Not sure how this happens, but on an NBA slate with eight teams playing, five will be on the second night of a back-to-back set. Let the chaos begin.
Below, we’ll dive into some value options for Monday’s action on the court, but make sure to keep up to date with the new injury reports as they roll in throughout the day.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Network app. You also can follow DK Network on Twitter @dknetwork.
SF/PF Haywood Highsmith, Miami Heat at Boston Celtics, $3,900
While we don’t yet have an official injury report from the Heat, there’s obvious concern with the status of Jimmy Butler ($7,600; knee). The former All-Star logged 34.3 minutes in Miami’s loss to Toronto on Sunday, yet he was unable to be on the court for the game’s final few possessions due to a knee ailment suffered on a driving layup. Asked about his availability following the defeat, Butler stated “I don’t know. We’ll see how it feels when I get up in the morning.” If Butler is unable to go, Highsmith should step into an expanded role. When Butler missed four contests back in mid-November, Highsmith twice exceeded 32.0 minutes of playing time and registered more than 19.0 FPTS three times. Highsmith doesn’t have the highest ceiling in the world, but he’d certainly be viable due to his price tag that sits below $4,000.
SF/PF Sam Hauser, Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat, $4,500
There is a lot of unknowns for the Celtics heading into tonight’s tilt with the Heat. Let’s start at the top. Jaylen Brown ($8,300; illness) was a late scratch prior to Sunday’s loss to the Cavaliers, while Derrick White ($6,800; foot) also sat out against Cleveland after leaving Friday’s contest due to injury. Both are huge question marks to suit up this evening. Then there’s Kristaps Porzingis ($7,000) and Al Horford ($4,900). The latter has yet to play both ends of a back-to-back set this season, while the former is only three games removed from his return to the court from a long-term knee issue. Put it all together, and it’s clear that there’s going to be value somewhere on this roster on Monday night. Hauser drew the start versus the Cavaliers, producing 29.25 FPTS in 36.1 minutes. Depending on how things shake out, I’d also keep a close eye on Luke Kornet ($3,900) and Drew Peterson ($3,000) as we inch towards tip-off.
PG/SG Keon Johnson, Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls, $3,500
Speaking of injury issues, let us once again break down the woes of the Nets. Here’s what we know for sure heading into Monday’s contest versus the Bulls: Cam Thomas (hamstring) is out. Now, here’s who might be joining him on the bench. Cam Johnson ($6,600; ankle), Ben Simmons ($5,800; knee) and Ziaire Williams ($5,100; knee) all were forced to leave Sunday evening’s loss to the Magic, putting their statues in doubt for tonight’s action. If one of two sit, that should present enough of an opportunity for Johnson to continue his recent success as Brooklyn’s sixth man. The former first-round pick set a new season-high in minutes yesterday (32.0), which directly led to Johnson registering 24.5 FPTS in the 100-92 loss. Johnson also logged 27.5 minutes in Friday’s defeat against Orlando, where he scored a season-best 29.0 FPTS and managed an eye-popping 35.5% usage rate. The Bulls lead the NBA in pace (104.9) and sit 29th in defensive rating (118.4). If Johnson’s role this evening is anything close to what it was this past weekend, he’ll have little trouble bringing back value.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
For sports betting, head over to DraftKings Sportsbook or download the DK Sportsbook app.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
