This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We're teed up for a relatively quiet Sunday evening with only five games on tap. The ledger tilts just a bit more toward defense from the projected totals perspective, as three are no higher than 221 points. There are only two teams on the second game of back-to-back sets, and one of them - the Bucks - were able to limit each starter to 27 minutes or less Saturday night due to a blowout win over the Trail Blazers.
Slate Overview
Atlanta Hawks at Dallas Mavericks (-2) (O/U: 221.0 points)
Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers (-5.5) (O/U: 217.0 points)
Boston Celtics (-9.5) at Orlando Magic (O/U: 215.0 points)
New Orleans Pelicans (-6) at Houston Rockets (O/U: 231.0 points)
Milwaukee Bucks (-5) at Los Angeles Clippers (O/U: 228.0 points)
Hawks-Mavericks could turn out to be the most competitive of the night, but the Pelicans-Rockets tilt may well end up being the best for DFS production. The two sides combined for 226 points the first time they met this season, and each has its fair share of defensive problems to contend with.
The Pacers-Cavaliers may also be one with some sneaky potential, as Cleveland only beat Indiana by four points the first time they met this year and Indiana could also get both Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis back in action. The Bucks-Clippers matchup to end the night is expected to feature the debuts of Norman Powell and Robert Covington for Los Angeles, which would give the hosts some much-needed firepower on both ends of the floor.
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.
Domantas Sabonis, IND (COVID-19 protocols): QUESTIONABLE
If Sabonis remains out and Goga Bitadze also remains sidelined with his foot injury, Torrey Craig and Terry Taylor could remain in the starting five.
Darius Garland, CLE (back): QUESTIONABLE
If Garland misses another game, Rajon Rondo and Brandon Goodwin should handle the majority of point guard minutes.
Kristaps Porzingis, DAL (knee): OUT
In Porzingis' absence, Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell could be beneficiaries.
John Collins, ATL (heel): QUESTIONABLE
If Collins can't play Sunday, Danilo Gallinari could draw a start at power forward if he's able to overcome his own hamstring injury.
Other notable injuries:
Josh Hart, NOP (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Malcolm Brogdon, IND (Achilles): QUESTIONABLE
Myles Turner, IND (foot): OUT
Isaiah Jackson, IND (ankle): OUT
Ivica Zubac, LAC (calf): QUESTIONABLE
Maxi Kleber, DAL (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Paul George, LAC (elbow): OUT
Elite Players
We have two players with five-figure salaries on Sunday's slate – Luka Doncic ($11,600) and Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,400).
Doncic will once again take the floor without Kristaps Porzingis, a scenario in which he's sporting a 39.6 percent usage rate and averaging 58.1 FD points per 36 minutes. He's also coming off having posted 74.1 FD points against the 76ers on Friday night and has produced over 60 FD points in four straight games.
Giannis only logged 24 minutes against the Trail Blazers on Saturday, but he still posted 50.8 FD points and racked up 71.5 the previous game versus the Wizards. The Clippers are ranked in the top 10 in offensive efficiency allowed to power forwards, but Giannis has managed at least 44.2 FD in 17 of the last 18 games.
Expected Chalk
In addition to the players just mentioned, other likely chalk plays include:
Jayson Tatum, BOS ($9,800)
Tatum has been held under 40 FD in three of the last five, but his 60-plus ceiling should keep him very popular on a small slate, especially against Orlando's questionable defense.
Trae Young, ATL ($9,000)
Young has exceeded 40 FD in six straight games and produced 42.5 over 33 minutes against Dallas in the first meeting. He also could potentially take the floor without John Collins, who's carrying a questionable tag due to a heel injury.
Caris LeVert, IND ($8,700)
LeVert is coming off a season-high 42 points against the Bulls on Friday, which led to 57 FD points. He also registered 46.5 the previous game against the Magic, but his appeal could lessen if at least one of Malcolm Brogdon or Domantas Sabonis returns.
Brandon Ingram, NOP ($7,800)
Ingram has scored 41.6 and 53.8 FD points over his first two games back from an ankle injury, and his reasonable salary for a player of his upside should keep him popular.
Other likely chalk: Terry Taylor, IND ($6,400) *if Sabonis remains out*
Key Values
Jalen Brunson, DAL vs. ATL ($5,800)
Brunson has been back over 30 FD points in his last two games and boasts a 24.0 percent usage rate along with an average of 32.7 FD points per 36 minutes without Porzingis and Tim Hardaway on the floor. The fourth-year wing continues to demonstrate impressive offensive efficiency with a 51.0 percent success rate from the floor in what is now a 28-game starting stint. Brunson even recorded 25.1 FD points in 26 minutes off the bench against Atlanta back on Opening Night, and the Hawks allow an NBA-high 24.8 percent offensive efficiency to two-guards along with the seventh-most FD points per game to the position (41.0).
Jaxson Hayes, NOP at HOU ($5,500)
Hayes has seemingly found a home on the first unit at power forward, logging three straight starts and posting 20.4 to 41.7 FD points. The big man is coming off a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double against the Nuggets on Friday that also featured a perfect 9-for-9 tally from the floor and a 4-for-4 effort from the charity stripe. He should be in line to capitalize on another highly favorable matchup Sunday, as the Rockets have allowed NBA-high 28.8 percent offensive efficiency to power forwards, along with the second-most points (22.8), third-most rebounds (11.4), fourth-most assists (4.0) and most steals (1.7) to the position.
Josh Richardson, BOS at ORL ($3,800)
Richardson could turn out to be one of the best fantasy-point-per-dollar values of the night at his minuscule salary, especially if the Celtics end up with a comfortable lead that affords him plenty of minutes. The veteran wing has scored a season-high 23 points two games ago against the Hornets, leading to 31.9 FD points. He produced 24.5 on Friday versus the Pistons and has delivered over 5x return on his current salary in 20 games. The Magic should make for solid targets, having allowed the sixth-highest offensive efficiency to second-unit players (43.7 percent). They also have given up an NBA-high 37.8 percent three-point shooting at home, while Richardson's 41.6 percent success rate from behind the arc marks his highest since his rookie campaign.
ALSO CONSIDER: Brandon Goodwin, CLE vs. IND ($4,800)
