This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Saturday's featured NBA slate begins at 7:30 PM Eastern time and includes seven games. Six of the 14 teams in action are finishing back-to-back sets, namely the Clippers, Bulls, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks and Rockets. With some players taking maintenance days and others battling injuries that recently cropped up, there are opportunities abound for some lesser players to step up.
Slate Overview
Games to Target
Wizards (-1) at Grizzlies, O/U: 235.5
The defense should be nearly nonexistent in this one, as Washington allows the most points per game (122.1) and Memphis gives up the fifth-most (116.4).
Rockets (-6.5) vs. Pistons, O/U: 227.5
Houston scores the second-most points (120.6) and gives up the seventh-most (114.6), creating a fantasy-friendly environment for both the Rockets and their opponents.
Game to Fade
Nuggets (-6.5) vs. Thunder O/U: 204
This game stands out as the one to avoid, with an over/under that's at least 12 points lower than that of any other game in this slate. Both of these teams rank among the 10 stingiest, with Denver leading the league defensively at 101.6 points allowed per game.
Positional Breakdown
The point guard position is riddled with injuries, with as many as six of the 12 options priced over $6,500 at the position possibly sitting out in this slate. Shooting guard and small forward are the best sources of top-end talent in this slate when taking matchups into consideration. Power forward is the thinnest position, but scarcity isn't much of a factor with so many teams in action.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Russell Westbrook will sit out this second leg of Houston's back-to-back set for maintenance purposes.
Ja Morant (back) sat out Friday for maintenance purposes, so he's likely to return for Memphis, though it's unclear if he'll play his regular allotment of minutes.
Lou Williams (calf) of the Clippers also sat out Friday, and his status one day later is unclear.
Eric Bledsoe left Friday's game due to a right shin contusion, and the short turnaround will make it hard for him to heal up in time to suit up against the Cavaliers.
After missing Toronto's last two games, Fred VanVleet (knee) is doubtful for this game against Brooklyn.
Elite Players
Both James Harden ($12,900) and Luka Doncic ($12,000) are facing defenses that have been stingy against their respective positions, making Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,500) the chalk play among top-tier options against Cleveland after he showed no ill effects from a barking quadriceps Friday. That said, Harden has topped 80 fantasy points in each of his past two games, and his ceiling is tremendous with Westbrook out.
Jimmy Butler ($9,400) has alternated three performances over 60 fantasy points with three under that mark in the past six games. That pattern suggests he's due to top 60 here, and the Heat wing will benefit from facing a Mavericks team that's struggled to defend small forwards.
Bradley Beal ($9,300) has underperformed recently, but he gets a golden opportunity to turn things around against a tired Grizzlies team that's struggled defensively.
Kawhi Leonard ($8,700) and Paul George ($8,300) scored 42 and 46 points Friday, respectively, stepping up with Williams out. Both Clippers stars are capable of a repeat effort in Chicago.
Expected Chalk
Davis Bertans ($6,800) has been pressed into a larger role while Thomas Bryant recovers from a foot injury. The sharpshooting big man has made the most of the opportunity, averaging 23.7 PPG and 5.3 RPG over the past six games while knocking down 36 of 71 3-point attempts in that stretch. He should continue to score at a high rate in a game that shouldn't feature much defense.
Kyle Lowry ($7,800) has actually struggled these past two games with VanVleet out, but he has averaged 39 minutes of court time in five games since returning from a thumb injury and should benefit from a favorable matchup against a Nets team that's allowing 112.9 points per game. The veteran point guard's price still hadn't climbed back up to where it was before he got injured, so Lowry should be a popular pick here.
George Hill ($3,900) will make for a great cheap lineup filler if Bledsoe sits. The veteran point guard played 29 minutes Friday with Bledsoe exiting after playing just 17 himself. Hill delivered a well-rounded eight points, six rebounds and five assists in that one, and he'll likely earn the start and see even more minutes against a Cavaliers team that's allowing 113.0 points per game.
Dillon Brooks ($5,100) has poured in 21.0 PPG in his past three games, and he should stay hot against the league's most generous scoring defense. He'll be especially appealing if Morant is absent or limited
Key Values
OG Anunoby ($5,200) has stepped up with VanVleet sidelined, averaging 14.0 PPG and 7.3 RPG in 36 minutes per game over the past three. The affordable forward has also left a major mark on the defensive end with seven steals and five blocks in these past three contests. Anunoby's contributions on both ends make him a nice value option at $5,200.
Ben McLemore ($4,600) usually won't give you much besides points, but he has proven capable of carrying a higher scoring load when called upon, averaging 18.0 PPG in the past seven games. Westbrook's absence will create a scoring void that McLemore is the top candidate to fill against Detroit's middling defense.
Derrick Rose ($5,600) is a solid source of offense for Detroit with 16.2 PPG and 5.7 APG. The veteran point guard should get plenty of opportunities to score and facilitate in what should be a fast-paced game against a tired Rockets team.
At just $4,000, Memphis' Tyus Jones should be worth a look as the team's starting point guard if Morant doesn't make his return. Jones had 10 points and seven assists over 25 minutes of floor time in Friday's loss to the Bucks with Morant unavailable.
