We're set for a solid six-game Saturday night main slate, one that has multiple teams on the second night of back-to-back sets and several big names already ruled out or sporting questionable designations. Today will therefore be an especially important day to monitor news leading up to lineup lock, as the potential absences could open up some very appealing value.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Saturday, Dec. 6 @11:00 a.m. ET:
*Atlanta Hawks (-9) at Washington Wizards (O/U: 235.5)
Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons (-12.5) (O/U: 224.5)
Golden State Warriors at *Cleveland Cavaliers (-8) (O/U: 227.5)
Sacramento Kings at *Miami Heat (-8) (O/U: 239.5)
*Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves (-10) (O/U: 227.5)
*Houston Rockets (-8.5) at *Dallas Mavericks (O/U: 224.5)
* Denotes team on second game of back-to-back set
The betting metrics don't portend an ideal DFS environment Saturday, although matters could naturally play out differently on the hardwood. Nevertheless, with no team favored by less than 8.0 points and only two games over 230 projected points, it's possible that we end up with a lower-scoring DFS night overall, especially if some big-name players see their minutes somewhat limited.
Injury Situations to Monitor
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Alperen Sengun, HOU (illness): QUESTIONABLE
If Sengun can't play, the rest of the starting five would be set for a collectively significant increase in usage, while Steven Adams would likely draw a spot start.
Jimmy Butler, GSW (knee): QUESTIONABLE
If Butler misses another game Saturday, Jonathan Kuminga would likely be due for a spot start at power forward, while more usage would be available for the rest of the first unit.
Tyler Herro, MIA (toe): DOUBTFUL
The domino effect of Herro's likely absence Saturday should result in Ke'lel Ware remaining on the first unit.
Other notable injuries:
Stephen Curry, GSW (quadriceps): OUT
Trae Young, ATL (knee): OUT
Alex Sarr, WAS (thigh): OUT
Jarrett Allen, CLE (finger): OUT
P.J. Washington, DAL (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Draymond Green, GSW (foot): QUESTIONABLE
Darius Garland, CLE (toe): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have three players with five-figure salaries on Saturday's slate – Anthony Davis ($10,700), Cade Cunningham ($10,500) and Jalen Johnson ($10,200).
Davis is coming off a perplexing two-point performance against the Thunder on Friday, but he'd posted 62.6 and 51.4 FD points in the two games prior and said he plans on playing on the second night of the back-to-back set, albeit in another tough matchup against the Rockets.
Cunningham has exceeded 45 FD points in five of the last six games, including the 58-FD-point threshold in two of the last three, and is now averaging 52.2 FD points per contest for the season.
Johnson is expected to continue operating without Trae Young on Saturday and has exceeded 64 FD points in three of his last four games, including a 69.6 FD-point tally via a 21-point, 18-rebound, 16-assist triple-double in 37 minutes Friday against the Nuggets.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Alperen Sengun, HOU ($9,900)
If Sengun is cleared to play through his illness, he should be as popular as usual after posting 79.6 and 53.5 FD points in his last two games.
Anthony Edwards, MIN ($9,600)
Edwards dipped to 28.2 FD points against the Pelicans on Thursday, but he'd scored 45.1 to 66.4 in four of the previous five games and should remain very popular.
Donovan Mitchell, CLE ($9,600)
Mitchell has eclipsed 45 FD points in three straight games and is averaging 46.5 for the season, numbers that should lock him into plenty of lineups Saturday.
Evan Mobley, CLE ($9,100)
Mobley has scored 40.5 to 61.5 FD points in four of his last five games and will continue to slot in at center with Jarrett Allen (finger) unavailable, which should continue making him a very popular option.
Kawhi Leonard, LAC ($8,700)
Leonard continues to be highly efficient when on the floor and has scored over 42 FD points in four of the last five games, rendering him an appealing option at his salary.
Key Values
Jaylon Tyson, CLE vs. GSW ($6,600)
While his frontcourt mate Mobley has certainly been a beneficiary of Jarrett Allen's ongoing absence, Tyson has also seen his opportunities expand considerably. The second-year big has moved into the first unit over the last four games at power forward and made good use of his additional minutes, averaging 36.8 FD points on the strength of 20.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 blocks per contest. Tyson has scored 36.5 to 47.2 FD points in three of those contests, so the upside at his salary is certainly there. The California product's efficiency has also been off the charts – he's shooting 60.0 percent, including 50.0 percent from behind the arc, during that span – and the Warriors check in allowing 48.1 FD points per game to PFs in the last 15 games.
Donte DiVincenzo, MIN vs. LAC ($5,700)
DiVincenzo is averaging 28 FD points over his last nine games, putting up 14.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.1 steals per contest in that span while shooting a crisp 42.3 percent from behind the arc. The versatile guard continues to serve as one of Minnesota's primary ball handlers, and he's now up against a Clippers team that's conceded a generous 49.6 FD points per game to point guards over the last seven contests and holds a No. 18 ranking in offensive efficiency rating surrendered to the position on the season (28.8). Los Angeles also ranks just outside the bottom 10 in assists per road game allowed (27.2) while also yielding the fifth-most steals per contest (9.2) when traveling.
Buddy Hield, GSW at CLE ($4,400)
The Warriors could be particularly short-handed Saturday, as Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green are both questionable while Stephen Curry remains out. The additional pair of absences would naturally open up significant usage if they come to fruition, and Hield, who's on an upswing the last two games, could be a major beneficiary. The veteran guard has scored 26.2 and 35.6 FD points off the bench in his last pair of games despite his shot not being its sharpest, and the second tally came Thursday against the Sixers with Butler sidelined alongside Curry. Hield's production can certainly be volatile, but at this salary and against a Cavs team that's surprisingly 37.0 percent three-point shooting at home and 40.7 percent from behind the arc to second-unit players overall, he's certainly a viable tournament consideration.
ALSO CONSIDER: Brandin Podziemski, GSW at CLE ($6,000); Davion Mitchell, MIA vs. SAC ($5,500)
