There are 10 NBA games on Monday’s main slate. GSW, OKC, POR, TOR and WAS are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
This article was written on Sunday night. Any changes will be updated. Keep track of all the injury news at DK Network.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls ($9,300)
The Timberwolves have lost two straight and now embark on a four-game road trip. I like Minnesota to snap the losing streak with Edwards leading the way. Over the last five games, he’s averaging 38.4 minutes per night and put up over 50 FPTS in three of those contests with a high of 61.5 FPTS. The floor has been 40.5 FPTS. The matchup is one of the best for fantasy as Chicago is second in pace and 23rd in defensive rating.
Other Options: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,300), Jalen Brunson ($9,400), Kevin Durant ($8,800), Devin Booker ($8,700), Jamal Murray ($8,500), LaMelo Ball ($8,000), Amen Thompson ($7,800), Anthony Black ($7,100), Norman Powell ($7,000), Collin Gillespie ($6,700), Ryan Rollins ($6,600), Donte DiVincenzo ($6,300)
Value
Ja’Kobe Walter, Toronto Raptors vs. Orlando Magic ($3,300)
Walter has been a part of the rotation all season, albeit in a limited capacity, mostly playing in the low-teens. On Sunday, he played a season-high 33 minutes in an overtime game, finishing with 18 points, two rebounds, three assists and a steal. On Friday, he put up 15 points in 18 minutes while receiving 20 and 23 minutes in the prior two contests. In those three games, Walter finished with 16.8, 14.8 and 17 FPTS. I’m not expecting over 30 minutes in this one, but if he gets 20 minutes and puts up around 15 FPTS, that’s viable at the price.
Other Options: Jaylon Tyson ($5,800), Collin Sexton ($5,000), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,500), Sam Merrill ($4,500), Pelle Larsson ($4,400), Tyler Kolek ($4,200), Bruce Brown ($4,000), Will Richard ($3,100)
Forward
Stud
Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets vs. Milwaukee Bucks ($7,200)
Giannis Antetokounmpo is always appealing, but I’m a little worried that he doesn’t get a full complement of minutes as he’s just returned from injury. Therefore, I’m going with Miller. Now, the range of outcomes is wide for Miller. Case in point, he finished with 17.8 FPTS last game, but he does have 50 FPTS upside, something he did twice a few weeks ago. The main reason I like Miller in this one is because Kon Knueppel is out, so he could see a few more shots in this one.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,000), Kevin Durant ($8,800), Michael Porter Jr. ($8,400), Julius Randle ($8,300), Chet Holmgren ($7,600), Miles Bridges ($7,500), OG Anunoby ($7,200), Norman Powell ($7,000), Jabari Smith Jr. ($6,300), Dillon Brooks ($6,200), Naz Reid ($6,100)
Value
Mouhamed Gueye, Atlanta Hawks at Oklahoma City Thunder ($3,000)
The matchup stinks, but Gueye is priced at the minimum and should see close to 30 minutes in this one, as both Kristaps Porzingis and Jalen Johnson are out. Gueye has started three games this season and averaged 26.7 minutes, 10.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. That was good for 26, 47.2 and 9 FPTS. He is just too cheap for the expected playing time.
Other Options: Jaden McDaniels ($6,000), Sandro Mamukelashvili ($6,000) if Jakob Poeltl is out, Jaylon Tyson ($5,800), Devin Vassell ($5,500), Peyton Watson ($5,300), Bilal Coulibaly ($5,200), Noah Clowney ($5,000), Tari Eason ($4,800), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,500), Sam Merrill ($4,500), Pelle Larsson ($4,400), Tidjane Salaun ($4,000), Asa Newell ($3,300), Ja’Kobe Walter ($3,300), Micah Potter ($3,200), Will Richard ($3,100)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat ($13,000)
Whenever Jokic is on the slate, it’s almost an auto-click. Granted, context always needs to be applied for ownership and value, but Jokic is always in play and there’s plenty of value on this slate. I pretty much just write the same thing every time. Jokic is the greatest fantasy player of our generation. He’s a threat to triple-double on any given slate and put up the highest raw score. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he went for 100 FPTS. Blah blah blah. Well, on Christmas, he finished with 106.5 FPTS, as he contributed 56 points, 16 rebounds, 15 assists and two blocks. Hot diggidy! He then put up 82.8 FPTS in the next game. L. O. L. Miami plays at the fastest pace in the league, which means potentially more opportunities for Jokic to produce those precious fantasy goodies.
Other Options: Victor Wembanyama ($10,000), Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,900), Onyeka Okongwu ($7,800), Alex Sarr ($7,200), Derik Queen ($6,900), Kel’el Ware ($6,700) if Bam Adebayo is out, Naz Reid ($6,100), Nic Claxton ($6,100)
Value
Moussa Diabate, Charlotte Hornets vs. Milwaukee Bucks ($5,300)
I love watching Diabate play because he always plays hard. He runs in transition and is a menace on the glass. Over the last three games, he’s put up over 30 FPTS in all, playing 33 and 36 minutes in the last two contests with Ryan Kalkbrenner out. Kalkbrenner is out again for this one so Diabate will likely see over 30 minutes once again.
Other Options: Sandro Mamukelashvili ($6,000) if Jakob Poeltl is out, Wendell Carter Jr. ($5,600), Mark Williams ($5,100), Asa Newell ($3,300), Micah Potter ($3,200), Tony Bradley ($3,100), Mouhamed Gueye ($3,000)
