Between the condensed schedule and so many team having to make up games in the season’s second-half, we really haven’t seen too many small slates as of late. Well, that’ll change on Tuesday, as we’re all presented an odd four-game itinerary for the evening.
Despite lock coming at its usual 7:00 p.m. ET time slot, three of tonight’s four contests won’t tip till 9:00 p.m. ET, so late swaps and a mid-afternoon nap could be the key to success. For everything else, I’ve got you covered down below.
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POINT GUARD
Stud
Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards vs. Charlotte Hornets, $10,900 - With Westbrook having suited up for the Wizards’ past few back-to-back sets, there should be no worries about the former All-Star being ruled out for Tuesday’s tilt. However, the same can not be said about his teammate Bradley Beal ($8,900; hip). Beal missed Monday’s win over the Pacers, opening the door for Westbrook to produce a massive 94.5 DKFP triple-double. I’d doubt we see a repeat performance, but the veteran does sport a 37.1% usage rate with Beal off the court so far in 2020-21. Westbrook is also averaging 1.59 DKFP per minute in that scenario.
Value
R.J. Hampton, Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Clippers, $3,500 - Hampton will get consistent opportunity in his new home in Orlando, which makes the rookie an appealing play at his modest price point. To wit, Hampton logged 17.1 minutes and scored 16.75 DKFP against the Lakers in his Magic debut on Sunday, essentially bringing back 5x value. I think the former first-round pick will only get more run as Orlando’s lost season drags on, and with the Magic huge underdogs to the Clippers on Tuesday, Hampton getting some bonus garbage time minutes could very much be in the cards.
SHOOTING GUARD
Stud
Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards, $7,700 - Tonight’s matchup between the Hornets and the Wizards projects to easily be the highest-scoring game on the slate, which should come as little surprise with Washington possessing the league’s fastest pace (105.0) and a bottom five defensive rating (113.4). It’s a fantastic environment for an opponent, especially one that brings the level of volume that Rozier does. In Charlotte’s four games since LaMelo Ball’s wrist injury, Rozier is one of seven players in the NBA logging at least 37 minutes of action per night. It’s a span where the guard has also averaged 43.4 DKFP.
Value
Terance Mann, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Orlando Magic, $4,700 - Of all the teams on tonight’s slate, you’ll have to watch Los Angeles the most closely. There’s honestly a million different ways that the Clippers’ starting five might line up this evening. Will Paul George ($8,600; foot) be active after missing Monday’s contest against the Bucks? Will Kawhi Leonard ($8,800) play on the second night of a back-to-back or will Ty Lue take advantage of a tanking opponent? All I know is, if either of the duo is sidelined, that opens an opportunity for Mann, who has averaged 31.5 minutes and 31.6 DKFP his past three games.
SMALL FORWARD
Stud
Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers at Denver Nuggets, $8,500 - Joel Embiid (knee) has now missed Philadelphia’s last eight games and Tuesday will be the ninth in a row. While that’s meant Embiid’s MVP odds on the DraftKings Sportsbook have tanked, it’s provided his teammates the chance to thrive in his absence. Harris, in particular, has been incredible dating back to Mar. 14, a stretch where the veteran forward is averaging team-highs in minutes (35.7), points (24.0) and DKFP per minute played (1.28). Considering that tonight’s matchup with Denver should be a tight script, Harris could be looking at a ceiling performance.
Value
Luke Kennard, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Orlando Magic, $3,400 - Kennard falls into the same bucket as the aforementioned Mann. If one — or both — of George and Leonard are unable to play this evening, suddenly Kennard’s price tag looks like a misprint. The 24-year-old drew an emergency start on Monday, finishing that victory over Milwaukee with 31.75 DKFP. Kennard hit five of his six attempts from three-point range, which shouldn’t be shocking considering he’s now sitting at 48.9% from distance for the season as a whole.
POWER FORWARD
Stud
Rui Hachimura, Washington Wizards vs. Charlotte Hornets, $6,000 - Hachimura’s viable even if Beal is eventually ruled active for tonight’s game, but obviously you’d prefer to get the sophomore in a setting where he’s not playing beside two usage monsters. Hachimura’s been logging a massive amount of minutes since the All-Star break, leading the team at 37.7 per game across his past nine starts. It’s a span in which he’s also averaging 19.1 points and 33.4 DKFP. Just imagine what he could do as this squad’s No. 2 offensive option.
Value
Deni Avdija, Washington Wizards vs. Charlotte Hornets, $3,700 - Avdija is basically a poor man’s version of Hachimura. The rookie has started the past two games for the Wizards, registering 24.5 DKFP in Beal’s absence on Monday against Indiana. Like Hachimura, Avdija’s ceiling is definitely assisted if Washington’s scoring leader is sidelined yet again, but his floor is intriguing so long as he continues starting — even alongside Beal. On a slate this small, anyone with the potential to play 25-plus minutes in the game with the highest-implied total has to be viable.
CENTER
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Philadelphia 76ers, $10,500 - Let’s not overthink this one. Jokic is averaging an eye-popping 1.66 DKFP per minute in the month of March and he’s exceeded 60.0 DKFP in six of his last 10 starts. Heck, Jokic has managed at least 60.0 DKFP nine of the last 11 games he’s had to log at least 30 minutes of action. I think Philadelphia’s good enough — even without Embiid — to force Denver to care in the fourth quarter this evening.
Value
Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards, $3,200 - While Biyombo is almost non-existent when it comes to usage, he’s averaging 25.9 minutes per game as a starter in 2020-21. To quote my favorite writer (me), “on a slate this small, anyone with the potential to play 25-plus minutes in the game with the highest-implied total has to be viable.” Well, I guess that settles it. It also doesn’t hurt that the Wizards surrender the most opponent rebounds per 36 minutes of any team in the Eastern Conference (35.1).
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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