist outing against the Thunder on Friday.
Bradley Beal, WAS ($8,200) @ ATL
The Wizards are coming off multiple days of rest, and Beal's been on fire over the past five games by shooting 57.6 percent from the field and averaging just under 42 DKFP per game. His past two contests have finished in the mid-50 DKFP range, and I don't see Kevin Huerter putting up much resistance at the off-guard spot today. I would go with Beal over Irving, Booker and Kemba today.
John Collins, ATL ($8,000) vs. WAS
I'll complete the elite section by continuing to load up on this contest. With a litany of frontcourt injuries, the Wizards are having a rough time against Collins' position, and they've gotten roughed up by Kevin Love and a crew of Miami frontcourt guys in their most recent games. I predict Collins to approach double-double numbers today in this fast-paced matchup.
Also consider: Devin Booker, PHO ($8,100) @ MEM
EXPECTED CHALK AND OTHER TARGETS
Deandre Ayton, PHO ($7,700) vs. Jonas Valanciunas ($6,9000), MEM
I put these two together because I think both guys will have big nights against each other, as both have talented point guards to get them the ball. We might as well give them a mention now because I will only endorse them later. Ricky Rubio ($6,500) and Ja Morant ($6,600) are currently two of the hottest dime collectors in the game, and they'll not only dish the ball to their big men but also create their own shot opportunities. If I had to pick one set, I would likely go with the Morant/Valanciunas combo due to price, but I think you can't go wrong with either set in what should be a competitive contest.
Jaren Jackson, MEM ($6,400) vs. PHO
Jackson's coming off one of his best games of the season, trouncing the Pistons for a 44.5 DKFP payday. Although that's well above his season average, he's already distinguished himself against the Suns three times this season, and an early seven-point game has decimated what would be a very nice average against them. If we take that anomaly away, his DKFP average soars into the high 30s, making him a very appealing play at this price.
Kelly Oubre, PHO ($6,300) @ MEM
Oubre will provide you with some prolific totals for a cheap price in the right game situation, and he's proven his mettle against the Grizzlies with 17/10 and 14/13 double-doubles against them this season. We should expect a total right at his season-average here, which would lock him in at 5.2x value. There's potential for Oubre to go even higher, which makes him even more attractive as a mid-range play.
VALUE PLAYS
Trevor Ariza, POR ($5,000) vs, IND
After his 38.3 DKFP total over 35 minutes against Dallas in his first full game as a Trail Blazer, I think we should start acknowledging him as a key contributor for Portland sooner rather than later. I don't anticipate much public money drifting to this matchup tonight, so the ownership on both teams should be low across the board. As the newest cast member in Rip City, there's likely to be some variance associated with this play, but I think his first stat line is a decent indicator.
Brandon Clarke, MEM ($4,700) vs. PHO
Although Clarke has come off the bench amidst numerous back issues, it looks like his numbers have leveled off at a place where there's plenty of value to be had. Over his past five games, he's averaged 11.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assist per game. These might not seem to be extravagant totals, but with a double-double in his last game against Detroit, Clarke's stats are definitely trending up.
Troy Brown, WAS ($4,400) @ ATL
Brown continues to perform well as he shores up the gaps for the Wizards. His totals are amazing for the price, with totals of 23 and 39 DKFP among the player's last five games. Brown put up 37 DKFP in one game against Atlanta this season, and I'll run with that ceiling in a few GPPs.
Also consider: Isaiah Thomas, WAS ($3,800), Mikal Bridges, PHO ($3,900)
You've also got some tremendous Indiana value in Brogdon's absence, so don't forget about those targets in the injury column. For the latest news about Boston and other questionable spots, be sure to check back with RotoWire. Our latest details will be found on our Advanced Lineups page.
