This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The slate was absolutely loaded Monday night, so we have just two games to work with Tuesday on this Thanksgiving week. The Clippers and Mavericks are scheduled to tip off at 8:30 PM Eastern time, while the Wizards and Nuggets close out the night with a 9:00 PM Eastern tip.
Here's your weekly reminder that FanDuel has gone back to their old format, counting all nine of your player's scores within your lineup. With each selection counting towards your score, it'll be vital to make each and every choice count, especially with only four teams taking the court Tuesday evening.
Let's take a look at the slate.
Slate Overview
While there are just two games on the docket, we're in luck as both matchups are projected to feature plenty of scoring.
Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks (Projected total: 227.7)
Dallas has emerged as one of the hottest teams in the NBA of late, led by the likes of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. They've won their last five contests and are averaging 129.8 points over that impressive stretch. The Clippers also have their fair share of star power, with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leading the way for Los Angeles. It's not hard to see why this game is expected to be an enticing environment for scoring.
Washington Wizards at Denver Nuggets (Projected total: 227.5)
While there will be fewer big names in this one, the Wizards have been stellar in the scoring department so far this season, ranking second with 119.1 PPG. Denver sits near the bottom of the league with 106.7 PPG, so the FanDuel Sportsbook is counting on Bradley Beal (29.6 PPG) and Thomas Bryant (14.6 PPG) to carry the scoring load Tuesday night.
Positional Breakdown
The options are limited on this small slate, with only two players available at $7K or above at each of the five positions.
At point guard, we have Doncic and Jamal Murray as the top two choices. Doncic has been nearly unstoppable of late, so while his price tag is eye popping at $12,500, he just might be worth it Tuesday night. Beal and Lou Williams are the two players at the top of the list at shooting guard, though there may be some value to be had with Gary Harris and Delon Wright for under $5K.
The two forward spots may have the most depth Tuesday, with three players priced at $6K or above: George, Will Barton and Davis Bertans at small forward and Kawhi, Porzingis and Paul Millsap at power forward.
Last but not least, Nikola Jokic and Montrezl Harrell are considered the most valuable plays at center, though Moritz Wagner and Dwight Powell are enticing value plays for under $5K.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Maxi Kleber, DAL
Kleber is listed as questionable for Tuesday's tilt due to a bruised right knee. The team should have a better idea of his availability following morning shootaround, though Dwight Powell and Boban Marjanovic would be in line for more minutes if Kleber isn't cleared.
Notable Long-Term Injuries: John Wall, WAS; Ian Mahinmi, WAS; Bol Bol, DEN; Landry Shamet, LAC
Elite
As can be expected, there are fewer elite options available Tuesday. Luka Doncic is the priciest option on the slate at $12,500, followed by Nikola Jokic ($10,00) and Kawhi Leonard ($10,200).
Outside of the $10K range, we have Bradley Beal ($9,700) at shooting guard and Paul George ($9,500) at small forward for elite players. I'd also consider Kristaps Porzingis in that category -- he can be scooped up for $8,500. As is typically the case, there are certainly elite players to be had for under $10K, even with only two games scheduled. Beal, George and Porzingis are all solid options if you're trying to avoid paying top dollar for a superstar.
Expected Chalk
To the surprise of no one, the superstars will be in high demand on Tuesday's slate, especially with both contests expected to contain plenty of scoring. Doncic will likely be the chalkiest play of all, putting up 41 points and dishing out 10 dimes in the Mavericks' last game Sunday against Houston (67.2 FanDuel points). Kawhi and Jokic are also in the conversation for chalky plays -- with the type of production these players put up on a nightly basis, it'll be tough to stay competitive with the rest of the field if you elect to bypass all three.
Without many injury situations to monitor, I expect other heavily-owned players to be cheaper elite plays (listed above), followed by value plays. For example, Ish Smith ($4,200) could be a solid value play to pair with Doncic at point guard. The Wake Forest product has scored north of 33 FD points in two of his last three contests.
Moving to small forward, Dorian Finney-Smith ($4,400) could be paired with George to save a few bucks. Finney-Smith is coming off a strong performance Sunday against the Rockets, registering a double-double in 32 minutes of action.
Key Values
Maurice Harkless, LAC at DAL ($3,800)
Harkless is coming off a few disappointing performances, which likely means he won't have high ownership, but he'll draw an enticing matchup against a Dallas defense that's allowing 49.1 FD points per game to opposing small forwards this season. The 2012 first-round pick has also started each of his team's last seven contests, averaging 24.7 minutes over that stretch. Available for just a touch under $4K, it's certainly possible to pair Harkless with George or even Will Barton if you're trying to save up for the hefty price tag Doncic demands.
Gary Harris, DEN vs. WAS ($4,500)
Harris has logged 33-plus minutes in each of his last three games, so while the production hasn't quite been there over that brief stretch, the team has given him plenty of opportunities, which is certainly one thing I'm looking for when selecting a value play. He typically has a productive fantasy performance when contributing across the board, averaging 10.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals over 15 matchups this year. The Michigan State product may not be the flashiest selection on this slate, but he's a threat to put up around 25-to-30 FD points on any given night based on his projected workload and versatility.
