This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Tuesday night brings a solid seven-game slate that features a number of matchups between contending teams in each conference. The Hornets-Timberwolves could live up to its monstrous projected total, and if Giannis Antetokounmpo can suit up for the Bucks, Milwaukee's game against the Pacers could also feature plenty of scoring. While the injury report does have some notable names on it, we could be in store for a fun night of DFS action.
Slate Overview
Boston Celtics (-1) at Philadelphia 76ers (O/U: 211.0 points)
Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat (-2.5) (O/U: TBD)
Cleveland Cavaliers (-1) at Atlanta Hawks (O/U: TBD)
Memphis Grizzlies (-3) at New Orleans Pelicans (O/U: TBD)
Indiana Pacers at Milwaukee Bucks (-12) (O/U: TBD)
Charlotte Hornets at Minnesota Timberwolves (-6.5) (O/U: 244.0 points)
Los Angeles Clippers at Phoenix Suns (-12.5) (O/U: 222.0 points)
The Celtics-76ers and Mavericks-Heat battles could both turn out to be buzzer-to-buzzer affairs, especially if Jimmy Butler is able to take the floor for Miami. The Cavaliers-Hawks and Grizzlies-Pelicans clashes also carry very narrow spreads, lending credence to the notion some of the biggest stars in each game will log heavy minutes.
Even the two games carrying the biggest spreads of the night, Pacers-Bucks and Clippers-Suns, could be closer than projected if Antetokounmpo sits out for Milwaukee and the Clippers replicate their stellar play from Monday night versus the Suns.
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, including those carrying injury designations that aren't listed in this section.
James Harden, PHI (hamstring/trade acquisition): OUT
Harden's ongoing absence should continue to ensure a significant role for Tyrese Maxey and another start for Matisse Thybulle and Furkan Korkmaz.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (ankle): GTD
If Antetokounmpo sits out a second straight game, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton should see a significant bump in usage, while Serge Ibaka could log another start at power forward.
Ja Morant, MEM (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
If Morant were to sit out, Tyus Jones would likely draw a start at point guard, while Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson would likely see major bumps in usage.
Jimmy Butler, MIA (shoulder): QUESTIONABLE
If Butler were to sit out, Max Strus could be in for a start at small forward, while the usage of the remaining members of the starting five would rise to varying degrees.
John Collins, ATL (foot): OUT
In Collins' ongoing absence, Danilo Gallinari should be in line for another start at power forward.
Other notable injuries:
Kevin Durant, BKN (knee): OUT
Ben Simmons, BKN (personal): OUT
Paul George, LAC (elbow): OUT
Norman Powell, LAC (foot): OUT
Zion Williamson, NOP (foot): OUT
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Malcolm Brogdon, IND (Achilles): QUESTIONABLE
Tyler Herro, MIA (knee): OUT
Myles Turner, IND (foot): OUT
Chris Duarte, IND (toe): OUT
Isaiah Jackson, IND (ankle): OUT
Gordon Hayward, CHA (ankle): OUT
Elite Players
We have six players with five-figure salaries on Tuesday's slate: Joel Embiid ($11,600), Luka Doncic ($11,500), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,400), Trae Young ($10,200), Jayson Tatum ($10,100) and Ja Morant ($10,000).
Embiid is now averaging 54.3 FD points per game after racking up 76.8 against the Cavaliers on Saturday night, a performance preceded by 67.8 on Friday night. He also has tallies of 56.3, 56.5 and 75.0 FD points in his three prior games against Boston this season.
Doncic has scored over 60 FD points in three straight and has cleared that total in seven of the last eight games overall. The star guard has compiled a total of 96 points in his last two games alone while shooting 54.2 percent, including 48.1 percent from distance.
Antetokounmpo's status will have to be monitored very closely throughout the day after he missed Monday's game. However, if he does suit up, he draws a premium matchup against a Pacers team he's scored over 50 FD points against twice this season.
Young scored over 50 FD points against the Celtics on Sunday without John Collins available and the Hawks will take the floor without him again Tuesday, albeit in a tough matchup versus the Cavaliers.
Tatum was masterful against Young's Hawks on Sunday, posting 61.5 FD points on the strength of a 38-point, 10-rebound double-double. He's scored over 40 FD points in two of three meetings with the Sixers this season as well.
Morant is also carrying a questionable tag, but if he does play, he'll be looking to get back over 40 FD points after falling just short in each of his last two games.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN ($9,900)
Towns draws an elite matchup for centers against the Hornets and should remain very popular despite having scored a rather modest 29.1 FD points, albeit in just 22 minutes, against the Pacers his last time out.
Chris Paul, PHO ($9,600)
Paul has scored 57.9 and 42.5 FD points in his last two games and has posted seven double-doubles over his last eight games.
Tyrese Haliburton, IND ($9,000)
Haliburton has taken well to his new Indiana digs while scoring 38.6 and 52.0 FD points in his first two games as a Pacer, a pair of performances that should keep him plenty of lineups Tuesday.
Devin Booker, PHO ($8,800)
Booker has over 42 FD points in three of his last four and scored 47.4 FD points in 37 minutes in his one prior meeting with the Clippers this season.
Anthony Edwards, MIN ($8,400)
Edwards' salary is arguably much lower than it should be after he scored 49.2 and 61.0 FD points in his last two games, which should place him in plenty of lineups.
Key Values
Oshae Brissett, IND at MIL ($6,800)
Brissett has seen a salary hike, but it's a well-deserved one after he racked up over 40 FD points in each of his last two games, plus 29.2 three games ago. The emerging big should continue to be locked into a starting role with Domantas Sabonis now in Sacramento, and Brissett's matchup against the Bucks is a favorable one whether Giannis suits up or not. Milwaukee is allowing the 11th-highest offensive efficiency to power forwards (26.5 percent), along with the 10th-most FD points per game (47.6) to the position. The Bucks are also giving up the fourth-most rebounds per home game (55.0), furthering Brissett's case.
De'Anthony Melton, MEM at NOP ($5,600)
Melton has been a steady asset for the Grizzlies off the bench of late, averaging 28.5 FD points on the strength of 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game over the last 11. He's also shooting 41.8 percent from three-point range during that sample and producing those solid numbers across a modest 23.5 minutes per outing. The Pelicans are ranked No. 18 in offensive efficiency allowed to second-unit players (40.4 percent), and they're giving up the third-highest three-point shooting percentage overall (36.5). Additionally, if Morant were to sit out, it's worth noting Melton sports a 22.9 percent usage rate and averages 40.8 FD points per 36 minutes with his star teammate off the floor.
Jarred Vanderbilt, MIN vs. CHA ($4,500)
Vanderbilt's production can be a bit uneven at times, but he's got the talent to capitalize on soft matchups like the one he gets Tuesday. The Hornets have given up an Eastern Conference-high 85.6 percent offensive efficiency to frontcourt players, and 48.8 FD points per game to fours as well. Vanderbilt is averaging a solid 25.5 FD points per game, and while his salary drop is due to consecutive outings below 20, he'd scored 24.2 to 36.8 FD points in five of six games before that. Charlotte is also allowing the second-most rebounds per road game (56), while Vanderbilt has pulled down double-digit boards in 19 of 52 games and at least eight rebounds in 33 games.
