This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Saturday's seven-game site kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Although I won't be with you for Sunday's slate, don't forget to move your clocks forward to tonight, USA readers! Let's look at the Vegas numbers.
SLATE OVERVIEW
DET @ BKN (-11.5) O/U: 229
TOR @ CHA (-2) O/U: 229.5
MIL @ WAS (+10.5) O/U: 239.5
SAC @ ATL (-3.5) O/U: 239
POR @ MIN (+4.5) O/U:233
IND @ PHO (-6.5) O/U:221
DAL @ DEN (-2.5) O/U: 226.5
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Games to Target in BOLD
Games to Fade in ITALICS
INJURIES
DET: Dennis Smith (COVID-19 protocols) - OUT
Smith is in the league's COVID-19 protocols, but now that Delon Wright ($6,100) has returned, things will settle into the usual rotation. For now, Saben Lee should function as the primary backup.
BKN: Kevin Durant (hamstring) - OUT
BKN: Blake Griffin (injury management) - OUT
It's business as usual for Brooklyn. No change in either of these designations, and we'll hit on the fortunes for the rest of the team later in the article.
TOR: Fred VanVleet (COVID-19 protocols) - OUT
TOR: Pascal Siakam (COVID-19 protocols) - OUT
TOR: OG Anunoby (COVID -19 protocols) - OUT
The Raptors will still be without this trio on Saturday. Norman Powell ($7,600), Chris Boucher, ($6,700), Aron Baynes ($3,900), Stanley Johnson ($3,500) and DeAndre' Bembry ($4,100) all beat 5x value in their last game, but Kyle Lowry failed to meet that mark. All of these players are viable today, with Bembry possessing the most upside relative to his salary.
WAS: Davis Bertans (calf) - QUESTIONABLE
Bertans bowed out early with calf tightness in their last contest, and he may be just fine. In the event he doesn't play, we'll likely see a little more of Garrison Mathews ($3,500).
MIN: Malik Beasley (suspension) - OUT
MIN: D'Angelo Russell (knee) - OUT
Russell is nearing a return, but for tonight things remain the same fot the Wolves. I especially like Anthony Edwards ($6,500) against a weak Portland defense tonight, and he's become a nightly consideration while Beasley is out.
PHO: Cameron Johnson (COVID-19 protocols) - OUT
I would just trust the starters here, although increased run from Dario Saric ($4,400) is a distinct possibility.
ELITE PLAYERS
We see six guys at 10k or above on tonight's slate, so chances are high that you will be looking at one of them, at the bare minimum. If we're looking at the game with the highest total, the nod goes to Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,300) against the lightning-fast Wizards.
Washington is on a back-to-back, so there's always a chance that Russell Westbrook ($10,100) could sit this one out. If that's the case, I like Bradley Beal ($10,300) on the other side of this matchup. James Harden ($11,800) faces some potential blowout risk against the Pistons, so I will be under the field on the Beard tonight, and the same is true for Nikola Jokic. He didn't fare too well against Dallas in their last matchup, and I believe I can get comparable value elsewhere in the pool of centers.
Damian Lillard ($9,900) has been almost matchup-proof this season, and I love his chances in this matchup against the Wolves. I've paired a lot of Giannis and Dame in my builds, and I think you should too! Trae Young's ($9,000) price jumped $200 after a superb game against the Raptors, and he should find similar success against the Kings tonight. He may be hard to get to, especially if you elect to slide Kyrie Irving ($9,500) into your builds, but if I'm baking in one lineup, I like Young over Irving due to the lopsided nature of the Nets-Pistons game.
EXPECTED CHALK
Clint Capela, ATL ($8,300) va. SAC
Speaking of better value at the center position, how about Capela? He kicked off the second half of the season with 48 FP against the Raptors, and he did it with 19 rebounds in only 29 minutes. It's hard to see how Richaun Holmes can stem the tide here, especially without Hassan Whiteside available to back him up.
Khris Middleton, MIL ($7,500) @ WAS
I'd like to get as many players as possible into this game, which is why I wouldn't mind a stack of Giannis and Middleton tonight. He started out the second half with a bit of a clunker against the Knicks but leading into the break he was beating 5x value on an almost nightly basis. The Wizards are terrible against opposing wing players, so Middleton is primed for success tonight.
Jerami Grant, DET ($7,400) @ BKN
Let's face it - someone has to stand up to the Nets, and it's going to be Grant, who will at least have the advantage of dominating inside without Kevin Durant around to bother him. The Nets can't win this game with defense, so their aim will be to outscore the Pistons. Grant is their best hope of matching Brooklyn's offensive firepower.
Rather than mention a fourth chalk player, it bears mentioning that the aforementioned Raptors are scattered throughout this salary level, and lower. Powell and Boucher are right in this range, so don't forget about them as we move further down the docket.
VALUE PLAYS
Jrue Holiday, MIL ($6,100) @ WAS
I don't want to over-stack the Bucks, but Holiday is a game away from breaking out, although he is slow out of the gate after missing ten games. The fast pace of this game could be just what the doctor ordered for Holiday.
Mason Plumlee, DET ($6,100) @ BKN
Center is another position where the Nets have problems on defense, and Plumlee is easily the No. 2 option in Detroit right now. For the first time in his career, he has a starting role all for himself, and he's taken advantage. Although he's lower-owned and a bit overlooked, he has a reliable floor for points and rebounds and provides a slight discount over other centers in the pool.
Mikal Bridges, PHO ($5,300) vs. IND
Bridges' price is right despite playing the Pacers, who have a habit of bottling up teams with a streaky defense. Bridges doesn't have to do much to beat value here, and his reliable floor isn't going to burn you. If he can get off 10 or more shots, he'll complement that with a good rebounding number.
Gary Trent, POR ($4,900) @ MIN
Trent has been sneaky good in CJ McCollum's absence, and his three-point stroke is reaping dividends. If he can get open enough and rip off the kind of shot volume he's had recently, Trent could be in for a superlative night against the Wolves.
