This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
BKN vs. PHI (-6.5), O/U: 232.5
CLE vs. CHA (-3.5), O/U: 212.5
SA (-2.5) vs. TOR, O/U: 221.5
LAC (-9.5) vs. DET, O/U: 222.5
NY vs. NO (-2.5), O/U: 220
ORL vs. CHI (-9.5), O/U: 219
GS (-10.5) vs. OKC, O/U: 224.5
IND (-5.5) vs. HOU, O/U: 233
DAL (-2) vs. MEM, O/U: 226.5
MIA vs. DEN (-4), O/U: 213
WAS (-1.5) vs. SAC, O/U: 236.5
With 22 teams on the slate and plenty of significant injury news, tonight will be about finding the best cheap value, as I'd expect stars and scrubs builds to be the popular roster construction with so many elite options to choose from. Targeting specific games isn't as important on such big slates. It's often more advantageous to backload the later games to allow for as much roster flexibility as possible to adjust for news. The WAS-SAC game tips off last at 10:00 p.m. EST and features the highest total of the night along with top spend-up options in Russell Westbrook and De'Aaron Fox. There are likely to be a few value options on the Kings side as well, with Richaun Holmes unlikely to play and Buddy Hield questionable. The way slates have been going recently, if you stay patient and don't reach for questionable value in the early games, something viable and often optimal will open up that makes everything come together.
Injuries to Monitor
James Harden (hamstring): OUT
Harden will be re-evaluated next week to assess his strained hamstring. Bruce Brown will likely see an expanded role tonight.
Kyrie Irving (personal): QUESTIONABLE
Irving missed yesterday's game due to personal reasons, and his status for tonight is uncertain. Chris Chiozza (hand) got the start at point guard but had to leave early with a hand injury and is listed as questionable. Bruce Brown and Landry Shamet will be in line for extended run if Irving and Chiozza sit.
Kawhi Leonard (foot): QUESTIONABLE
Leonard has missed consecutive games due to a sore foot and is listed as questionable for tonight. Luke Kennard has been starting in his absence.
Terry Rozier (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Rozier missed yesterday's game due to tendinitis in his knee and is listed as questionable for tonight. Caleb Martin got the start at shooting guard in his place.
Lonzo Ball (hip): DOUBTFUL
Ball will likely miss a fourth consecutive game tonight dealing with a hip injury. Wes Iwundu and Naji Marshall have alternated starts in his absence.
Jamal Murray (knee): OUT
Murray tore his ACL on Monday and will miss the rest of the season. Facundo Campazzo and Monte Morris will take over the point guard duties going forward.
Collin Sexton (groin): QUESTIONABLE
Sexton missed Sunday's game due to a groin injury and is listed as questionable for tonight. Matthew Dellavedova started at point guard in his place.
Richaun Holmes (hamstring): DOUBTFUL
Holmes left Monday's game with a hamstring injury and is unlikely to play tonight. Hassan Whiteside, Damian Jones and Chimezie Metu are candidates to start at center.
Darius Garland (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Garland missed Sunday's game due to a sore ankle and is listed as questionable for tonight. Isaac Okoro started at shooting guard in his place.
Buddy Hield (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Hield missed Monday's game with an illness and is listed as questionable for tonight. Tyrese Haliburton would likely get another start if Hield were to miss again.
Kelly Oubre (wrist): DOUBTFUL
Oubre will likely miss a third consecutive game tonight due to a wrist injury. Kent Bazemore has been starting at small forward in his absence.
Myles Turner (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Turner has missed the past four games with a sprained ankle and is listed as questionable for tonight. Edmond Sumner has been starting at power forward while Domantas Sabonis has moved to center.
P.J. Washington (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Washington missed yesterday's game due to a sprained ankle and is listed as questionable for tonight. Bismack Biyombo got the start at center.
LaMarcus Aldridge (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Aldridge missed yesterday's game with an illness, and his status for tonight is uncertain. Nicolas Claxton started at center.
Elite Players
Guard:
Russell Westbrook ($11,000)
Westbrook is coming off another triple-double, his ninth in the last 10 games. He continues to be the premier spend-up option any time he's on a slate, as he's now scored at least 60 DK points in four of his last five. The Wizards are in a great spot tonight against the Kings.
Stephen Curry ($10,500)
Curry had a massive game on Monday, putting up 53 real points on his way to 69 DK points. He's taken at least 21 shots in five consecutive games as he continues to chuck threes at a staggering rate. The Warriors are big favorites against the Thunder tonight.
De'Aaron Fox ($9,600)
There are a plethora of elite point guard options on tonight's slate, and they've all shown recent ceilings. Fox has topped 50 DK points in three of his last four games and is coming off 62 last time out. He's in a favorable spot tonight against Westbrook and the Wizards.
Center:
Nikola Jokic ($10,600)
Jokic has scored at least 50 DK points in six consecutive games, as he's taken on a larger role in Jamal Murray's absence. With Murray now done for the season after tearing his ACL, the Nuggets will continue to lean on Jokic going forward and especially tonight in what should be a competitive matchup against the Heat.
Joel Embiid ($10,000)
Embiid has topped 50 DK points in consecutive games while playing only 26 and 27 minutes as the games ended in blowouts. The Sixers have a great matchup against the Nets, who are notoriously bad against centers, and if the game stays close, Embiid could be in line for a big night.
Forward:
Zion Williamson ($9,900)
Williamson's salary has reached a season-high, and rightfully so. He's been consistent, and he's shown a ceiling recently as well, topping 65 DK points twice in the past eight games. He should continue to see a bump in usage with Lonzo Ball likely out again for tonight's matchup against the Knicks.
Julius Randle ($9,600)
It would be hard to argue that anyone has been more consistent than Randle this season. He's scored at least 40 DK points in eight consecutive games and is coming off 57.5 last time out. He has considerable upside in what should be a pace-up spot for the Knicks tonight against the Pelicans.
Expected Chalk
Caleb Martin ($3,100), if he starts
Terry Rozier missed yesterday's game is questionable for tonight. Martin got the start at shooting guard and put up 41.5 DK points while seeing 35 minutes. Those are massive numbers for $3,100, and if he starts again tonight, I'd expect him to be among the most popular players on the slate.
Nicolas Claxton ($3,100), if he starts
Claxton started at center yesterday in place of LaMarcus Aldridge and put up 23 DK points in 21 minutes, and he would've seen more run had the Nets not won by 30. If Aldridge misses again tonight, I'd expect Claxton to be quite popular, as his minimum salary allows for more spend-ups on a slate with so many good options.
Value Picks
John Wall ($8,000)
Wall is coming off a dud last time out, but he continues to see big minutes and the Rockets are in a nice spot tonight against the Pacers. He's just too cheap for his upside, especially relative to other players in the same salary range.
Jonas Valanciunas ($7,600)
Valanciunas is another player who hasn't received a salary bump for some reason. He put up 69.5 DK points on Sunday and followed it up with 53 the next night. He's also been consistent, meaning he offers some of the best value on the slate while providing considerable upside.
Kyle Lowry ($7,600)
Lowry should be ready to go after resting last night. He put up 41.25 DK points in his first game back and will get all the usage he wants without Fred VanVleet in the lineup for tonight's matchup against the Spurs.
Michael Porter ($7,200)
Porter has scored at least 40 DK points in two of his last three games and will continue to see a bump in usage going forward in Jamal Murray's absence.
Will Barton ($5,400)
Barton is another player likely to benefit from Murray's absence as he could see more ball-handling opportunities to go along with an expected bump in minutes and usage.
Bruce Brown ($4,800)
The Nets are likely to be shorthanded at guard tonight with James Harden out, Kyrie Irving expected to miss and Chris Chiozza questionable. Brown should get the start and see extended run as he'd be the only healthy point guard.
Matthew Dellavedova ($4,000), if he starts in place of Sexton or Garland
Dellavedova got his first start of the season on Sunday and put up 27.25 DK points while playing 34 minutes, and if he starts in place of Sexton or Garland tonight, he should see plenty of run to make value for just $4,000)
Facundo Campazzo ($3,700)
Campazzo is likely to start at point guard in place of the injured Jamal Murray. He put up 26.25 DK points in 33 minutes when he started in place of Murray on Sunday, and his salary is still favorable.
