This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview - Main Slate
LAL at NOP: Lakers 3-7 in last 10 games and face second game of back-to-back; Pelicans 6-4 in last 10 games
BOS at SAS: Celtics on five-game win streak; Spurs 2-13 at home
BKN at OKC: Nets on two-game slide; Thunder on three-game win streak
ORL at PHX: Magic 7-8 on road; Suns on two-game win streak
SAC at MEM: Kings 7-7 on road; Grizzlies on two-game slide
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Injuries to Monitor
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LAL - D'Angelo Russell (lower body): OUT
LeBron James should run the point, while Austin Reaves could have a greater role on offense.
NOP - Trey Murphy (knee): Questionable
Naji Marshall and Dyson Daniels could get more opportunities.
BOS - Jrue Holiday (elbow): Questionable
Payton Pritchard may have to step up.
SAS - Keldon Johnson (back): Questionable; Zach Collins (ankle): OUT
Julian Champagnie is up for another start.
BKN - Nic Claxton (ankle): Probable; Lonnie Walker (hamstring), Ben Simmons (back): OUT
Dennis Smith, Cam Thomas and Royce O'Neale remain up for more playing time.
ORL - Jonathan Isaac (hamstring), Wendell Carter (knee), Gary Harris (calf), Markelle Fultz (knee): Questionable; Joe Ingles (ankle): OUT
Cole Anthony and Anthony Black may continue to get a more opportunity in the backcourt. Moritz Wagner and Goga Bitadze are also in line for a boost if Carter is out.
SAC - Kevin Huerter (hand): Questionable
Malik Monk and Chris Duarte could see more action.
MEM - John Konchar (illness), Luke Kennard (knee), Derrick Rose (hamstring): Questionable
Ziaire Williams could get more opportunities.
Elite Players
Guards
Ja Morant, Grizzlies ($9,600) vs. Kings
Morant tallied 19 points, six rebounds and 10 assists in the previous outing, which marked his return from a one-game absence due to illness. He is averaging 26.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists across five games played this season. Morant also faces a good opportunity to keep his rhythm going against the Kings, who give up the league's fourth-most points per game to opposing point guards.
Desmond Bane, Grizzlies ($8,400) vs. Kings
Bane continues to deliver big numbers despite his team's turbulent rotation to start the season. He topped 50 DK points in two of the last five games, averaging 27.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.0 steals over that span, and should keep it going against the Kings, who give up the league's eighth-highest field-goal percentage.
Forwards/Centers
Jaylen Brown, Celtics ($8,700) at Spurs
Brown delivered 53 DK points in the last game, which marked his return from a one-game absence due to a back injury. He is averaging 24.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 0.9 steals across his last 10 appearances. He has a good chance to shine against the Spurs, who give up the league's most three-pointers and third-most points per game.
Kevin Durant, Suns ($9,700) vs. Magic
Durant continues his scorching play, averaging 26.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks over the last five games, including a high of 74 DK points. He faces a tough matchup against the Magic frontcourt, but he is likely to pad his stats at the foul line, as the Magic give up the league's sixth-most free throws per game.
Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics ($8,000) at Spurs
Porzingis has been in and out of the lineup lately, but he is averaging 29.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.7 blocks over his last three appearances, which all came within the Celtics' last five outings. He faces a good opportunity to prosper against the Spurs, who give up the league's third-most points and fourth-most rebounds to opposing centers.
Expected Chalk
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder ($10,300) vs. Nets
Gilgeous-Alexander topped 50 DK points in nine of the last 10 games, including three with more than 60 DK points and a high of 67. He's averaging 34.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.9 steals, with just 1.7 turnovers per game over that span. He faces a tough matchup against the Nets, who do a good job of containing the point, but he should find room to get his shot off from deep, as they give up the league's seventh-most three-pointers per game.
Mid-Range Money
Marcus Smart, Grizzlies ($5,800) vs. Kings
Smart topped 29 DK points in all three games since returning from a five-week absence. He is averaging 13.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.2 steals in 14 games played this season, and he should find an easier time on the court alongside Ja Morant.
Derrick White, Celtics ($7,500) at Spurs
White continues to stand out, averaging 19.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.1 blocks over the last 10 games, including five with more than 40 DK points and a high of 52.8. He faces a great chance to keep rolling with a matchup against the Spurs, who give up the league's third-highest field-goal percentage to opposing shooting guards.
Josh Giddey, Thunder ($5,500) vs. Nets
Despite a couple of underwhelming performances, Giddey continues to make an impact across the stat sheet, averaging 10.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists over the last 10 games, including two where he topped 40 DK points. He has a good chance to find his groove offensively against the Nets, who do not do well covering the wing positions.
Value Picks
Herbert Jones, Pelicans ($4,700) vs. Lakers
Jones is averaging 6.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists over the last 10 games, including a high of 27.5 DK points. He could also pick up added playing time if Trey Murphy is out, and he has a favorable matchup against the Lakers, who face the second game of a back-to-back on the road.
Dorian Finney-Smith, ($4,800) at Thunder
Finney-Smith is expected to pick up his second straight start and is averaging 9.8 points and 4.8 rebounds over his last five outings. He is also likely to pad his stats against the Thunder, who give up the league's second-most offensive rebounds per game.