The weather has cleared, and all games are expected to be on time after some cancellations and time adjustments over the past couple of days. We have six games on tap for Tuesday, and DraftKings is providing all six games in its main slate. With help from our NBA projections, I'll scour the player pool and find our preferred elite, mid-range and value options for the evening.
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NBA Games Today
Surprisingly, the Wizards are high on my list. The Knicks are a less surprising team to target, and I think the Thunder-Pelicans game should yield some surprising totals. The Suns-Nets matchup held little interest for me. I'd give a closer look at the Sixers against the Bucks. There were several players on the cusp of my selections, and there's plenty of production to be found there.
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NBA Injuries Today
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report. Below are some of the most recent and relevant injuries for Tuesday. Keep in mind that this is not a complete list. Use your best judgment when evaluating ongoing injury scenarios elsewhere on the slate.
POR Deni Avdija (back) - QUESTIONABLE
Avdija missed Monday's game and is at risk of missing again. Jerami Grant ($5,000) should pick up some of the slack if he's absent.
WAS Khris Middleton (foot) - QUESTIONABLE
WAS Bilal Coulibaly (back) - QUESTIONABLE
Although both players have a shot at returning, Will Riley ($3,500) would get another chance to start if both are absent.
SAC Zach LaVine (back) - QUESTIONABLE
SAC Malik Monk (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
Nique Clifford ($3,500) will step in again if LaVine misses. Monk has played through this injury and has a better chance of playing.
PHI Paul George (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
PHI Joel Embiid (knee) - PROBABLE
George missed Monday's front end of the back-to-back, so he's trending toward a return. Embiid is probable, but check before using him - his tags tend to shift with little notice at times.
OKC Cason Wallace (hip) - QUESTIONABLE
OKC Jalen Williams ((hamstring ) - OUT
OKC Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) - OUT
OKC Ajay Mitchell (abdomen) - OUT
OKC Alex Caruso (thigh) - OUT
It's a lucky draw for the Thunder while short-handed, as they have enough depth to handle the Pelicans. We'll discuss Thunder options later in the article.
DEN Aaron Gordon (hamstring) - OUT
DEN Christian Braun (ankle) - OUT
There are also several probable tags for the Nuggets, but Gordon and Braun are definite scratches. Spencer Jones ($5,500) and Jalen Pickett ($5,800) have been recent fill-ins.
PHO Devin Booker (ankle) - OUT
PHO Jalen Green (hamstring) - QUESTIONABLE
Booker will remain out, and Green's status is unclear. Grayson Allen ($6,300) and Dillon Brooks ($6,500) were the guys who stepped up in his absence, and both should be fine mid-range plays tonight.
Elite Players
We have three players with $10k-plus salaries for Tuesday, and there are pluses and minuses attached to all three players. There's no question that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,000) is carrying a heavy load amid the squad's injury troubles, but they are in a winnable game against the Pelicans despite the shortcomings. We could see SGA early, or he may log a complete game if the Pelicans manage to keep things interesting. With Trey Murphy back in action, a healthy Pelicans lineup could make SGA an easy add. Cade Cunningham ($10,200) and Jamal Murray ($10,000) will face off against each other, but this will be a game where Detroit's interior will benefit the most. Murray is returning from a one-game absence, so I'll give the slight edge to Cunningham.
We only have three players to choose from in the $9k range, and despite a probable injury tag, Joel Embiid ($9,200) is against the Giannis-less Bucks. We have seven players at the $8k tier, and the duo of Jalen Brunson ($8,700) and Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,500) stick out right away against the Kings. Chet Holmgren ($8,500) has stayed healthy and anchored the Thunder effectively during the rash of injuries, and is a good way to get involved in this game at a lower cost. If you think the Pels have a shot, Trey Murphy ($8,200) and Zion Williamson ($8,000) are your targets.
Expected Chalk and Value Plays
Alex Sarr, WAS ($7,200) vs. POR
While Donovan Clingan ($7,000) is a capable center, his salary is too high, and he could struggle against Sarr, who continues to display a solid floor. We have a lot of big men who have flexibility as PFs tonight, and we can roster Sarr with confidence if we choose to fade Embiid.
Kyshawn George, WAS ($6,800) vs. POR
It's a rickety train to ride, but I'm going to keep my seat and roll with the Wizards again. George was a frequent resident of perfect lineups earlier in the season, and his numbers are still elite at this salary. If Avdija remains absent, I will be sure to consider a Sarr/George stack, but I might temper my Wizards load if he plays. Regardless of Avdija's presence, I'll likely keep one of them.
Josh Hart, NYK ($6,600) vs. SAC
Hart plays regularly with the second unit, but I view that as a plus in this matchup. He'll be effective as a cleanup option if the game gets out of hand, and will get a full complement of minutes independent of the outcome. The Knicks are digging their way out of a slump, and this game should be a good confidence builder.
Kyle Kuzma, MIL ($5,500) @ PHI
Myles Turner and Bobby Portis could have their hands full against Embiid, so I will pivot to Kuzma in this spot. With Giannis out long-term, this is Kuzma's moment to show his worth to the franchise. He occasionally pops with good totals, and he bounced back with a solid 34-DKFP showing against Denver after two mediocre totals. Kuzma's SF/PF eligibility is also a plus, as we're conspicuously thin at SF this evening.
Tobias Harris, DET ($5,200) @ DEN
I was tempted to use Jalen Duren here, but we've already identified a few centers. Harris could also take advantage as the Nuggets continue to roll without Nikola Jokic, and Aaron Gordon's absence also leaves Denver vulnerable. Peyton Watson and Jonas Valanciunas are doing a fine job, but I would go with Harris and Duren over the opposing tandem.
Aaron Wiggins, OKC ($4,900) vs. NOP
Wiggins could be our best value shot, as he's fully healthy and ready to step in at a few different positions for the Thunder. The bench is all hands on deck amid these absences, and although Wiggins was also a recent casualty, he's absent from the report and could easily reach 5x value here.
Luguentz Dort, OKC ($4,600) vs. NOP
Dort's usage has risen amid the rash of injuries, and he posted a solid 37.5-DKFP performance in the team's last game against the Raptors. Despite the encouraging total, Dort is notoriously streaky and carries significant risk. He could reward us with a value-beating total at this salary if the game breaks his way.
