This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We've got a busy day in the NBA on Sunday, and even though the first four games of the day aren't on the FanDuel main slate, we've still got eight to work with in the evening. Two of them carry no postseason implications, but the rest shape up as mostly competitive and features plenty of clubs still looking to finalize their seeding.
Slate Overview
Philadelphia 76ers (-4.5) at Cleveland Cavaliers (O/U: 224.0 points)
New York Knicks (-4.5) at Orlando Magic (O/U: 215.5 points)
Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs (-14.5) (O/U: 230.5 points)
Phoenix Suns (-14.5) at Oklahoma City Thunder (O/U: 225.0 points)
Minnesota Timberwolves (-12.5) at Houston Rockets (O/U: 243.0 points)
Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors (-4) (O/U: 212.5 points)
Golden State Warriors (-6.5) at Sacramento Kings (O/U: 221.5 points)
New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers (-2.5) (O/U: 223.0 points)
It will likely be important to be selective when it comes to which games to target Sunday evening, as a couple of the matchups could turn out to be mostly DFS dead zones. The Knicks-Magic could certainly qualify as one that might be avoided except for one or two one-off players, while the Blazers-Spurs may turn particularly one-sided in San Antonio's favor as the spread indicates.
Conversely, the 76ers-Cavaliers, Heat-Raptors and Pelicans-Clippers clashes may produce multiple superior individual performances apiece given the incentive for each team. The Timberwolves are a heavy favorite over the Rockets but are facing a completely inept defense, while the Warriors are in an interesting spot with a favorable defensive matchup against the Kings but coming off an emotional and hard-fought win against the Jazz on Saturday that clinched their playoff spot.
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.
Dejounte Murray, SAN (illness): QUESTIONABLE
If Murray is unable to suit up, Tre Jones would likely draw the start at point guard and the remainder of the first unit would see elevated usage.
Devin Booker, PHO (rest): OUT
Without Booker, Landry Shamet could see a start at shooting guard while Chris Paul and Mikal Bridges could see big boosts in usage.
Julius Randle, NYK (quadriceps): OUT
In Randle's absence, Obi Toppin should start at power forward.
De'Aaron Fox, SAC (hand): OUT
With Fox out, Davion Mitchell should handle another start at point guard.
Wendell Carter, ORL (wrist): OUT
In Carter's absence, Chuma Okeke should be in line for a start at power forward.
Evan Mobley, CLE (ankle): DOUBTFUL
Should Mobley be ruled out, Moses Brown should receive another start at center.
Deandre Ayton, PHO (rest): OUT
With Ayton resting, JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo are in line to handle center duties.
Other notable injuries:
Domantas Sabonis, SAC (knee): OUT
Stephen Curry, GSW (foot): OUT
Jarrett Allen, CLE (finger): OUT
Franz Wagner, ORL (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Cole Anthony, ORL (toe): QUESTIONABLE
Zion Williamson, NOP (foot): OUT
Josh Hart, POR (knee): OUT
Christian Wood, HOU (hamstring): OUT
Tre Mann, OKC (hamstring): OUT
Norman Powell, LAC (foot): OUT
Trendon Watford, POR (leg): OUT
Elite Players
We have two players with five-figure salaries on Sunday's slate – Joel Embiid ($11,200) and Dejounte Murray ($10,300).
Embiid has posted over 50 FD points in four straight and dropped 59.9 in his most recent game against the Cavaliers.
If Murray is able to play through his illness, he'll look to add to a stretch where he's scored between 46.7 to 64.9 FD points in four consecutive outings.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Paul George, LAC ($9,900)
George scored 58.4 and 38.3 FD points in his first two games back and will be in what should be a very DFS-friendly environment against the Pelicans.
James Harden, PHI ($9,800)
Harden endured a rough shooting day Saturday, but he still provided 39.1 FD points and should once again be popular based on upside.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN ($8,700)
Towns is in a potential blowout scenario, but his matchup against the short-handed and likely disinterested Rockets frontcourt is an excellent one. He's also posted 55 and 64.8 FD points in two matchups against Houston.
Jordan Poole, GSW ($8,200)
Poole should be in plenty of lineups after yet another impressive showing Saturday against the Jazz when he racked up 45.2 FD points.
Chris Paul, PHO ($8,000)
Paul should be even more popular than usual because of the absences of Booker and Ayton.
Key Values
Klay Thompson, GSW at SAC ($6,800)
Be on the lookout for any news of Thompson potentially being rested on the second night of a back-to-back set, and pivot to one of several suggestions in the "Also Consider" section below if necessary. However, if available to suit up, he makes for an intriguing play at his salary against a Kings team allowing the second-highest three-point percentage (36.9). Sacramento is also giving up Western Conference-high 24.3 percent offensive efficiency to two-guards and the most FD points per game to the position in the last 15 (48.8). Thompson has also posted 35 to 50.9 FD points in three of the last four games, excellent returns on current salary.
D'Angelo Russell, MIN at HOU ($5,300)
It's certainly eye-catching to see Russell at this valuation, especially considering he's averaging 33.9 FD points per game on the season. He also recorded 33.6 FD points on Friday versus the Nuggets and is averaging 30.8 FD points in 18 post-All-Star-break appearances. The sharpshooting two-guard has also registered 39.1 and 45 FD points in two previous meetings with Houston, while the Rockets come in allowing the fifth-highest offensive efficiency to shooting guards (23.1 percent) and the sixth-most FD points per game to the position (42.3).
Obi Toppin, NYK at ORL ($4,400)
Toppin posted 32.8 FD points over 30 minutes against the Cavaliers on Saturday while starting at power forward, and with Julius Randle (quadriceps) out again Sunday, Toppin should once again run with the first unit. The second-year wing had also averaged 26.9 FD points in five of the six games prior to Saturday, a span where he shot a blistering 64.4 percent, including 41.2 percent from three-point range. The Magic make for excellent targets as well, allowing the ninth-highest offensive efficiency to power forwards (26.9 percent) and the fourth-most FD points per game to the position (48.9).
ALSO CONSIDER: Mikal Bridges, PHO at OKC ($5,800); Jaylen Hoard, OKC vs. PHO ($5,000); Lindy Waters, OKC vs. PHO ($5,000); JaVale McGee, PHO at OKC ($3,600)
