Monday brings us a huge 10-game featured NBA on DraftKings.
More games means more problems — injury problems. That’s especially true with seven different teams on the second leg of a back-to-back set and a few more actively tanking for draft position in the season’s final few weeks.
In short, it’s a mess. However, I’m here to help. Let’s sort through all the info and stats you’ll need to set a couple lineups.
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Key Injury News
QUESTIONABLE: Nikola Jokic, Tyrese Haliburton, Stephen Curry, Jamal Murray, Zion Williamson, Andrew Wiggins, Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith, Yves Missi, Kelly Olynyk, Aaron Gordon, Scotty Pippen Jr., Marcus Smart
DOUBTFUL: Josh Giddey, Santi Aldama
OUT: Ja Morant, Pascal Siakam, Corey Kispert
Click here for the slate’s full and updated injury report
Matchup Analysis
Best Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- Toronto Raptors at PHX (108.2)
- Detroit Pistons at NOP (108.6)
- Golden State Warriors vs. DEN (109.0)
Worst Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- San Antonio Spurs at LAL (128.5)
- New Orleans Pelicans vs. DET (124.3)
- Denver Nuggets at GSW (121.1)
Fastest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- Utah Jazz vs. CHI (105.1)
- Detroit Pistons at NOP (103.7)
- Chicago Bulls at UTA (102.7)
Slowest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- Miami Heat at NYK (95.7)
- Sacramento Kings vs. MEM (96.2)
- New York Knicks vs. MIA (96.3)
Highest Game Total
- Chicago Bulls at Utah Jazz (241)
- Memphis Grizzlies at Sacramento Kings (237.5)
- Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (236.5)
Top DFS Pick
PG Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons at New Orleans Pelicans, $9,800
Sometimes a bad thing can be a good thing. Cunningham played poorly in his last outing against the Thunder, hitting just five of his 18 field goal attempts and eventually getting himself ejected with a pair of technical fouls in the second half. Still, because of that showing, the former first-overall pick is now priced below $10,000 for the first time since early January. Needless to say, I think prospective DFS owners should be taking advantage of the dip. Cunningham has been a machine since the beginning of February, producing 1.46 FPTS per minute with a massive 32.9% usage rate. As recently as last Thursday, the 23-year-old posted a 38-point, 10-assist double-double worth 64.25 FPTS. A performance that stunning is hard to come by, but it could be in the cards on Monday considering how amazing the game environment is. Across their past 10 contests, the Pistons rank second in the NBA in pace. In that same 10-game span, the Pelicans rank second-last in defensive rating. Combine those two elements and you get a dream scenario for fantasy basketball. Look for Cunningham to reach his ceiling in this spot.
Top Value Pick
C Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs, $5,100
The Lakers will remain without LeBron James (groin) on Monday and, while it’s impossible to say definitively that Rui Hachimura ($5,700; knee) won’t suit up, the former lottery pick has missed the team’s last seven games. These absences have created a pretty easy to follow pecking order in Los Angeles as of late. There’s Luka Doncic ($12,000) leading the way, then Austin Reaves ($8,900), then everyone else. Still, Hayes has emerged as an interesting fantasy asset in recent contests where he’s been healthy, filling the role of a rim-running big man that we’ve seen thrive next to Doncic in the past. In fact, after setting a new season-high with 19 points against the Pelicans on March 4, Hayes matched that mark in Sunday’s victory over the Suns — his first action back from a four-game stint in street clothes. Specific to this evening, Hayes should be able to take advantage of a Spurs roster that is super small and has allowed a jaw-dropping 128.5 opponent points per 100 possession across its last 10 matchups. For 2024-25 as a whole, San Antonio is surrendering the fourth-most FPTS per contest to opposing centers.
