The NBA is beginning to settle into its second half after what has to be the wildest trade deadline in league history, with star players like De’Aaron Fox and Luka Dončić landing on new teams.
There are ten games on the docket for tonight’s slate, eight of which will be featured on DraftKings. I’ll go through the latest injury news, stats, and trends as you fill out your lineups for tonight’s contest.
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Wizards at Hornets
While there are some intriguing games on tonight’s slate, the battle between the worst team in NBA history — which, to be fair, just snapped a 16-game losing streak — and the Hornets, who have lost four in a row, isn’t one of them. LaMelo Ball ($10,000) remains out after suffering an ankle sprain, while his backup, Vasilije Micić ($5,000) is questionable after spraining his ankle as well. Meanwhile, for the Wizards, center Alex Sarr ($5,600) remains out as well. If Micić can’t play, I’d consider KJ Simpson ($4,400) as a budget option, even if his salary is the highest it’s been all season. Washington has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season, and Simpson has been more consistent than Isaiah Wong ($3,200), dropping eight points, six rebounds, and eight assists (26.5 FPTS) in his most recent game. I also back Mark Williams ($8,400) to continue his star turn, as he’s averaged 40.3 FPTS in his last three games.
Hawks at Pistons
The Hawks are in free-fall, having lost each of their last eight games, and with Jalen Johnson ($3,000) done for the season, they might continue to drop — which is even worse because the San Antonio Spurs own their first-round pick. With Johnson out, Atlanta probably benefits from feeding shots to first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher ($4,600), who has taken double-digit shots in each of his last three games, averaging 19.3 points (31.8 FPTS) per game across that span. I also like Pistons forward Tobias Harris ($5,800), who has scored double-digit points in three straight games for Detroit, which is suddenly tied with the reeling Miami Heat for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.
Rockets at Knicks
This is definitely the marquee game of Monday’s slate, with Houston having won six of its last 10 games and New York seven of its last 10, although each team is coming off a loss. The most important factor is the calf injury to the Rockets’ newly-minted All-Star, Alperen Şengün ($8,900), who has missed each of the last two games and is questionable for tonight’s contest. If he is out, veteran Steven Adams ($4,300) is in line to get the start, and in his last two games, Adams has returned tremendous value, posting 31.0 and 27.75 FPTS, respectively. With OG Anunoby ($6,300) out with a foot sprain, I also like Knicks sixth man Miles McBride ($4,000) to play an increased role and score double-digit points for the fourth game in a row.
Spurs at Grizzlies
Newly-acquired De’Aaron Fox won’t play for San Antonio, as the trade hasn’t been made official yet, and Zach Collins ($3,400), Sidy Cissoko ($3,000), and Tre Jones ($3,300) won’t either, since they’ll be headed to Chicago (Collins and Cissoko) and Sacramento (Jones) shortly. The departures shouldn’t make too much of an impact for the Spurs tonight; Jones, averaging 16.0 minutes per game, was the most important player that San Antonio lost despite picking up a former All-NBA guard and Clutch Player of the Year winner. Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama ($10,800) missed Saturday’s loss with an illness, and if he’s out again, Charles Bassey ($4,000) might return good value, although Wembanyama is expected to play. Memphis point guard Ja Morant ($8,700) is also questionable with the shoulder injury that has held him out for the last two games, and Luke Kennard ($4,800) has stepped up in his absence.
Bucks at Thunder
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,800) was ruled out with a knee injury early Monday afternoon, while Khris Middleton ($5,300) will also be held out with injury management and Bobby Portis ($5,700) was deemed doubtful. With several of their best players out, the Bucks’ hopes of pulling off the upset have been largely dashed, leaving only Oklahoma City’s leading man, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,300), as a fantasy must. Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 30 or more points in each of his past five games, including a pair of 50-point outbursts, and is a significant favorite to win his first Most Valuable Player award. The fact that Milwaukee has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards only helps Gilgeous-Alexander tonight. With no Antetokounmpo or Middleton, veteran Taurean Prince ($4,200) could return good value.
Kings at Timberwolves
Obviously, Fox ($7,500) won’t play after being traded to San Antonio, and neither will former Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine, the centerpiece of the package the Kings received in return. Domantas Sabonis ($9,800) — this season’s biggest All-Star snub — will likely be the focal point of Sacramento’s offense, so though the Timberwolves have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing centers, Sabonis will be a strong play. Over Fox’s previous three-game absence, Sabonis averaged 22.0 points, 19.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists (62.25 FPTS) per contest, which would be a higher average than any center but Nikola Jokić. With Fox out, Keon Ellis ($3,500) will step into the starting lineup, although the 25-year-old has been relatively inconsistent this season and isn’t worth a start against a Minnesota defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing shooting guards.
Pacers at Jazz
Against a horrid Jazz team that has posted the league’s second-worst defensive rating this season (118.2), anybody on the Pacers is a must-start, but Pascal Siakam ($7,600) — who was recently named to his third All-Star team — is the best and most consistent of the bunch. The Cameroonian has been on a tear, averaging 26.7 points (49.2 FPTS) across his past three games, and Indiana has won eight of its last 10 games, surpassing the Bucks for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. His co-star, Tyrese Haliburton ($8,200), might also put up good numbers against a Utah defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing point guards, but Hali has been inconsistent all season despite stringing together four solid games in a row. Also, if the Jazz trade Walker Kessler ($6,700) at some point prior to tip-off, rookie Kyle Filipowski ($4,100) could see an increased role.
Pelicans at Nuggets
It goes without saying that Jokić ($12,300) is a must here, especially against a Pelicans defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing centers. New Orleans point guard CJ McCollum ($7,600) has been on somewhat of a tear in recent weeks, scoring at least 20 points in five of his last seven games, and should play a massive role in the offense tonight, especially in the wake of Dejounte Murray ($3,000)‘s season-ending Achilles tear. Nuggets guard Christian Braun ($5,200) should also play an increased role with Russell Westbrook ($6,400) out with a left hamstring strain. With Westbrook out on Saturday, Braun recorded 24 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists (47.25 FPTS), and the Pelicans have conceded the second-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards this season.
