There are seven NBA games on Monday’s slate.
ATL, DET, IND, LAC, MIA, MIN, OKC and WAS are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler are questionable. D’Angelo Russell, John Collins, Mark Williams, Ayo Dosunmu, Jordan Clarkson, Jalen Smith, Justin Edwards, Robert Williams III and Tosan Evbuomwan are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live. WAS, IND, LAC, DET, MIA, ATL, MIN and OKC have not submitted yet.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there is no double-digit favorite. The largest favorite is DEN -3.5 over IND. Four games are within 3 points: PHI -2 over CHI, BKN -3 over WAS, MIA -1 over ATL and POR -1.5 over UTA. There are two games with a total of at least 230: DEN/IND (245.5) and POR/UTA (231.5). There is one game with a total below 220: BKN/WAS (215). MIN/OKC and LAC/DET are not on the board yet.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers ($7,400): I’m fading most of the top options at the position on this slate. They all have tough matchups and I think some of the lower-priced options could match or exceed their fantasy outputs. Over the last two games, Giddey has played 35 and 34 minutes while putting up 60 and 58.5 FPTS. He grabbed 16 rebounds two games ago and fell two boards short of a triple-double on Saturday. He’s stuffing the stat sheet, playing a ton of minutes and now gets a matchup against a 76ers team that has been 27th in defensive rating over the last 10 games.
Other Options: Trae Young ($9,400), Tyrese Haliburton ($8,000), Jamal Murray ($7,700), Dyson Daniels ($6,900), Anfernee Simons ($6,700), Isaiah Collier ($6,200)
Value
Kris Dunn, Los Angeles Clippers at Detroit Pistons ($4,500): Dunn had been receiving around 20 minutes a game but, over the last two contests, he’s played 31 and 38 minutes. Dunn isn’t a threat to score, but he grabs rebounds, dishes out dimes and racks up defensive stats. He has 14 steals over the last three games. Over that span, Dunn has put up 36.75, 26.75 and 25.75 FPTS.
Other Options: Christian Braun ($5,800), Toumani Camara ($5,600), Quentin Grimes ($5,600), Kelly Oubre Jr. ($5,500), Keldon Johnson ($5,500), Ziaire Williams ($5,000), Kevin Huerter ($3,600), Jared Butler ($3,400) if Tyrese Maxey is out
Forward
Stud
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder ($7,900): The Thunder are the best defensive team in the league. Reid put up 60 FPTS on them two games ago. Now, Minnesota won that game, 116-101, and I expect some adjustments for this one. In particular, more attention placed on Reid. That said, Reid is a matchup nightmare because he shoots so well from downtown but has the ability to drive to the paint and bully smaller players down low. Over the last eight games, Reid has put up over 40 FPTS seven times.
Other Options: Pascal Siakam ($7,600), Chet Holmgren ($7,400), Paul George ($7,100), Andrew Wiggins ($6,500), Cameron Johnson ($6,400), Deni Avdija ($6,300)
Value
Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz ($5,600): Camara was selected with the 52nd overall pick in the NBA draft, but he has certainly developed into one of the better 3-and-D players in the league. At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan, Camara has been locking the best players in the league. On offense, he’s converting 37% of his shots from downtown while contributing in every statistical category. Over the last two games, he’s put up 50 and 42.75 FPTS. Now he faces a Jazz team that is 5th in pace and 22nd in defensive rating over the last 10 games.
Other Options: Christian Braun ($5,800), Kelly Oubre Jr. ($5,500), Ziaire Williams ($5,000), Guerschon Yabusele ($4,900) if he starts, Matas Buzelis ($4,800), Trendon Watford ($4,700)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at Indiana Pacers ($12,000): Jokic shot 2-of-7 on Saturday yet still finished with a triple-double and 46.75 FPTS. That is the floor for Jokic and he’s failed to hit 50 FPTS only five times this season. The ceiling? 90+ FPTS, something he’s done four times this season. Basically, Jokic has the highest floor/ceiling combo. The price is expensive for sure, so it’s all about roster construction and the quality of value.
Other Options: Naz Reid ($7,900), Nikola Vucevic ($7,500), Ivica Zubac ($7,500), Chet Holmgren ($7,400), Walker Kessler ($7,000)
Value
Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets at Washington Wizards ($5,900): Claxton has put up over 30 FPTS in each of the last five games with two of those over 40 FPTS. Now he gets a matchup against a Wizards team that is 14th in pace and 23rd in defensive rating over the last 10 games. He did face Washington six games ago and only put up 19.5 FPTS in 24 minutes, so it’s not a slam dunk.
Other Options: Donovan Clingan ($5,500), Guerschon Yabusele ($4,900) if he starts, Trendon Watford ($4,700)
