This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
Detroit at Charlotte (-10) (o/u 226.5)
Los Angeles Clippers (-7) at Houston (o/u 229.5)
Dallas at Golden State (-4) (o/u 219.5)
Denver (-8) at Portland (o/u 230.5)
New Orleans at Los Angeles Lakers (-1.5) (o/u 225.5)
There's a five-game main slate on Sunday, and all of the matchups are fairly similar in terms of totals. Pelicans-Lakers likely provides the best combination of game total and competitiveness, so that will be a strong place to look. The other particularly notable thing on this slate is the state of the Blazers. They could be without several big men, and there's likely to be a lot of usage and minutes available with Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic out.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Frank Jackson, DET (back/shoulder)
Jackson has missed four consecutive games, though the shoulder injury was a new issue Saturday. Coach Dwane Casey was optimistic Jackson could suit up Sunday, but Hamidou Diallo should have a role secured if he remains out.
Marvin Bagley, DET (ankle)
Bagley exited Saturday in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. He was deemed questionable to return, which could mean he also has a chance to go Sunday. Kelly Olynyk and Isaiah Stewart would be in line to log extended minutes if Bagley can't go.
Kevin Porter, HOU (ankle): questionable
Porter rolled his ankle late in Friday's loss to the Magic. He didn't practice Saturday, so there would likely have to a significant change for him to play Sunday. Dennis Schroder and Josh Christopher would benefit from Porter's absence.
Marquese Chriss, DAL (ankle): doubtful
Chriss has missed four consecutive games. His fifth straight absence would help maintain the roles of Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber.
Klay Thompson, GSW (illness): questionable
If Thompson is sidelined, Otto Porter should be one of the primary value options on the slate with a $4,000 salary.
Zeke Nnaji, DEN (knee)
Nnaji has missed five in a row with the knee injury. He doesn't yet have a designation for Sunday's game and Jeff Green has seen an increased role in his absence.
Justise Winslow, POR (Achilles): questionable
Greg Brown, POR (illness): questionable
The injuries to both Winslow and Brown would leave the Blazers very shorthanded in the frontcourt. If Portland plays small, Elijah Hughes and Ben McLemore would be the likely beneficiaries. But if they opt for a more traditional lineup, Trendon Watford and Drew Eubanks would both log plenty of minutes.
Avery Bradley, LAL (knee)
Bradley missed the Lakers' final game prior to the All-Star break and Friday's matchup against the Clippers. He doesn't carry an official injury designation, and his ongoing absence would benefit Austin Reaves, Talen Horton-Tucker and Malik Monk.
Other Notable Injuries
Andre Iguodala, GSW (back): out
Eric Bledsoe, POR (Achilles): out
Trey Burke, DAL (shoulder): questionable
Frank Ntilikina, DAL (ankle): questionable
Jalen McDaniels, CHR (ankle): doubtful
Elite Players
Nikola Jokic's ($12,600) value has reached a near untenable point for cash games even given his tremendous consistency. He'll be in a great spot to produce Sunday, particularly if Portland's frontcourt is depleted. It's pretty safe to pencil in 60 DK by rostering Jokic, but just understand he isn't a value play.
The story is similar for Luka Doncic ($11,700). He's exceeded 70 DK points in three of his last five games. However, Dallas plays at the slowest pace in the league and will be up against the Warriors and their league-best defensive rating.
LeBron James ($10,900) is the five-figure salary player who has the best matchup on the slate. The Pelicans rank bottom-third in defensive rating and the game should play at a decent clip relative to the rest of the matchups on the slate.
This isn't a great schedule for the studs, so I'd be relatively comfortable with a more balanced build in all contest types.
Expected Chalk
Terance Mann ($6,100) has topped 30 DK points in four of five games since Norman Powell went down with a foot injury. His salary has risen $2,200 as a result, but he faces a great matchup Sunday against the Rockets and their league-worst defensive rating. This may be the last opportunity to play Mann at a value, and plenty of people are likely to take advantage.
Jalen Green ($5,400) and Dennis Schroder ($5,100) are both likely to get a lot of attention on the slate if Kevin Porter is sidelined. Most may be attracted to Schroder given the one-to-one replacement at point guard. However, Green should also see an increase in usage and perhaps ball handling as well. Even if Porter goes, Green is also a potential value play to consider though his last performance was inflated by a four-steal performance.
Otto Porter ($4,000) can be disregarded if Klay Thompson is able to suit up. Otherwise, he'll be a premier value option on the slate with Andre Iguodala also sidelined.
Josh Hart ($7,500) has attempted double-digit shots from the field in every game since being traded to the Blazers. He's also grabbed at least six boards in three of four games. That combination has helped Hart record a minimum of 26 DK points during that stretch and he'll get to go against a Blazers side likely to be without several big men and high-usage players. As a result, he projects to do very well.
Trendon Watford ($4,000) and Drew Eubanks ($3,900) may be the only big men left standing in Portland. Neither offers a particularly exciting skillset, but they're valued at such a point that they can produce minimally in their minutes and still hit value. If Greg Brown plays, it's likely that none of the trio will be usable. If Brown is out, watch the starting lineup to see if the team goes small, in which case Elijah Hughes ($3,000) and CJ Elleby ($4,200) would likely become the more attractive value/cash plays.
Value Plays
In five games since Gordon Hayward has been sidelined, Terry Rozier ($8,100) has topped 60 DK points twice and 40 on three occasions. Even if he falls short of value, it isn't likely to be by much and he's shown his ceiling result is well worth that risk. Meanwhile, Detroit ranks sixth-worst in defensive rating, so Rozier shouldn't be slowed down by the matchup.
Luke Kennard ($4,600) has also benefited from the absence of Norman Powell. He's done a lot of damage from beyond the arc and has also shot extremely well. Because his primary method of racking up DK points comes from scoring, there is the risk he'll have an off night and produce very little. However, Kennard's salary remains low enough where he remains a strong value play despite the lack of secondary production.
Anfernee Simons ($8,200) is at his highest value of the season, which isn't necessarily the time you'd want to select him. However, as has been noted throughout this article, the Blazers have the potential to be extremely depleted Sunday with Simons and Hart the likely candidates to eat up a lot of usage. We also know Simons is capable of providing value at this salary, as he went into the All-Star break having posted 50.25, 47 and 46.25 DK points in his last three games. If Justise Winslow is in the lineup, Simons becomes a less intriguing play.
CJ McCollum ($8,900) has had no problem adjusting to life as a Pelican. In his last five games, he's topped 50 DK points on three occasions and gone over 40 in every outing. The Lakers are a mediocre defensive team, but the pace of the game should be relatively quick and that means lots of offensive chances for McCollum.
Carmelo Anthony ($5,000) had reached $5,300 prior to going down with an injury in early February. He returned on Friday to a depressed value, but continued to hold a substantial role. Anthony's salary has slightly increased, but he should still offer a strong chance to return value.
