This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
We're teed up for a solid mid-sized six-game slate Saturday night, one that projects to have primarily competitive games but a smattering of notable absences as well. The healthy big names in the player pool are all in a good position to varying degrees, however, with a couple set to benefit from not having another star teammate available.
Slate Overview
Utah Jazz (-5) at Washington Wizards (O/U: 218.0 points)
Houston Rockets at Memphis Grizzlies (-8) (O/U: 222.0 points)
Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat (-1) (O/U: 211.5 points)
Sacramento Kings at Cleveland Cavaliers (-7) (O/U: 217.5 points)
Golden State Warriors (-1.5) at Philadelphia 76ers (O/U: 214.5 points)
Denver Nuggets (-1.5) at San Antonio Spurs (O/U: 218.0 points)
As just noted, the night shapes up as one that could feature wire-to-wire battles across the board. Even the game with the largest spread on Saturday morning, the Rockets-Grizzlies battle, could be a lot closer than projected based on Houston's recent play. Other intriguing matchups include a Bulls-Heat battle in Miami where both teams will be without key players, and a Warriors visit to Philadelphia, where Golden State is only a narrow favorite despite the fact the Sixers are only 5-6 on their home floor.
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.
Jimmy Butler, MIA (back): OUT
With Butler out again, Caleb Martin should draw another start after exploding for 28 points against the Bucks on Wednesday.
DeMar DeRozan, CHI (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
In DeRozan's ongoing absence, Ayo Dosunmu should draw a third straight start, while the usage of the likes of Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic should remain elevated.
Richaun Holmes, SAC (eye): OUT
With Holmes out again, Tristan Thompson and Alex Len should log most minutes at center.
Other notable injuries:
Ja Morant, MEM (knee): OUT
Bam Adebayo, MIA (thumb): OUT
Kevin Porter, HOU (thigh): OUT
Will Barton, DEN (illness): PROBABLE
Keldon Johnson, SAN (ankle): PROBABLE
Duncan Robinson, MIA (quadriceps): PROBABLE
Alex Caruso, CHI (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
Dillon Brooks, MEM (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Jalen Green, HOU (hamstring): OUT
Elite Players
We have three players with five-figure salaries on Saturday's slate – Nikola Jokic ($11,900), Stephen Curry ($11,600) and Joel Embiid ($11,200).
Jokic is averaging 58.5 DK points per contest and comes into Saturday having scored 62.0 to 72.8 DK points in his last three games. He's also averaged 66.9 DK points in two previous games against the Spurs this season.
Curry had a down game by his standards last time out (30.5 DK points), but he's averaging 49.9 DK points per contest and has over 50 DK points in five of the last 10 alone.
Embiid just completed a run of four games with at least 50 DK points and is averaging 49.1 per game for the season. He also should have a significant size advantage down low versus a Warriors team he's averaged 22.2 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists against during five career games.
Expected Chalk
In addition to the players just mentioned in the prior section, other likely chalk plays include:
Dejounte Murray, SAN ($9,900)
Murray continues to put up over 40 DK points with regularity, and with an average of 47.2 DK points per game for the season, offers the upside of a five-figure salary player.
Zach LaVine, CHI ($9,800)
LaVine boasts a team-high 34.6 percent usage rate with DeRozan off the floor and has scored at least 40 DK points in five straight games.
Christian Wood, HOU ($9,500)
Wood has been a key part of the Rockets' recent resurgence and has scored 39.3 to 48.8 DK points in his last four games, which should keep him in plenty of lineups Sunday.
Nikola Vucevic, CHI ($9,100)
Vucevic sports a 27.4 percent usage rate and averages 45.8 FD points per 36 minutes with DeRozan off the floor, which should help him retain a strong measure of popularity Saturday.
Key Values
Tyrese Haliburton, SAC at CLE ($5,800)
Haliburton just put up 39.3 DK points against the Hornets on Friday night and also scored 32.3 to 51.3 DK points in the three games prior, all outstanding returns on his current salary. The second-year wing is shooting a career-best 41.8 percent from three-point range at the moment as well, and he's delivered over 5x return on his current salary in 13 of 24 games overall. The Cavaliers have generally been tough against shooting guards overall, but it's worth noting they've been vulnerable in two areas where Haliburton has been particularly effective in supplementing his fantasy production, assists and steals – Cleveland checks in allowing the sixth-most dimes per home game (24.8), along with the fourth-most steals per contest overall (8.9).
De'Anthony Melton, MEM vs. HOU ($5,100)
Melton should be set for another start in place of Dillon Brooks on Saturday following his tally of 30.5 DK points across 29 minutes versus the Lakers on Thursday. Melton has provided over 5x return on his current salary on 12 occasions overall this season, shooting 46.3 percent, including 41.3 percent from distance, in those contests. He also scored 16 DK points over just 16.1 minutes in his one previous encounter with Houston this season, and the Rockets come in tied for the ninth-most DK points per game allowed to two-guards as well.
Caleb Martin, MIA vs. CHI ($3,500)
Martin's salary particularly stands out when considering he just racked up 49.0 DK points in a start for Jimmy Butler on Wednesday against the Bucks. Martin had also tallied 21.8 to 32.3 DK points in three of the previous five contests, which all represent excellent returns on the very modest investment he requires. Martin should have another hefty workload Saturday against the Bulls, which are allowing the third-most DK points per game to small forwards on the season. Martin is averaging 33.6 DK points per 36 minutes with Butler and Bam Adebayo off the floor this season and should therefore be in line to pay great dividends once again.
ALSO CONSIDER: Garrison Mathews, HOU at MEM ($4,400)
