This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We're set for an eight-game slate Sunday night, one that oddsmakers appear to envision as more competitive than Saturday's. There is one game with an 8.5-point spread as of early Sunday morning, but the rest carry lines of six points or fewer. As we've discussed before, that's a good scenario for DFS purpose as it predicts plenty of situations where top players should see hefty workloads.
Slate Overview
Here's a closer look at the three games with the highest projected totals:
Chicago Bulls at Minnesota Timberwolves (Projected total: 231.0 points)
The Bulls are allowing 114.6 points per road game, while the Timberwolves are surrendering an NBA-high 117.7 points per game overall. Chicago is also a lot better offensively on the road (115.8 PPG) than home (109.7 PPG), although the same isn't true for Minnesota with only 107.0 points per Target Center tilt. But with the first game between these squads totaling 259 points, there's no reason to doubt the potential for this total to hit.
New Orleans Pelicans at Cleveland Cavaliers (Projected total: 226.0 points)
The Pelicans will be down Lonzo Ball (hip), but they do have Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson back in the fold. New Orleans is averaging 114.6 points per game while also allowing the fourth-most points per road game (116.7), so they certainly do more than enough to contribute to high totals hitting. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are averaging 108.1 points and surrender 111.8 per home tilt. So while they're a bit more understated than their opponent in both categories, they do offer some high-upside offensive options who can keep the scoreboard humming.
Miami Heat at Portland Trail Blazers (Projected total: 221.5 points)
This total could be bet up throughout the day as both teams can score their fair share and Portland is also porous on the defensive end. What's more, the teams put up 247 points when they met in South Florida at the end of March. The Heat struggle to keep up its end of the bargain offensively on the road (104.3 PPG), but they could certainly get some help from the Blazers who give up 114.5 points per home game. Portland also scores 114.4 points per Moda Center contest, so the scoreboard could be in store for another busy night.
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.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (knee)/ Status: DOUBTFUL
With Antetokounmpo likely to miss another game, Bobby Portis should draw another start at power forward.
Kawhi Leonard, LAC (rest)/ Status: OUT
With Leonard out, Luke Kennard or Nicolas Batum could draw a start at small forward while Paul George and Marcus Morris should enjoy particularly elevated usage.
Lonzo Ball, NOP (hip)/ Status: OUT
In Ball's confirmed absence Sunday, Kira Lewis and Isaiah Thomas are likely to handle point guard duties.
Jrue Holiday, MIL (knee)/ Status: PROBABLE
Holiday's expected return should send Jeff Teague back to the bench.
Khris Middleton, MIL (knee)/ Status: PROBABLE
Middleton's expected return should lead to Pat Connaughton returning to the second unit.
Victor Oladipo, MIA (knee)/ Status: OUT
In Oladipo's confirmed absence, Goran Dragic could draw a start at point guard.
Fred VanVleet, TOR (hip)/ Status: GTD
If VanVleet misses a fifth straight game, DeAndre' Bembry or Malachi Flynn should continue in the starting five.
Jarrett Allen, CLE (concussion)/ Status: OUT
In Allen's ongoing absence, Kevin Love should continue handling center duties.
Kyle Lowry, TOR (foot)/ Status: PROBABLE
If Lowry returns as expected, one of either DeAndre' Bembry or Malachi Flynn is likely to head to the second unit.
Myles Turner, IND (ankle)/ Status: OUT
Turner's ongoing absence should lead to Domantas Sabonis shifting over to center and Edmond Sumner remaining in the starting five.
Jerami Grant, DET (knee)/ Status: GTD
If Grant misses a third straight game, Sekou Doumbouya and Isaiah Stewart will likely be direct beneficiaries, while Josh Jackson would likely remain on the first unit.
Other notable injuries:
Chuma Okeke, ORL (hip)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Tyler Herro, MIA (foot)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Donte DiVincenzo, MIL (hip)/ Status: PROBABLE
Brook Lopez, MIL (back)/ Status: PROBABLE
Malik Beasley, MIN (hamstring)/ Status: OUT
Larry Nance, CLE (illness)/ Status: OUT
Serge Ibaka, LAC (back)/ Status: OUT
Mo Bamba, ORL (hip)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Otto Porter, ORL (foot)/ Status: OUT
Maxi Kleber, DAL (lower leg)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Elite Players
We have three players on Sunday's slate carrying five-figure salaries: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,200), Karl-Anthony Towns ($11,000) and Luka Doncic ($10,200).
As discussed, Antetokounmpo is considered doubtful for Sunday's contest. So unless he makes a miracle turnaround, he's likely out of the picture. Towns is part of the game that carries the highest projected total and faces an appealing matchup versus a Bulls team he already produced 46.1 FD points against earlier in the season. Doncic is set to face a Spurs' squad he already eviscerated for 61.3 and 48.4 FD points in two previous encounters this season while averaging a triple-double.
There are also several players with salaries in the high four-figures who have the ability to deliver elite scores, including Zion Williamson ($9,700), Nikola Vucevic ($9,600), Julius Randle ($9,500), Jimmy Butler ($9,300), Domantas Sabonis ($9,100) and Paul George ($9,000).
Williamson has a favorable matchup against the Cavaliers - which are already short-handed in the frontcourt - and he'll also be taking the floor without Lonzo Ball. Vucevic is in a good spot versus the Timberwolves, against which he already has a 52.6 FD-point tally. Randle is always in play and boasts the potential to churn out a triple-double any time he takes the floor, while Butler faces a questionable Blazers squad. Both Sabonis and George are in favorable scenarios while filling in for injured teammates, as Sabonis will be without Turner and George carries a 34.2 percent usage rate with Leonard off the floor.
Expected Chalk
In addition to the players just mentioned in the prior section, other likely chalk plays include: The remainder of the Bucks' starting five with Antetokounmpo out; Kyle Lowry, DeAndre' Bembry and Malachi Flynn if VanVleet sits out again; Brandon Ingram with Ball sidelined; Malcolm Brogdon due to Turner's absence; and Enes Kanter after his 24-point, 30-rebound double-double Saturday, although Jusuf Nurkic is off the injury report and could reenter the starting five.
Key Values
Bobby Portis, MIL at ORL (5,800)
Portis has scored 27.1 to 42.8 FD points over his three starts in Giannis Antetokounmpo's stead and should be right back with the first unit Sunday with his teammate doubtful due to a knee injury. Portis sports a 22.2 percent usage rate and averages 40.3 FD points per 36 minutes without Giannis on the floor and draws an excellent matchup against a Magic squad that's allowed the fourth-highest offensive efficiency to power forwards (26.8), along with a robust 50.5 FD points per game to the position over the last five. Portis's ability to stretch the floor (career-high 46.0 percent success rate from three-point range) could also come in handy in this spot, as Orlando is allowing elevated 39.8 percent three-point shooting over its last three.
Isaiah Hartenstein, CLE vs. NO ($5,600)
Hartenstein has been outstanding during Jarrett Allen's current absence by averaging 29.6 FD points per contest over the last five games Allen has missed, even while coming off the bench in four. Hartenstein's well-rounded line during that span reads as 10.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals. And Sunday, he'll be in a position to continue thriving with Allen already confirmed out. Hartenstein is actually averaging 45.5 FD points per 36 minutes with Allen off the floor, while New Orleans is giving up the sixth-highest offensive efficiency to bench players (44.2 percent), along with the fifth-most FD points per game to centers over the last five outings (49.6).
Nicolas Batum, LAC vs. DET ($4,400)
As previously mentioned, Kawhi Leonard will sit out Sunday's game for rest and Batum could be one of the biggest beneficiaries. The veteran has already been trending in the right direction of late by averaging 22.1 FD points over the last 10 games across a solid 27.5 minutes. A run with the first unit at small forward Sunday could prove rewarding at Batum's salary, as the Pistons are ranked in the bottom half of the league in offensive efficiency surrendered to threes (23.4 percent) while allowing the fourth-highest shooting percentage to the position (47.2), including the highest from three-point range (42.1 percent). Detroit is also giving up the seventh-most FD points per game to threes in the last 10 games (45.0), while Batum has already delivered or exceeded a 5x return on his current salary in 25 of 51 contests.
Also consider: RJ Barrett, NY vs. TOR ($6,200); Reggie Jackson, LAC vs. DET ($5,300); Terance Mann, LAC vs. DET ($5,100); Marcus Morris, LAC vs. DET ($4,700)
