This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
The final NBA slate of 2019 will take place Tuesday, with four games on the schedule after 7:00 PM Eastern time. All eight teams will be fresh, as none of them took the court Monday. Each over/under is between 217 and 220, so there should be value to be found in every game. With the status of a number of key players up in the air, it's advisable to check back in on the injuries prior to tip-off.
Slate Overview
Game to Target
Rockets (-2) vs. Nuggets O/U: 220
This game has the highest over/under in this slate, as the normally defensive-minded Nuggets will likely pick up the pace a bit to match the high-flying Rockets, and both teams have stars capable of being the centerpiece of a winning lineup.
Game to Fade
Raptors (-10) vs. Cavaliers O/U: 217
The injury-riddled Raptors are heavy favorites against a Cavaliers team that doesn't have much talent, but the boosts in playing time for Toronto's rotation are mostly baked into their valuations, while some fresher injuries elsewhere offer more enticing opportunities. As a result, it's better to target ancillary pieces from this one rather than lineup cornerstones.
Positional Breakdown
Between the small slate and numerous injuries, some positions will be tough to fill. Point guard is flush with talent as usual, offering at least eight healthy options priced over $6,000. Center has seven such players and shooting guard has five, while both forward spots have four. Small forward will be the hardest position to fill, as no player eligible for that position is priced above $7,100.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Luka Doncic is questionable due to a left wrist sprain. The MVP candidate's absence would create a major void to be filled by Dallas' remaining players.
James Harden is questionable with a sprained toe after missing Sunday's game with this injury, so it's possible the two most expensive players in this slate will both sit.
Harden's teammate Clint Capela (heel) is also questionable as he attempts to return from a two-game absence.
Both D'Angelo Russell and Willie Cauley-Stein will sit out for the Warriors due to illness.
Elite Players
The Nuggets have been stingy against point guards, but Russell Westbrook ($9,600) will be a no-brainer option nonetheless if Harden sits. Always a triple-double threat, Westbrook would absorb even more volume without Harden on the court. Even if Harden plays, Westbrook's capable of carrying lineups on any given night with averages of 24.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 7.1 APG.
Like Westbrook, Denver's Nikola Jokic ($9,300) is also a nightly triple-double threat, averaging 18.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG and 6.8 APG. Jokic is the clear-cut top option outside of the guards on this slate.
Both Kyle Lowry ($8,800) and Fred VanVleet ($8,400) should continue to see all the volume they can handle for Toronto against Cleveland. Lowry has scored 44.0 or more fantasy points in six of his last eight games, but he's been held to 36.0 or fewer twice in the past three. VanVleet has totaled at least 39.3 fantasy points in five of six games since returning from a knee injury.
Expected Chalk
Kristaps Porzingis ($7,800) would take over as Dallas' top option against the Thunder if Luka Doncic sits. Doncic missed a four-game stretch earlier this month after getting hurt less than two minutes into a game, and Porzingis has averaged over 50.0 fantasy points in those five games.
Jalen Brunson ($3,600) was also a key contributor during those five Luka-less games, averaging 36.4 fantasy points. He'll remain relegated to a minor role if Doncic suits up, but Brunson will be a can't-miss option at a bargain price if Doncic sits.
Damion Lee ($6,200) has averaged 18.0 PPG and 9.8 RPG over the past five games, establishing himself as Golden State's No. 2 option behind D'Angelo Russell on offense. With Russell out, Lee should remain a strong source of points and rebounds against one of the seven teams in the league that's allowing 115.0 or more points per game (San Antonio).
Isaiah Hartenstein ($5,400) has filled in well for Clint Capela in the past two games, averaging 14.0 PPG and 11.0 RPG in 29 minutes per contest. The Rockets big man should be worth a look if Capela remains sidelined.
Key Values
Terence Davis ($4,400) has excelled when given extended run, and Toronto's most recent rash of injuries should allow the rookie more opportunities to see the court. Sunday's game marked the fourth time Davis played over 25 minutes, and he's averaging 15.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 3.5 APG in those four games. That production should lead to a more consistent role, so it may not be long until he costs much more than his current valuation.
Denver's Michael Porter Jr. ($4,500) is another youngster with a growing role. He set new career highs in points (19) and minutes played (26) Sunday, and Porter logged his third-highest totals in each category in the previous game. A supreme talent who dropped to 14th overall in the 2018 draft due to injury concerns before missing his entire rookie season, Porter finally looks healthy. This meeting with Houston's bottom-10 defense could be one of the last buy-low opportunities on him before his price skyrockets.
DeMar DeRozan ($7,100) has found his groove recently, averaging 25.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 7.3 APG in the past three games. San Antonio's offense will continue to run through him against the Warriors' bottom-10 defense.
