This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
ATL (-7) vs. CLE, O/U: 228
DET vs. ORL (-3.5), O/U: 207
BOS (-1.5) vs. DAL, O/U: 224
GS (-1.5) vs. NY, O/U: 215.5
PHI (-1.5) vs. TOR, O/U: 224.5
SAC vs. BKN (-7.5), O/U: 242
MIN vs. MIL (-10.5), O/U: 231.5
POR vs. DEN (-8), O/U: 231
WAS vs. LAC (-9.5), O/U: 235.5
Tuesday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and includes nine games. Kevin Durant will miss his fifth consecutive game. Stephen Curry and Kristaps Porzingis are listed as questionable but are expected to play. Kyle Lowry and Harrison Barnes are also questionable and likely will be game-time decisions. There is an abundance of elite talent to choose from tonight, as eight players have five-figure salaries and another eight have salaries in the 9K range.
The SAC-BKN matchup will be a popular game to target and rightfully so, as it features a whopping 242 total. The Nets will be without Kevin Durant again and that means James Harden will be one the most popular plays of the night. There are viable value pieces on the Brooklyn side as well, as they're still dealing with various injuries and have listed four players as questionable for tonight. Other than that, I think it could be beneficial to target the later games for flexibility when it comes to late-swap as there will likely be some significant news that dramatically changes the slate.
Injuries to Monitor
Stephen Curry (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Curry was a late scratch on Saturday due to an illness but is expected to return tonight.
Kevin Durant (hamstring): OUT
Durant will be sidelined for a fifth consecutive game. Bruce Brown ($4,500) has been starting at power forward in his absence.
Kristaps Porzingis (back): QUESTIONABLE
A sore back forced Porzingis to miss his first game since Jan. 30th yesterday. Dwight Powell ($3,000) started at center in his place.
Kyle Lowry (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Lowry has missed three consecutive games and is considered questionable for tonight. The Raptors have used different starting lineups in his absence and Terence Davis ($3,400) saw extended run off the bench last time out.
Delon Wright (groin): OUT
Wright suffered a Grade 2 strain and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Dennis Smith ($4,200) started the last game at point guard while Saben Lee ($3,200) saw increased run off the bench.
Harrison Barnes (foot): QUESTIONABLE
Barnes has missed three consecutive games, but there is hope that he will be able to return tonight. DaQuan Jeffries ($3,800) has been starting at small forward in his absence.
James Wiseman (wrist) and Kevon Looney (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
The Warriors could have their centers back as soon as tonight after both players practiced in full yesterday.
Elite Players
Guard:
James Harden ($10,700)
The Nets have been without Kevin Durant for the past four games and Harden has scored at least 67 DK points in three of them. The SAC-BKN game features two bad defenses and a whopping 242 total. Harden is also $500 cheaper than the slate's most expensive player, Luka Doncic ($11,200). Doncic is coming off a dud last night and with so many elite players going tonight, he likely won't garner the popularity that he usually does. I'll always have interest in a less popular Doncic for the leverage potential, but I prefer Harden tonight based on salary and matchup.
Forward:
Kawhi Leonard ($9,400)
Kawhi has played 38 and 39 minutes in two games since returning from a three-game injury absence. He's actually seen his salary drop for a prime matchup against Washington, and saving $1600 by rostering him over Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,000) would be advantageous if there ends up being a lack of cheap value tonight.
Center:
Joel Embiid ($10,600)
Embiid dropped 50 real points Friday while putting up a staggering 91.75 DK points. He's been incredibly consistent too, as he's scored at least 50 DK points in nine of his last 10 games, but for some reason he's seen his salary fall to its lowest point in five games. There are plenty of spend-up options at center tonight, and Nikola Vucevic ($10,200) is another who I'll have interest in. The Magic and Pistons will run it back after Vucevic put up 64.5 DK points against them Sunday. He's now scored at least 60 DK points in five of his last 10, and ceiling games seem to be happening more often as the Magic have been short-handed.
Expected Chalk
Raul Neto ($4,000)
This is contingent on Russell Westbrook possibly sitting out the second night of a back-to-back. If he does, Neto will be a chalky value option. The Wizards are still without Ish Smith and Neto would be in line to see the bulk of the minutes at point guard. He averages just under a fantasy point per minute without Westbrook and Smith on the floor this season.
Saben Lee ($3,200)
Lee will likely garner some popularity after playing 33 minutes and scoring 30 DK points last time out in the absence of Delon Wright. Even though Dennis Smith got the start, it was Lee who saw the majority of time at point guard. He's a viable option tonight, especially if there is no major news that opens things up.
Value Picks
Kristaps Porzingis ($8,200)
Porzingis sat out Monday with a sore back but it was likely just precautionary rest, and he should be ready for the second half of a back-to-back tonight. He's topped 50 DK points in two of his last four games and can be rostered for significantly less than the other elite centers on the slate.
Pascal Siakam ($8,100)
Siakam has stepped up in the absence of Kyle Lowry as he's scored at least 45 DK points in three of the last four games. He's taking more shots and averaging more assists and I'd expect that to continue tonight if Lowry, who's listed as questionable, sits again.
De'Aaron Fox ($8,000)
Fox has seen his salary come back down to Earth after it hit 9K last week, and tonight's matchup against the Nets is as good as it gets from a fantasy perspective. He makes a lot of sense as a run-back in lineups that contain Brooklyn players.
Darius Garland ($6,100)
Garland has played at least 36 minutes in three consecutive games. He's coming off 42.75 DK points last time out and has a favorable matchup against Trae Young and the Hawks tonight.
Bruce Brown ($4,500)
Brown has been starting at power forward in the absence of Kevin Durant. He saw 34 minutes Sunday, and tonight's matchup against the Kings features the highest total on the slate.
Tim Hardaway ($4,500)
Hardaway has seen a steep drop in salary after routinely being valued in the mid to upper 5K range for the last month. He dropped 29 real points on his way to 37 DK points yesterday and the Mavericks will be without Maxi Kleber tonight, which could lead to a few more minutes.
