This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Although there are a total of nine games being played in the NBA on Sunday, FanDuel's main slate covers the final six beginning with the Heat-Magic's 7:00 pm ET tip-off. The relatively compact number of games sets us up for what should be a very manageable roster construction process, although there are some notable names on the injury report due to both conventional injuries and COVID-19 protocols. We also have a rather unique scheduling quirk – even by 2020-21 standards – as the Trail Blazers and Timberwolves will do battle for a second consecutive night.
Slate Overview
Here's a closer look at the three games with the highest projected totals on Sunday's slate:
Portland Trail Blazers at Minnesota Timberwolves (Projected total: 234.5 points)
These two teams combined for 246 points Saturday night in a 125-121 Trail Blazers' win. While the quick turnaround could certainly result in some sluggishness and weary legs, at least neither team has to move an inch with respect to travel and the game therefore still carries a hefty total. Portland and Minnesota shot 48.3 percent and 51.2 percent, respectively, in the contest, while the T-Wolves already came into the matchup allowing the third-most points per game (116.7) and playing at the league's third-fastest pace (106.0 possessions per game). The Trail Blazers also ranked in the bottom-10 going in with 115.2 points per contest allowed, including 115.7 per road game. Given the ease with which each team put up points Saturday, this could be another barnburner if the energy level can be maintained.
Los Angeles Clippers at New Orleans Pelicans (Projected total: 233.5 points)
The Pelicans check into Sunday allowing the fifth-most points per game (115.5), while the Clippers are scoring an almost identical 115.2 per contest, the sixth-highest figure in the league. New Orleans is also surrendering the eighth-highest shooting percentage (47.4 percent), and while Los Angeles is yielding a modest 108.3 points per contest, the Pels are quite the offensive force at home with 116.9 points per contest at Smoothie King Center. The two teams combined for just 217 points the one prior time they met this season, however, but Zion Williamson did not play.
Toronto Raptors at Chicago Bulls (Projected total: 229.5 points)
The Bulls are the more vulnerable defensive squad, giving up the seventh-most points per contest overall (115.1) along with the sixth-highest shooting percentage (47.6 percent) - including 51.1 percent over the last three. That's not to say the Raptors are a prohibitive defensive matchup, as they surrender 113.8 points per road outing. Chicago is also playing at the sixth-fastest pace (105.1 possessions per game) and both sides are ranked in the top half of the league in scoring (Bulls-114.0 PPG, Toronto -113.2 PPG - including 115.5 per road game). However, Toronto will still be missing Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby due to COVID-19 restrictions and Chris Boucher could be listed as questionable after receiving a lip laceration Saturday, all which could certainly affect the Raps' offensive ceiling.
Injury Situations to Monitor
NOTE: Injury reporting is especially fluid in the NBA, where the status of multiple players can change during the course of a day. Therefore, although the following serves as a foundation for the latest injury report as of the time the article is written, check back throughout the course of the day with RotoWire for the latest news regarding the status of all players on that night's slate.
Fred VanVleet, TOR (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
VanVleet's ongoing absence should lead to another start for Norman Powell.
John Wall, HOU (knee)/ Status: OUT
With Wall out again Sunday, Kevin Porter should once again see plenty of run as the likely point guard while Victor Oladipo should also enjoy elevated usage.
Pascal Siakam, TOR (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
Siakam's ongoing absence should continue affording both Aron Baynes and Chris Boucher plenty of extra opportunities.
Bam Adebayo, MIA (knee)/ Status: OUT
Adebayo's latest absence should continue affording Kelly Olynyk extra opportunities down low, while the likes of Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic, Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro should see added responsibility.
Chris Boucher, TOR (lip)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Boucher needed three stitches for a lip laceration Saturday following the game against the Hornets. If he's unable to play, Aron Baynes would be in for a significant boost in minutes.
Evan Fournier, ORL (groin)/ Status: OUT
Fournier's fourth straight absence should continue affording Dwayne Bacon and Michael Carter-Williams plenty of extra opportunities.
Darius Garland, CLE (groin)/ Status: PROBABLE
Garland is expected to return after a one-game absence and slide back into his starting point guard role.
Other notable injuries:
OG Anunoby, TOR (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
D'Angelo Russell, MIN (quadriceps)/ Status: OUT
Malik Beasley, MIN (suspension)/ Status: OUT
Christian Wood, HOU (ankle)/ Status: OUT
Terrence Ross, ORL (knee)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
De'Andre Hunter, ATL (knee)/ Status: OUT
Cam Reddish, ATL (Achilles)/ Status: OUT
Cole Anthony, ORL (ribs)/ Status: OUT
Aaron Gordon, ORL (ankle)/ Status: OUT
Eric Gordon, HOU (groin)/ Status: OUT
David Nwaba, HOU (wrist)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Andre Drummond, CLE (team decision)/ Status: OUT
Patrick Beverley, LAC (knee)/ Status: OUT
Danuel House, HOU (knee)/ Status: OUT
James Ennis, ORL (calf)/ Status: OUT
P.J. Tucker, HOU (team decision)/ Status: OUT
Garrett Temple, CHI (ankle)/ Status: OUT
Elite Players
There's only one player with a five-figure salary Sunday, with Jimmy Butler ($10,300) fitting the bill. Jimmy Buckets should once again be a fine play with Bam Adebayo still out of action due to his knee injury, as Butler has scored 52.1 to 63.1 FD points over his last three contests and also posted 57 and 61.6 in his last two before the All-Star break. The Magic also make for a tantalizing target, considering Butler has already tagged them for 48.1 and 63.1 during his two prior meetings.
There are also several players with salaries in the high four-figures who have the ability to deliver elite scores, including Nikola Vucevic ($9,900), Damian Lillard ($9,900), Zach LaVine ($9,400), Kawhi Leonard ($9,300), Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,100), Trae Young ($9,000) and Zion Williamson ($9,000).
From that group, it's worth noting Vucevic posted 46.9 FD points against the Heat just two games ago, while Lillard just produced a 25-point, 10-assist double-double against the T-Wolves. LaVine, Towns and Young are also in particularly good matchups, with KAT having already gone off for a 34-point, 10-rebound double-double in 34 minutes against Portland.
Expected Chalk
In addition to the names just detailed in the Elite Players sections, other likely chalk plays include the Raptors' Kyle Lowry, Norman Powell, Aron Baynes and Chris Boucher due to Toronto's multiple COVID-19 absences. Enes Kanter, Gary Trent and Anthony Edwards should also see plenty of clicks on their names due to their participation in a game that should have a highly conducive DFS environment, while Goran Dragic, Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro could be popular as well at their reasonable salaries with Adebayo still out. The Rockets' Kevin Porter and Victor Oladipo should also both find themselves in plenty of lineups with Wall out again, but Porter's salary has risen to $6,000 after two spectacular performances.
Key Values
Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. POR ($6,500)
Edwards lit up the Trail Blazers for 35.1 FD points over 29 minutes Saturday night and scored 31.5 to 43.8 FD points over the five previous contests. The 2020 first-overall pick is still struggling with efficiency, but he's averaging 36.1 FD points per 36 minutes and boasts a 32.6 percent usage rate with D'Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley off the floor this season. The Trail Blazers are also ranked in the bottom half of the league in offensive efficiency allowed to small forwards (22.9 percent) while allowing 46.4 FD points per contest to threes over the last 10 games.
Tyler Herro, MIA at ORL ($5,600)
Herro is one of several appealing reasonably-valued Heat players Sunday, and the young sharpshooter is coming off posting 31.3 FD points against this same Magic squad on Thursday. He slumped to 12.3 FD points versus the Bulls on Friday night on 1-for-7 shooting, so he could be a bit less rostered than usual. Orlando is also allowing NBA-high 27.8 percent offensive efficiency to two-guards, as well as the sixth-most FD points per game to the position on the season (52.2). Herro has also offered over 5x his current salary in 13 of 27 games, further strengthening his case.
Naz Reid, MIN vs. POR ($4,000)
Reid put up 23.3 FD points across only 13 minutes against the Blazers on Saturday and racked up 33.3 across 23 minutes versus the Pelicans Thursday. The young big has returned over 5x on his current salary in 20 of 35 games, and only half of those instances came during his starting stint earlier in the campaign. Portland is also allowing the second-highest offensive efficiency to second-unit players (46.3 percent), and Reid could see more minutes than usual off the bench if the second game of the back-to-back set happens to get out of hand in either direction.
Other value plays to consider: Kevin Porter, HOU vs. BOS ($6,000); Marcus Smart, BOS at HOU ($5,900); John Collins, ATL vs. CLE ($5,900); Coby White, CHI vs. TOR ($5,900); Robert Williams, BOS at HOU ($5,600); Goran Dragic, MIA at ORL ($5,300); Gary Trent, POR at MIN ($4,900); Kelly Olynyk, MIA at ORL ($4,500); Duncan Robinson, MIA at ORL ($4,500)
