We have a five-game slate Saturday night, one that may DFS players might find right in their wheelhouse in terms of size. And, while the injury report does have several big names on it, the fact there are 10 teams in action does give us a solid player pool to work with.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Saturday, Jan. 31 at 12:00 p.m. EST:
Atlanta Hawks (-1.5) at Indiana Pacers (O/U: 232.5)
New Orleans Pelicans at Philadelphia 76ers (-9) (O/U: 231.5)
Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat (-6.5) (O/U: 233.5)
Minnesota Timberwolves (-8.5) at Memphis Grizzlies (O/U: 229.5)
Dallas Mavericks at Houston Rockets (-11) (O/U: 223.5)
While Saturday's point spreads don't suggest a particularly competitive night, the NBA reminds us nightly that games can play out very differently from what oddsmakers and the betting public expects. Nevertheless, based on the metrics, the Hawks-Pacers battle looks like the best spot for useful DFS performances to unfold, although Jalen Johnson's status will be a very key aspect of that game to track.
Injury Situations to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
Jalen Johnson, ATL (calf): QUESTIONABLE
If Johnson can't suit up, Vit Krejci is likely to remain in the first unit while Nickeil-Alexander Walker and Dyson Daniels should see usage boosts.
Josh Giddey, CHI (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
If Giddey can't suit up, Kevin Huerter could enter the starting five.
Onyeka Okongwu, ATL (mouth): OUT
In Okkongwu's ongoing absence, Christian Koloko could draw another spot start at center.
Nikola Vucevic, CHI (rest): DOUBTFUL
In Vucevic's likely absence, Jalen Smith could draw a spot start if he can play through his questionable tag while the rest of the starting five sees increases in usage.
Other notable injuries:
Kristaps Porzingis, ATL (Achilles): OUT
Tre Jones, CHI (hamstring): OUT
Norman Powell, MIA (personal): OUT
Tyler Herro, MIA (ribs): OUT
Davion Mitchell, MIA (shoulder): DOUBTFUL
Coby White, CHI (calf): QUESTIONABLE
Jalen Smith, CHI (calf): QUESTIONABLE
Santi Aldama, MEM (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Elite Players
We have three players with five-figure salaries on Saturday's slate: Jalen Johnson ($10,700), Tyrese Maxey ($10,500) and Joel Embiid ($10,100).
Johnson is questionable due to a calf injury, but if he's cleared to play, he'll look to extend his streak of games of 43-plus FD points to six in what could be the best game environment of the night.
Maxey scored 57.8 FD points over 40 minutes against the Kings in his most recent time on the floor, his fourth game of more than 50 in the last eight.
Embiid has been back to his old self the last several times on the floor – which has led to his five-figure salary – as he's scored over 45 FD points in six straight, including two tallies of 57 or more.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Anthony Edwards, MIN ($9,600)
Edwards has one of the safest floors in the upper echelon of players, having exceeded 43 FD points in five of the last six games.
Alperen Sengun, HOU ($9,400)
Sengun's reliable and versatile production coupled with his center eligibility should keep him as one of the most popular high-salary plays on the modestly sized slate.
Cooper Flagg, DAL ($9,000)
Flagg's memorable 66.5 FD-point showing his last time on the floor should ensure he's very popular Saturday.
Amen Thompson, HOU ($8,700)
Thompson has pushed his season average to 39.5 FD points and has three games with more than 44 FD points in his last five alone, which should combine to lock in a high roster rate.
Bam Adebayo, MIA ($8,300)
Adebayo's enticing matchup against the Bulls and the fact he's averaging 43.5 FD points in his last 10 games should make him a coveted play at his salary.
Key Values
CJ McCollum, ATL at IND ($6,300)
McCollum has quickly proven a great fit in Atlanta, averaging 31 FD points across 27.8 minutes in his bench role over his first nine games with the Hawks. The veteran is offering his usual well-balanced but scoring-centric production, and Saturday, he could be in a particularly good spot to deliver a higher-percentile performance considering the matchup and expected game environment. The Pacers check in allowing 48.0 percent shooting to second-unit players, along with the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating in that split (47.2). Then, McCollum has already faced Indiana on three occasions this season and shot 53.3 percent from three-point range against the Pacers while posting one tally of 50.1 FD points against them three games ago.
Jabari Smith, HOU vs. DAL ($6,100)
Smith bounced back from a so-so 20.4 FD points in a tough matchup against the Spurs two games ago to erupt for 49.1 FD points against the Hawks his last time on the floor. The middling performance against San Antonio was the nadir of Smith's last 12 games, a stretch where he's averaged 31.3 FD points on the strength of 14.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals. As that extremely well-balanced line indicates, Smith is able to navigate suboptimal shooting (39.2 percent in that same span) to still deliver a strong return, and Tuesday, he's facing a Mavs team he's already generated a performance of 41.1 FD points against this season. Dallas is also allowing 47.2 percent shooting to power forwards, along with the ninth-highest offensive efficiency rating to the position (27.2).
Ayo Dosunmu, CHI at MIA ($5,800)
Dosunmu has been a steady source of second-unit production and occasional productive spot starter for the Bulls this season, averaging 25.1 FD points for the campaign and an even better 29.0 over his 15 games in January. Dosunmu is shooting a stellar 54.2 percent in that span, including 47.1 percent from behind the arc. He rang up 34.9 FD points against this same Heat on Thursday as well, his 14th performance of more than 30 FD points this season. Miami brings the fastest pace in the league and is allowing the sixth-highest offensive efficiency rating to second-unit players (46.6), and Dosunmu could see even more usage Saturday if Josh Giddey is forced to sit out due to his hamstring injury.
ALSO CONSIDER: Aaron Nesmith, IND vs. ATL ($5,600)
