This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
MIL (-4) at CLE, O/U: 218.5
CHA (-2) at IND, O/U: 228
LAC at ORL (-1), O/U: 214.5
SAC at ATL (-9.5), O/U: 231.5
NYK at MIA (-5.5), O/U: 203
TOR at CHI (-4), O/U: 219
DEN (-2) at BKN, O/U: 221.5
MEM (-4.5) at SAS, O/U: 228.5
DAL (-4) at POR, O/U: 216
PHX (-2) at UTA, O/U: 223.5
The Suns-Jazz matchup is full of great value opportunities resulting from injuries on both sides.
The Suns will be without much of their frontcourt depth, which opens up major minutes for Bismack Biyombo and Cameron Johnson. Mikal Bridges will also have to step up and makes for a solid mid-tier pick. Chris Paul and Devin Booker each come with relatively low top-tier price tags and will have to come up big for the shorthanded squad.
The Jazz will be without their two star players, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, and they will need a team effort to stay competitive. Look for Jordan Clarkson, Bojan Bogdanovic and Mike Conley to each step up offensively and outplay their mid-tier price tags. Hassan Whiteside stands out as a great value play, as he is set to fill in for Gobert.
Injuries to Monitor
Wesley Matthews (knee), Grayson Allen (suspension): OUT
Pat Connaughton will be up for a boost.
Jarrett Allen (illness): Questionable
Lauri Markkanen (ankle): OUT
Evan Mobley and Kevin Love will have to step up in the frontcourt.
Gordon Hayward (foot): Questionable
Jalen McDaniels (ankle): OUT
Kelly Oubre and Cody Martin will be up for more responsibility if Hayward is out.
Domantas Sabonis (ankle): Questionable
Myles Turner (foot), Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles): OUT
Torrey Craig will fill in key frontcourt minutes with Turner sidelined. Chris Duarte will get more minutes in the backcourt. If Sabonis is out, Goga Bitadze will likely get another start.
Marcus Morris (personal): Questionable
Terance Mann will get a boost if Morris is out.
Mo Bamba (ankle): Questionable
Chuma Okeke and Moritz Wagner will see more minutes if Bamba is out.
De'Aaron Fox (ankle), Terence Davis (head): Questionable
Davion Mitchell will have to step up if Fox and Davis are out.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee), De'Andre Hunter (back), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (illness): Questionable
Danilo Gallinari and Kevin Huerter are in line for additional playing time.
Nerlens Noel (knee), Mitchell Robinson (ankle): Questionable
Derrick Rose (ankle): OUT
Taj Gibson and Obi Toppin will have to step up in the frontcourt if Noel and Robinson are out.
Kyle Lowry (personal): OUT
Gabe Vincent will get another start in place of Lowry.
Fred VanVleet (knee), Scottie Barnes (wrist): Questionable
Khem Birch (nose): OUT
Chris Boucher and Precious Achiuwa will likely step into the starting lineup if VanVleet and Barnes remain out.
Lonzo Ball (knee), Alex Caruso (wrist), Derrick Jones (knee): OUT
Ayo Dosunmu will pick up another start in place of Ball, while Coby White will also pick up extra minutes.
Will Barton (hamstring): Questionable
Austin Rivers would have to step up without Barton.
Kevin Durant (knee), Kyrie Irving (not injury related): OUT
Kessler Edwards will start in place of Durant, while Patty Mills will continue to start in place of Irving.
Tyus Jones (COVID-19), Desmond Bane (COVID-19), Brandon Clarke (back): Questionable
Kyle Anderson (COVID-19), Dillon Brooks (ankle): OUT
Ziaire Williams, John Konchar and De'Anthony Melton are up for more responsibility.
Keita Bates-Diop (COVID-19): OUT
Devin Vassell and Lonnie Walker will pick up some extra minutes.
Tim Hardaway (foot): OUT
Reggie Bullock will get more action without Hardaway.
Cody Zeller (knee): OUT
Damian Lillard (abdomen), Larry Nance (knee): OUT
Anfernee Simons will continue to start in place of Lillard. Nassir Little will get a boost without Nance.
Deandre Ayton (ankle), Jae Crowder (wrist), JaVale McGee (knee), Cameron Payne (wrist): OUT
Bismack Biyombo and Cameron Johnson are set to start, while Landry Shamet will get more minutes off the bench.
Rudy Gobert (calf), Donovan Mitchell (concussion): OUT
Jordan Clarkson and Hassan Whiteside are set to start in place of Mitchell and Gobert.
Elite Players
Guards
Trae Young ($10,400)
The Hawks play host to the Kings, who are on the second night of a back-to-back after a blowout loss on Tuesday. Young topped 42 DK points in each of the last five games, including two contests where he topped 54 DK points.
Caris LeVert ($8,600)
With Malcolm Brogdon sidelined, LeVert will move to point guard and has a great opportunity to fill the stat sheet. LeVert topped 38 DK points in each of his last four games.
Forwards/Centers
Khris Middleton ($8,800)
Middleton has been on fire lately, averaging 24.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.4 steals over the last 10 games, while he topped 50 Dk points four times over that span. Middleton has an advantage in his matchup against the Cavs.
Miles Bridges ($8,200)
Bridges is averaging 22.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 blocks, over the last 10 games, and he topped 50 DK points twice in the last three games. The Hornets take on the Pacers, who are without Myles Turner, which will allow Bridges an easier time in the paint.
Nikola Jokic ($12,400)
The Nuggets are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, but Jokic should have plenty of gas after he logged 28 points, 21 rebounds, nine assists and a steal in 33 minutes of action on Tuesday night. Jokic topped 60 DK points in each of the last five games, and he has an advantage going up against the Nets' shorthanded frontcourt.
Expected Chalk
James Harden ($11,500)
Harden has been playing well lately, averaging 22.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 1.0 steals over his last 10 games, and he's topped 60 DK points four times over that span. He has to step up for the shorthanded Nets, as they remain without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The Nets play host to the Nuggets, who do not have elite backcourt defenders and are on the second night of a back-to-back.
Value Picks
Donte DiVincenzo ($4,000)
DiVincenzo will be up for some extra playing time with injuries in the Bucks' backcourt. DiVincenzo toped 30 DK points in his last outing and is averaging 7.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists, over the last five games.
Duncan Robinson ($4,300)
Robinson logged 41.3 DK points in the Heat's last contest, and he will need to come up big again for the shorthanded squad.
Kessler Edwards ($4,300)
Edwards will pick up another start for the Nets. Edwards is averaging 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals over the last five games, and he topped 30 DK points once over that span.
Chuma Okeke ($4,300)
Okeke topped 20 DK points in eight of the last 10 games and will continue to see extended minutes.
Ivica Zubac ($4,900)
Zubac is coming off a quiet outing, but he topped 40 DK points in two of the last four games.
