This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
NYK (-6.5) vs. DET, O/U:
CHA vs. IND (-2.5), O/U: 227.5
LAC vs. BOS (6.0), O/U:
ATL vs. CHI (-8.5), O/U:
LAL vs. MEM (-4), O/U:
MIA vs. SAS (-3), O/U:
OKC vs. PHX (-15), O/U: 216.5
UTA (-6.5) vs. POR, O/U: 229.5
DAL (-1) vs. SAC, O/U:
The Jazz-Trail Blazers matchup should be a high-scoring and competitive contest, with a balanced group to build around.
Damian Lillard has been playing great and will need to keep it up to lead his shorthanded group. Norman Powell, Larry Nance and Nassir Little are all reasonably priced and should see a boost as they take on key roles for the Trail Blazers. Tony Snell and Anfernee Simons are low-priced options who will also pick up solid minutes for the Blazers.
On the other side, Rudy Gobert is a pricey option, but he leads the league in rebounds and averages the second-most blocks per game. The Jazz will be without Donovan Mitchell, which means medium-priced options Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson will need to help fill the void. The Jazz will also look to Joe Ingles to pick up more responsibility, making him a great low-priced value option.
Injuries to Monitor
Derrick Rose (ankle), Nerlens Noel (COVID-19): OUT
Kemba Walker is up for a continued boost in playing time while Rose remains out. Mitchell Robinson will see additional minutes without Noel.
Cade Cunningham (COVID-19): Questionable
Jerami Grant (thumb), Kelly Olynyk (knee), Killian Hayes (COVID-19), Cory Joseph (COVID-19), Saben Lee (COVID-19), Trey Lyles (COVID-19), Isaiah Stewart (COVID-19), Josh Jackson (COVID-19): OUT
Saddiq Bey will continue to see more opportunity on the offensive side. Frank Jackson, Hamidou Diallo and Luka Garza will be up for big minutes.
Miles Bridges (COVID-19), P.J. Washington (COVID-19): OUT
Jalen McDaniels likely will start in place of Bridges, while Kelly Oubre and Cody Martin will see extra minutes off the bench.
Malcolm Brogdon (achilles): Questionable
T.J. McConnell (wrist): OUT
Chris Duarte and Jeremy Lamb are in line for additional playing time.
Paul George (elbow), Reggie Jackson (COVID-19), Isaiah Hartenstein (ankle), Nicolas Batum (ankle): OUT
Eric Bledsoe will have to step up with Jackson out of the lineup. Luke Kennard, Terance Mann and Marcus Morris will get more action as well.
Marcus Smart (hand): Questionable
Enes Freedom (COVID-19), Aaron Nesmith (COVID-19), Dennis Schroder (COVID-19), Jayson Tatum (COVID-19): OUT
Jaylen Brown will have major responsibly without Tatum in the lineup. Payton Pritchard will see a boost as Schroder is sidelined. Grant Williams and Romeo Langford should see added playing time, as well.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (COVID-19), John Collins (COVID-19), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (COVID-19), Danilo Gallinari (COVID-19), Delon Wright (COVID-19), Kevin Huerter (illness), Lou Williams (COVID-19): OUT
Lance Stephenson, Chaundee Brown and Cam Reddish are expected to start alongside Trae Young and Clint Capela.
Derrick Jones (hamstring): Questionable
Lonzo Ball (COVID-19), Tony Bradley (COVID-19), Alex Caruso (foot): OUT
Coby White is expected to start in place of Ball. Ayo Dosunmu should get more minutes off the bench.
Wayne Ellington (illness), Rajon Rondo (COVID-19), Anthony Davis (knee): OUT
Malik Monk and Dwight Howard are projected to start in place of Ellington and Davis, while Carmelo Anthony should see extra action off the bench.
Dillon Brooks (COVID-19), De'Anthony Melton (COVID-19), John Konchar (COVID-19): OUT
Kyle Anderson and Tyus Jones will be up for big minutes.
Bam Adebayo (thumb), P.J. Tucker (knee), Kyle Lowry (COVID-19), Dewayne Dedmon (knee), Max Strus (COVID-19): OUT
Gabe Vincent is expected to start in place of Lowry, while Omer Yurtseven is up for another start in place of Adebayo and Dedmon. Caleb Martin will pick up a boost without Tucker in the lineup.
Dejounte Murray (COVID-19): OUT
Derrick White will play a more prominent role, while Lonnie Walker, Devin Vassell and Keita Bates-Diop should also find added opportunity.
Darius Bazley (COVID-19), Derrick Favors (COVID-19), Josh Giddey (COVID-19), Tre Mann (COVID-19), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl COVID-19), Aleksej Pokusevski (COVID-19): OUT
Kenrich Williams, Aaron Wiggins and Mike Muscala will have to step up into key roles.
Deandre Ayton (COVID-19), Jae Crowder (COVID-19), Frank Kaminsky (knee): OUT
JaVale McGee will see significant playing time without Ayton or Kaminsky. Cameron Johnson will start in place of Crowder.
Donovan Mitchell (back): OUT
Joe Ingles and Jordan Clarkson will both see a boost.
Cody Zeller (knee), Robert Covington (COVID-19), CJ McCollum (chest), Dennis Smith (COVID-19), Jusuf Nurkic (COVID-19): OUT
Anfernee Simons, Tony Snell, Nassir Little and Larry Nance will continue to see more playing time.
Maxi Kleber (COVID-19): Questionable
Trey Burke (COVID-19), Luka Doncic (COVID-19), Tim Hardaway (COVID-19): OUT
Jalen Brunson and Reggie Bullock are up for extended minutes in the Mavs' backcourt.
Alex Len (COVID-19), Davion Mitchell (COVID-19): Questionable
Terence Davis and Marvin Bagley will see additional minutes.
Elite Players
Guards
Tyrese Haliburton ($8,600)
Haliburton will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back, after he totaled 24 points, 10 assists, two blocks and a steal in 33 minutes of action in a home win over the Thunder on Tuesday. He has an advantageous matchup, as the Kings play host to the Mavs and their shorthanded backcourt.
Jaylen Brown ($10,000)
Brown will need to step up with Jayson Tatum out of the lineup. Brown has topped 40 DK points in each of the last five games, including one outing where he topped 50 DK points. He will have an advantage in his matchup against the shorthanded Clippers.
Forwards/Centers
Jimmy Butler ($10,000)
Butler will have to come up big for his shorthanded squad. He logged 43 DK points in his last contest, which marked his first game back from a two-week absence. Butler and the Heat go up against the Spurs, who are giving up a generous109.8 points per game.
Kristaps Porzingis ($9,400)
Without Luka Doncic in the lineup, the Mavs will continue to look for more from Porzingis. The big man is coming off a massive outing, where he logged 34 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.
Nikola Vucevic ($9,000)
The Bulls are playing host to the Hawks in the second game of a home-and-home series. Vucevic came up huge in the first contest Monday, where he accounted for 65.8 DK points.
Expected Chalk
Damian Lillard ($10,600)
Lillard has been playing great, averaging 30.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists, over the last seven games. He will need to keep it up, as the Trail Blazers remain without their second-leading scorer, CJ McCollum. Lillard has a matchup against the Jazz, who are without Donovan Mitchell, which will leave a gap in their backcourt defense.
Value Picks
Malik Monk ($4,000)
The Lakers are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, after a win in Houston, where Monk logged 25 points of 7-of-14 shooting, in a starting role. He will have another big opportunity, as the Lakers remain shorthanded in the backcourt.
Joe Ingles ($4,000)
Ingles accounted for 25.8 DK points in the Jazz's last contest and will likely pick up another start in place of Donovan Mitchell. The Jazz go up against the Trail Blazers, who are giving up an average of 111.7 points per game, which is fifth most in the league.
Caleb Martin ($3,900)
Martin should pick up a key role for the shorthanded Heat. Martin produced well in the Heat's last game with 27.8 DK points in 29 minutes of action.
Kyle Anderson ($4,600)
Anderson is up for a boost in his role with De'Anthony Melton and Dillon Brooks missing from the Grizzlies' lineup. Anderson has topped 20 DK points in eight of the last 10 games.
Omer Yurtseven ($4,600)
Yurtseven picked up the start in the Heat's last contest and totaled 16 points, 15 rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes of action. He will pick up another start as Bam Adebayo and Dewayne Dedmon remain sidelined.
