This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Tuesday's NBA slate begins at 7:30 PM Eastern time and features six games. With each of the league's top four offenses (the Rockets, Bucks, Mavericks and Clippers) and seven of the league's dozen most generous defenses in action, there are plenty of favorable matchups to capitalize on.
Slate Overview
Games to Target
Rockets (-5) at Grizzlies O/U: 238
Offense should be plentiful for both sides in this one, as Houston is tied with Milwaukee for the league lead with 119.2 points per game while Memphis ranks eighth with 113.4. Both teams' defenses also rank among the 10 most generous in points allowed. While the Rockets can provide expensive lineup cornerstones, the Grizzlies offer a few above-average options as well.
Suns (-4) at Hawks O/U: 224.5
Atlanta gives up the second-most points in the league (117.0) while Phoenix allows the seventh-most (114.0). The lack of defense should lead to some strong performances on both sides, and Atlanta will have some nice value options picking up the slack should Trae Young (hamstring) sit.
Game to Fade
Jazz (-1) at Nets O/U: 217.5
This line is at least six points lower than any other on this slate, as both teams sport below-average offenses that score fewer than 110.0 points per game. The recent return of Kyrie Irving also reduces the value of Brooklyn's supporting cast given his heavy volume.
Positional Breakdown
There are plenty of high-end options to choose from and enough enticing supporting options that crafting an effective lineup shouldn't be too difficult. The point guard position is battling some injuries at the top, with as many as five of the 12 players priced at $7,000 or more sitting this one out. Power forward and center lead the way with eight healthy players in that price range apiece, while shooting guard and small forward will both have at least five.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Trae Young missed Sunday's game with a hamstring injury and Atlanta's standout point guard is questionable for this one.
Russell Westbrook will sit out this front end of Houston's back-to-back set, as he continues to limit himself to one game of every back-to-back. Clint Capela (heel) is scheduled to make his return after sitting out the last game, relegating standout fill-in Isaiah Hartenstein to a bench role.
Paul George (hamstring) will sit out a third straight game as the Clippers get set to host the Cavaliers.
Donovan Mitchell is battling an illness, but he's listed as probable for the Jazz.
Kristaps Porzingis hasn't played since Dec. 29 due to a knee injury, but he's approaching a return and is listed as questionable at Golden State.
Ricky Rubio is tending to a personal matter, leaving him questionable for the Suns.
Marcus Morris (neck) will miss a fifth consecutive game for the Knicks in Milwaukee.
Elite Players
James Harden ($13,000) has an even higher chance of playing up to his astronomical ceiling against Memphis' leaky defense with Westbrook sitting. Those who pay up for him will be hoping for Harden to top 80 fantasy points for the third time in five games.
Luka Doncic ($12,600) has averaged just 48.6 fantasy points in his last three games after averaging 68.9 in the first four games of Porzingis' absence. He's more than capable of a bounce-back performance against a Warriors team that's allowing 112.9 points per game, especially if Porzingis remains sidelined.
Kawhi Leonard ($10,000) is a slightly cheaper superstar compared to the two guys above, but he could approach their production. The Cavaliers are the only team on this slate finishing up a back-to-back set, and Leonard should exploit their tired legs after averaging 33.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.5 APG and 3.0 steals in the first two games of Paul George's latest absence.
Expected Chalk
Devin Booker ($8,200) has averaged just 18.0 PPG in the past two games after a franchise-record seven-game streak scoring at least 32 points, but he's primed to bounce back against Atlanta's 29th-ranked defense. The sharpshooting guard is more than just a scorer, dishing 7.3 assists per game over the past eight and 6.5 for the season.
Ja Morant ($7,600) has been showing off the skills that made him the second overall selection in the 2019 draft, averaging 19.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 10.3 APG and 1.3 steals over the past three games. The versatile point guard should continue to stuff the stat sheet in what's expected to be this slate's highest-scoring game.
Montrezl Harrell ($7,000) has scored 40 or more fantasy points in three of his past four games, averaging 24.5 PPG and 8.3 RPG over that four-game stretch. His interior scoring will present a major problem for a Cavaliers team that's been torched by big men all season.
John Collins ($8,300) was shut down by Brooklyn without Trae Young to occupy the defense in Atlanta's last game, but he averaged 16.0 PPG and 14.5 RPG in the previous two contests and should return to that form at home against the shaky Suns defense. The big man should be a strong play here irrespective of Young's status.
Key Values
Brandon Goodwin ($4,000) started at point guard for the Hawks last game with Young out, totaling 20.0 fantasy points in 27 minutes. If Young remains out, Goodwin would be a low-risk, high-reward option in what should be a shootout against the Suns.
Eric Gordon ($4,800) will enter the Rockets' starting lineup with Westbrook resting. He's scored 17-plus points in four of his past six games and should put the ball in the basket at a high rate against a Grizzlies team that's surrendering 116.1 points per game.
Eric Bledsoe ($6,500) is looking fully healthy and no longer on a minutes limit, scoring 42.0 and 41.0 fantasy points in his last two games while averaging 26.5 PPG in those contests. His price should keep climbing as he continues to perform well, and a Knicks team that's allowing 112.8 points per game will have a tough time slowing Bledsoe down.
