There are eight NBA games on Monday’s slate.
DET, MEM and MIL are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Victor Wembanyama, Alperen Sengun, Anthony Edwards, Naz Reid, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, Daniel Theis, Jordan Hawkins and Vasilije Micic are questionable. Dejounte Murray, Fred VanVleet, Julius Randle, Russell Westbrook and Josh Okogie are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there is one double-digit favorite: DEN -13.5 over NOP. There are five games with a total of at least 230: ATL/DET (236), SAS/MEM (242.5), MIL/OKC (234.5), NOP/DEN (235.5) and IND/UTA (237.5). There is one game with a total below 220: WAS/CHA (217.5).
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons vs. Atlanta Hawks ($10,100): On the season, Cunningham has a usage rate of 32.8%. Over the last seven games, that number has been 37.7%! He’s put up over 50 FPTS five times over that span with a high of 61.75 FPTS. Cunningham faced this Hawks team five games ago in Atlanta and finished with 56 FPTS. This game is at home and another 50-piece is well within the range of outcomes.
Other Options: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,000), Anthony Edwards ($9,500), Tyrese Haliburton ($8,200), Desmond Bane ($7,900) if Ja Morant is out, Trey Murphy III ($7,800), Jamal Murray ($7,400), Jalen Green ($7,300), Malik Monk ($7,200)
Value
Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans at Denver Nuggets ($4,800): Alvarado will likely enter the starting lineup with Dejounte Murray lost for the season. Filling in for Murray last game, Alvarado played 34 minutes and contributed 37.75 FPTS. Early in the season, Alvarado started seven games and put up at least 35 FPTS in four of those games with two over 40.
Other Options: Andrew Nembhard ($5,600), Bilal Coulibaly ($5,300), Christian Braun ($5,200), Stephon Castle ($5,100), Malik Beasley ($5,100), Isaiah Collier ($5,100), Luke Kennard ($4,800) if Ja Morant is out, KJ Simpson ($4,400), Rob Dillingham ($3,800)
Forward
Stud
Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Sacramento Kings ($6,400): The range of outcomes is Grand Canyon-esque for McDaniels. He could finish with 9 FPTS or 50! More than likely, he will end up in the 30-FPTS range. Over the last seven games, he’s finished with at least 30 FPTS in six of those contests with two over 50. There is also the 9.5 FPTS against Utah two games ago. Shrug. Minnesota could be without Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Anthony Edwards, so more offensive responsibilities could be thrust upon him. The Kings have been atrocious over the last 10 games, playing at the second-fastest pace while being 28th in defensive rating.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,800), Miles Bridges ($9,000), Trey Murphy III ($7,800), Pascal Siakam ($7,600), Kyle Kuzma ($6,200)
Value
Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Pelicans ($5,200): Over the last eight games, Braun has put up at least 20 FPTS in all with four over 30 and two over 40 FPTS. The floor is fairly stable at 20 FPTS since he’s playing over 30 minutes per game, but he has shown that he can access a high ceiling. The matchup should help as New Orleans has been third in pace and 25th in defensive rating over the last 10 games.
Other Options: Bilal Coulibaly ($5,300), Precious Achiuwa ($5,100), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($4,800), Zaccharie Risacher ($4,600)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Pelicans ($12,300): The sky was falling recently in Jokic Land, as he put up 40 and 39.25 FPTS within a three-game stretch. Order has been restored, as Jokic has finished with 62.25 and 83.25 FPTS in the two most recent contests. Jokic is expensive but the floor/ceiling combo is the best in the game by a wide margin. You will more than likely get what you paid for, and he is always in play to put up a “have-to-have-it” score.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,800), Domantas Sabonis ($9,800), Mark Williams ($8,400), Isaiah Hartenstein ($7,400), Jalen Duren ($6,400)
Value
Precious Achiuwa, New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets ($5,100): With OG Anunoby unlikely to play after suffering a foot injury on Saturday, Achiuwa could get the start and play a ton of minutes, because that’s what Thibs does. Achiuwa finished with 41.25 FPTS filling in for Anunoby on Saturday and put up 31.25 FPTS in only 20 minutes against Memphis three games ago.
Other Options: Jonas Valanciunas ($5,800), Steven Adams ($4,300) if Alperen Sengun is out, Luka Garza ($3,300) if he starts
