This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
This slate will be tough to navigate, as multiple teams are playing the second half of a back-to-back set and lots of players are resting. There will probably be even more news today and it's imperative to follow the injury reports and bank on anyone who sits out. With that in mind, let's get into it!
If you have any comments or questions, write me here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel
Slate Overview
TOR vs. MEM: Toronto enters this matchup as a 7.5-point favorite and we're looking at a game total of 222.
NOP vs. SAN: New Orleans is a 2.5-point favorite in this matchup, with a total of 239.
BOS vs. ORL: The odds haven't been released for this game, but Boston is likely to be seven-point favorite and you'll see a total around 220.
POR vs. PHI: Despite the records, Portland is a 1.5-point favorite in this game with a 229-point total.
SAC vs. HOU: The Rockets come in as a 4.5-point favorite in this matchup and we should be looking at a total north of 230.
LAC vs. BKN: Odds haven't been released with seemingly everyone on the Nets sitting, but the Clippers are likely to be a sizable favorite no matter what. The total is likely to be around 225-230.
Positional Breakdown
PG: Damian Lillard is up top here at $9,800. De'Aaron Fox sits at $8,000 while Derrick White, Kyle Lowry, Lonzo Ball and Ja Morant are right around $7,000. Dejounte Murray and Kemba Walker hover around 6K while Shake Milton, Tyler Johnson and Reggie Jackson make for interesting value plays.
SG: James Harden is the best play of the day at $10,800. Jrue Holiday, DeMar DeRozan, Caris LeVert, Paul George, CJ McCollum and Fred VanVleet are all between $7,200 and $8,100. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Marcus Smart and Dillon Brooks all barely crack 5K. Josh Richardson and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot represent the best value plays.
SF: Kawhi Leonard sits on top here at $8,400, but who knows if he'll play. Tobias Harris is next at $7,500, $100 above Pascal Siakam and Brandon Ingram. Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward follows up around $6,000 while Evan Fournier, Danuel House and Harrison Barnes are all solid, cheap options.
PF: This appears to be the worst position of the day, with Jayson Tatum up top just shy of $8,000. Zion Williamson should be back here at $6,800 and Robert Covington is just $200 behind. Daniel Theis, Brandon Clarke and Nemanja Bjelica are all fascinating below $6,000. Harry Giles and Rodions Kurucs could be nice values if we hear more about injuries.
C: Joel Embiid should cruise here against Portland at $9,600. Jusuf Nurkic at $8,500 may not appear in the second half of a B2B. Nikola Vucevic and Jonas Valanciunas are just shy of 8K. Derrick Favors, Jakob Poeltl, Ivica Zubac and P.J. Tucker are all solid values.
Injuries to Monitor
Ben Simmons (PHI)
Simmons suffered a knee injury in the last game and won't suit up here.
Aaron Gordon (ORL)
Gordon suffered a hamstring issue on a nasty fall Wednesday and comes into this matchup with a questionable tag. If he's out, look for James Ennis, Wes Iwundu and Terrence Ross to play big minutes with Al-Farouq Aminu also sidelined.
Jaren Jackson Jr (MEM)
Jackson will miss the remainder of the restart because of a meniscus tear. Look for Brandon Clarke to step into his role and for Josh Jackson to do more. Kyle Anderson and Grayson Allen will play more too.
Russell Westbrook (HOU)
Westbrook missed the last game because of a quad issue and is unlikely to play here. That means James Harden will touch the ball every possession.
Richaun Holmes/Marvin Bagley (SAC)
These two big men are unlikely to see action, leading the way for Nemanja Bjelica and Harry Giles to pick up more minutes.
Kawhi Leonard (LAC)
Leonard was rested on Saturday and might not play against a dismantled Nets' team. Don't be surprised to also see Paul George sit.
Brooklyn Nets
They'll continue to play without Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince and Jamal Crawford. There's also talk they'll be without Caris LeVert, Joe Harris and Jarrett Allen.
Elite Players
James Harden is the only five-figure player at $10,800. He might be impossible to avoid though, playing without Russell Westbrook. That means we could be looking at 30 shots and a 40 percent usage rate, which has 80 fantasy points written all over it. Joel Embiid is next, just shy of $10,000 and could abuse a weak Portland defense without Ben Simmons. Damian Lillard is also just shy of five-figures and will be hungry after missing some clutch shots on Saturday.
Expected Chalk
James Harden, HOU ($10,800)
Everything I said in the elite player section goes here. My one note is this is chalk you can't fade. Harden is the free square of the day, so don't miss out on those 70-80 fantasy points,
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, BKN ($3,700)
This is speculation on my part, but someone has to do something for Brooklyn if everyone sits again. In the last game that LeVert, Allen and Harris missed, TLC dropped 31 FanDuel points in 30 minutes of action. People surely know that since it was that upset over Milwaukee and it will likely have a lot of people on him here.
Key Values
Bogdan Bogdanovic, SAC ($5,400)
This dude was in my last article and he rewarded us with another gem. What makes that even more surprising is the fact this price remains so low. Bogdanovic has produced 81.5 FD points across his last two games, proving to be one of the focal points of the Kings' offense. That makes this $5,400 price tag hard to understand. What really adds to his intrigue here is the matchup, with Houston playing at the fastest pace in the NBA while allowing the most points since the bubble began.
Garrett Temple, BKN ($3,900)
While most people will pivot to TLC, we're going to go with Temple. He's the "veteran" on this dismantled roster and he showed that in the Milwaukee game by providing 19 points, five rebounds and four assists and knocking down big shots at the end. There's simply no one left and that's going to force Temple into a playmaking role, making him a fantastic value at $3,900. And don't forget about guys like Rodions Kurucs and Tyler Johnson.
