We have a big slate for Saturday night, as there nine games on the docket. The injury report is relatively light relative to the number of games, but there are still some big names that are already confirmed out or in danger of sitting.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Saturday, Dec. 20 @ 12:00 p.m. EST:
Dallas Mavericks at Philadelphia 76ers (-2.5) (O/U: 227.5)
Indiana Pacers at New Orleans Pelicans (-2.5) (O/U: 234.5)
Boston Celtics (-1.5) at Toronto Raptors (O/U: 223.5)
Charlotte Hornets at Detroit Pistons (-10.5) (O/U: 232.5)
Washington Wizards at Memphis Grizzlies (-13) (O/U: 231.5)
Phoenix Suns at Golden State Warriors (-6) (O/U: 226.5)
Orlando Magic (-7.5) at Utah Jazz (O/U: 237.5)
Portland Trail Blazers (-4.5) at Sacramento Kings (O/U: 239.5)
Los Angeles Lakers (-1.5) at Los Angeles Clippers (O/U: 231.5)
While we do have a couple of double-digit favorites Saturday, the betting metrics suggest a conducive environment for strong DFS production overall. There are plenty of projected competitive games, and the fact there are six games with totals north of 231 points is also heartening. The top DFS environments could turn out to be the Pacers-Pelicans and Trail Blazers-Kings battles, with others also holding plenty of potential.
Injury Situations to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
Austin Reaves, LAL (calf): OUT
In Reaves' ongoing absence and that of Deandre Ayton (elbow), Luka Doncic and LeBron James should be primed for even more usage than usual.
Ja Morant, MEM (ankle): OUT
Morant's absence should lead to a spot start for Cam Spencer, while Jaren Jackson and Jaylen Wells should be among those who benefit most in the form of extra usage.
Joel Embiid, PHI (illness): QUESTIONABLE
If Embiid sits out, Andre Drummond should be in line for a spot start, while Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe will be in line for even more usage than usual.
Lauri Markkanen, UTA (groin): DOUBTFUL
In Markkanen's likely absence, Kyle Filipowski should draw another start, while Keyonte George should see even more usage than usual.
Other notable injuries:
Franz Wagner, ORL (knee): OUT
Domantas Sabonis, SAC (knee): OUT
Deandre Ayton, LAL (elbow): OUT
RJ Barrett, TOR (knee): OUT
Jalen Green, PHO (hamstring): OUT
Jrue Holiday, POR (calf): OUT
Zach LaVine, SAC (ankle): OUT
Kelly Oubre, PHI (knee): OUT
Jalen Suggs, ORL (hip): DOUBTFUL
Jerami Grant, POR (Achilles): QUESTIONABLE
Grayson Allen, PHO (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Anthony Davis, DAL (illness): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have five players with five-figure salaries on Saturday's slate: Luka Doncic ($12,800), Anthony Davis ($10,700), Cade Cunningham ($10,500), Tyrese Maxey ($10,400) and Jaylen Brown ($10,000).
Luka went off for 93.2 FD points against the Jazz on Thursday with Austin Reaves sidelined, and he'll take the floor under the same conditions again Saturday in another favorable matchup against the Clippers.
Davis is probable to play through his illness and has scored over 50 FD points in three of his last five games.
Cunningham has exceeded 50 FD points in three of the last five, including two straight, and is in a particularly favorable matchup and game environment against the Hornets.
Maxey scored 45.9 FD points Friday against the Knicks in his return from a two-game absence and may once again be operating without Joel Embiid on Saturday.
Brown has scored 49.3 FD points or more in five of his last six games, but he does get a reasonably tough matchup against the Raptors in the game with the lowest projected total of the night.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Deni Avdija, POR ($9,600)
Avdija has held a fantasy floor in the low 40s for significant portions of the seasons and is facing a Kings squad he just put up 46.5 FD points against Thursday, which should keep him very popular.
Scottie Barnes, TOR ($9,100)
Barnes has scored 49 and 47.2 FD points in his last two games and also produced 47.2 four games ago, which should keep him very popular Saturday.
LaMelo Ball, CHA ($9,000)
Ball contributed 49.3 FD points in just 28 minutes against the Hawks in his return from injury Thursday, which should help lead to a high roster rate at his salary.
Devin Booker, PHO ($8,800)
Booker scored 25 actual points over 32 minutes Thursday in the same matchup against the Warriors that he'll draw Saturday.
Keyonte George, UTA ($8,300)
George has scored 48.8 to 61.2 FD points in his last three games and is expected to once again play without Lauri Markkanen, all factors that should lock the Jazz guard into plenty of lineups.
Key Values
Kyle Filipowski, UTA vs. ORL ($6,200)
Filipowski is due for another start Saturday with Markkanen listed as doubtful, and the second-year big has produced 38.3 and 23.6 FD points in the most recent two instances he's run with the first unit. Filipowski has exceeded 37 FD points in three of his first nine starts overall, shooting a blistering 53.3 percent over the entirety of that span. The Magic has also been especially vulnerable to power forwards of late, surrendering the fourth-most FD points to the position in the last seven games (50.1). With a high-scoring game expected and a likely minutes load in the low 30s at minimum, Filipowski could deliver a strong return on investment.
Donovan Clingan, POR at SAC ($6,100)
Clingan put together a solid performance in the first game of this home-and-home back-to-back set against the Kings, posting 39.6 FD points across 35 minutes. The second-year big has eclipsed 30 FD points in 11 of 23 games overall, and Sacramento continues to field one of the more vulnerable frontcourt defenses in either conference. The Kings check in allowing a Western Conference-high 39.9 offensive efficiency rating to centers, along with an NBA-high 63.8 FD points per contest to the position in the last 15 games. Sacramento has also conceded the fifth-most rebounds per game (56.0), furthering Clingan's case.
Cam Spencer, MEM vs. WAS ($5,800)
Spencer is off the injury report for Saturday's favorable matchup after missing Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves, and the second-year guard could be in line for a start with Ja Morant sidelined. Spencer is averaging 33.7 FD points over his last five games, putting up 19.4 points, 5.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting a jaw-dropping 68.1 percent, including 66.7 percent from three-point range, in that span. The opposing Wizards make for an excellent matchup considering their vast defensive deficiencies, which include allowing the third-most FD points per game to point guards in the last 15 (53.9), as well as a co-NBA-high 29.5 assists per contest and 48.1 percent shooting overall.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jaylen Wells, MEM vs. WAS ($5,500)
