This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We've got a seven-game evening slate on tap, but only one lists a total as of early morning because several teams carry unknown health situations. COVID-19 continues to wield a heavy hand and conventional injuries are also making their usual mark. The night could be unpredictable for DFS purposes, so it's best to keep up with the latest news leading to tip-off.
Slate Overview
Toronto Raptors at Cleveland Cavaliers (O/U: TBD)
Philadelphia 76ers (-3.5) at Washington Wizards (O/U: TBD)
Memphis Grizzlies (-4.5) at Sacramento Kings (O/U: TBD)
New Orleans Pelicans (-1) at Oklahoma City Thunder (O/U: TBD)
Detroit Pistons at San Antonio Spurs (-10) (O/U: 217.5 points)
Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls (-8.5) (O/U: TBD)
Denver Nuggets (-4) at Los Angeles Clippers (O/U: TBD)
Although there's plenty of uncertainty attached to the slate, it could be a competitive night for the most part if the initial spreads are reasonably accurate. The Spurs' double-digit projected advantage is certainly an exception, but otherwise a combination of closely-matched clubs and missing pieces may keep things close.
One particularly intriguing contest to keep tabs on will be the Raptors-Cavaliers tilt, which isn't on the board yet. The Raps haven't taken the floor since Dec. 18 as a result of the number of players they've had in protocol, and it will be interesting to see how they respond to such a long layoff if they're able to field a team.
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 is 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, including those carrying injury designations that aren't listed in this section.
Paul George, LAC (elbow): OUT
George is now slated to be out a while due to a torn ligament, leaving Luke Kennard in position to take over starting shooting guard duties.
Fred VanVleet, TOR (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
In VanVleet's absence, Dalano Banton could operate as the starting point guard if he's able to take the floor with veteran Brandon Goodwin also likely to see significant minutes.
Domantas Sabonis, IND (calf): QUESTIONABLE
If Sabonis can't suit up, Kelan Martin and Torrey Craig may handle power forward duties while the usage for the remainder of the Pacers' starting five will increase.
Bradley Beal, WAS (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
With Beal out of action, Aaron Holiday is likely to handle starting shooting guard duties and the usage for Spencer Dinwiddie should also get a significant bump.
De'Aaron Fox, SAC (COVID-19 protocols): GTD
If Fox is able to return, he could be on a minutes limit since he last took the floor Dec. 15.
Pascal Siakam, TOR (COVID-19 protocols): GTD
If Siakam is unable to go, Chris Boucher could draw the start at center for what will be a notably short-handed roster.
Other notable injuries:
Zion Williamson, NOP (foot): OUT
Jerami Grant, DET (thumb): OUT
Scottie Barnes, TOR (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Malcolm Brogdon, MIL (Achilles): QUESTIONABLE
Jonas Valanciunas, NOP (illness): OUT
Cade Cunningham, DET (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Evan Mobley, CLE (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
OG Anunoby, TOR (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Tyrese Maxey, PHI (COVID-19 protocols): QUESTIONABLE
Danny Green, PHI (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Gary Trent, TOR (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Reggie Jackson, LAC (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Aaron Gordon, DEN (hamstring): PROBABLE
Elite Players
There are three players with five-figure salaries slated to be active on Sunday's slate – Nikola Jokic ($11,200), Joel Embiid ($10,900) and Dejounte Murray ($10,000).
Jokic has dropped at least 48.5 FD points and as many as 72.3 in eight of his last nine games while averaging an outstanding 55.4 on the season.
Embiid has recently been a lock for FD-point tallies in the low 40s at minimum and just scored 73.5 two outings ago against the Celtics. He's also in a favorable matchup against a Wizards team ranked in the bottom-10 in offensive efficiency allowed to centers (32.0 percent).
Murray continues to churn out impressive production and is averaging 46 FD points per contest for the year while posting 47.4 to 69.7 in five of his last six.
Expected Chalk
In addition to the players just mentioned in the previous section, other likely chalk plays include:
DeMar DeRozan, CHI ($8,900)
DeRozan will be well rested after lasting having taken the court Monday and comes in averaging 45 FD points over his last five games.
Brandon Ingram, NOP ($8,700)
Ingram enters averaging 47.5 FD points over his last nine, including four efforts over 50.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC ($8,700)
Gilgeous-Alexander has produced 43 to 63.2 FD points in his last three, which should keep him very popular at his salary.
Darius Garland, CLE ($7,300)
Garland could be another solid fantasy-point-per-dollar value after scoring over 45 FD points in two of his last five and delivering over 40 seven times this season.
Key Values
Eric Bledsoe, LAC vs. DEN ($5,400)
As previously mentioned, Paul George (elbow) will miss significant time, and Reggie Jackson is also slated to be out due to health and safety protocols. That should set up Bledsoe to overdeliver on his still very modest salary, especially considering he's likely to be the primary ball handler. The veteran scored 35.1 FD points Wednesday against the Kings when George played, and boasts an average of 33.5 FD points per 36 minutes without those two teammates on the floor this season. The Nuggets also make for a decent target having allowed the sixth-highest offensive efficiency to point guards (26.4 percent) and the most FD points per game to the position on the campaign (49.2).
Herbert Jones, NOP at OKC ($5,400)
Jones hasn't been a prolific source of fantasy production, but he'll have a particularly favorable matchup and checks in posting 37.8 and 20.7 FD points in two of his last three appearances. Jones is averaging 25.7 FD points per 36 minutes without frontcourt mate Jonas Valanciunas on the floor, and the big man will miss today with a non-COVID illness. The matchup could hardly get any better on paper as OKC is allowing a Western Conference-high 30.2 percent offensive efficiency to power forwards and the third-most FD points per game to the position (51.7).
Steven Adams, MEM at SAC ($5,000)
Adams' production has also fluctuated this season, but he's delivered at least 5x return on his current salary in 14 of 33 outings and should be in good position to do so again. Adams already has produced tallies of 27.4 and 33.4 FD points in two previous matchups against Sacramento, and the Kings have yielded the third-highest offensive efficiency (34.8 percent) to centers. Alvin Gentry's squad has also conceded the sixth-most FD points per game to fives (56.0) and the most points in the paint (53.2). Meanwhile, Adams has typically scored over 80 percent of his points in that part of the floor. And even though that figure has somewhat decreased this season, he's still scoring just under 75 percent of his points there.
