This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
UTA (-2.5) vs. BKN, O/U: 228.5
LAL (-9) vs. MEM, O/U: 217.5
MIN vs. DEN (-12), O/U: 227.5
SA vs LAC (-8), O/U: OTB
CHI vs. POR (-10), O/U: 234
Tuesday's slate tips off at 7:30 p.m. EST and includes five games. The BKN-UTA matchup will be a popular game to target and rightfully so. It's the only game that projects to be close and it's also impacted by tonight's biggest news: Kevin Durant will miss the next four games as he quarantines for seven days following exposure to someone who tested positive for the virus. The CHI-POR game has the highest total on the slate by a significant margin and the Bulls are still missing key players due to health and safety protocols. The LAL-MEM game seems like a good option to fade. It's the second game on a slate with staggered start times and features a big spread and a lower total. It makes sense to keep lineup spots flexible in case we get late news that opens up some value.
Injuries to Monitor
Kevin Durant (quarantine): OUT
After exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, Durant is facing a seven-day quarantine that will force him to miss the next four games. Taurean Prince ($3,300) is likely to start in his place.
Michael Porter (quarantine): OUT
Porter will miss his third consecutive game tonight. Will Barton ($5,700) has been starting in his place while JaMychal Green ($3,800) has seen increased run off the bench.
LaMarcus Aldridge (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Aldridge has missed the past three games due to left knee soreness. Jakob Poeltl ($4,800) has been starting in his place.
LeBron James (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
James has been listed as questionable for every game this season but has yet to miss one. If he were to sit, Kyle Kuzma ($5,500) and Talen Horton-Tucker ($3,400) would see increased run.
Elite Players
Nikola Jokic ($10,800) is on a torrid pace to start the season with four triple-doubles in six games. He has recorded double-digit assists in every contest while averaging more than 60 DK points per game. His salary has been steadily rising but with Porter out again tonight, he should see extra usage.
LeBron James ($10,100) started the season slowly but is averaging 55 DK points in his past four games. He's been listed as questionable for every game this season but has yet to miss one. Anthony Davis ($9,500) has reached value just once in six games, but with his reduced salary and the lack of value at the power forward position tonight, it's worth taking a shot.
Kawhi Leonard ($9,100) carries his most affordable salary of the season while Paul George ($8,800) has seen his hit a season high. George has eclipsed 50 DK points in three consecutive games, while Leonard appears to be fully healthy after he recovered from a mouth laceration.
At guard, Damian Lillard ($9,800) has a good matchup against the Bulls but I prefer the cheaper Kyrie Irving ($9,300). He has a tougher matchup on paper but at least the game projects to be competitive. With Durant out, there is a ton of usage available and a good chunk of it will go to Kyrie.
Expected Chalk
Kyrie Irving ($9,300)
Irving will see a nice bump in usage due to the absence of Kevin Durant. He is also playing in what's projected to be the only close game tonight and comes with a cheaper salary than the other elite players on the slate. He will be popular in cash and tournaments.
Caris LeVert ($6,600)
LeVert will likely be the biggest beneficiary of Kevin Durant's absence. He put up 60.5 DK points when Durant and Irving sat out last week. He will probably come off the bench, but don't let that deter you.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot ($3,700)
Luwawu-Cabarrot played 40 minutes (35 in regulation) last time Durant sat out and scored 37 DK points in what was his best game of the season. On a slate that lacks value at first glance, he will likely be popular in most formats tonight.
Value Picks
Joe Harris ($5,600)
Harris has been hitting value even when Durant plays, and tonight he should see a slight bump in minutes and usage. He's a worthy pivot off Irving or LeVert in tournaments.
Taurean Prince ($3,300)
Prince must be mentioned because it's likely he starts for the injured KD. He has yet to play more than 19 minutes in a game this season, even when he started for the resting Durant last week. I think he's risky tonight and probably more viable for cash than tournaments given his lack of ceiling.
Will Barton ($5,700)
Barton will likely make his third consecutive start in place of the injured Michael Porter. He should provide relatively safe value for cash games and has tournament-winning upside at his reduced salary.
D'Angelo Russell ($7,200)
Russell has been underwhelming to start the season but he will put up a big game one of these nights with Karl-Anthony Towns still out injured. He's worth the risk in tournaments, especially on a smaller slate like tonight that might not yield many ceiling scores.
