We have a solid six-game main slate Saturday night, one that sees almost every time playing on the second night of a back-to-back set. Whether that amounts to much of a fatigue factor remains to be seen, given all teams were off Thursday and some had last seen action as far back as Monday. The injury report is relatively light as well despite having some big names, giving us plenty to work with in terms of the player pool.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Saturday, Nov. 29 @ 11:45 a.m. EST:
*Chicago Bulls (-4) at *Indiana Pacers (O/U: 241.5)
*Detroit Pistons at Miami Heat (-3.5) (O/U: 239.5)
*Brooklyn Nets at *Milwaukee Bucks (-11) (O/U: 220.5)
New Orleans Pelicans at Golden State Warriors (-9) (O/U: 225.5)
*Denver Nuggets (-3.5) at *Phoenix Suns (O/U: 231.5)
*Dallas Mavericks at *Los Angeles Clippers (-7.5) (O/U: 222.5)
* Denotes team on second game of back-to-back set
We have a bit of everything on Saturday's slate in terms of betting lines, as there are two particularly attractive totals and three games that project to be especially competitive. However, with a trio of mismatches to varying degree on tap, we also have the potential for some abbreviated minutes for big names in those contests.
Injury Situations to Monitor
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Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (thigh): QUESTIONABLE
Antetokounmpo made his return Friday, but if he's rested on the second night of the back-to-back Saturday, Kyle Kuzma could draw a start at power forward.
Anthony Davis, DAL (rest): OUT
Davis made his return Friday but will rest on the second night of the back-to-back set, likely affording Naji Marshall a start at power forward.
Stephen Curry, GSW (quadriceps): OUT
In Curry's absence, Jimmy Butler should be a primary beneficiary in terms of increased usage, while Brandin Podziemski is likely to draw a start at point guard.
Trey Murphy, NOP (elbow): QUESTIONABLE
If Murphy can't go Saturday, Jose Alvarado is likely to draw a start at shooting guard.
Michael Porter, BKN (back): QUESTIONABLE
If Porter logs another absence Saturday, Ziaire Williams is likely to draw a start at small forward and the rest of the first unit should see a collective bump in usage.
Other notable injuries:
Cam Thomas, BKN (hamstring): OUT
Jalen Green, PHO (hamstring: OUT
Grayson Allen, PHO (quadriceps): QUESTIONABLE
Coby White, CHI (calf): QUESTIONABLE
Andrew Nembhard, IND (quadriceps): QUESTIONABLE
Jaime Jaquez, MIA (groin): QUESTIONABLE
Norman Powell, MIA (groin): PROBABLE
Andrew Wiggins, MIA (hip): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have three players with five-figure salaries on Saturday's slate: Nikola Jokic ($12,800), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,500) and Cade Cunningham ($10,600).
Jokic dipped under 50 FD points for the first time all season Friday, but he carries what might be the safest floor on the slate and shouldn't be too affected by the back-to-back set considering he had three days off prior to Friday.
Antetokounmpo was spectacular in his return Friday with 60 FD points in just 28 minutes against the Knicks, but his status for Saturday will have to be monitored.
Cunningham eclipsed 60 FD points for the second consecutive game in a tough matchup against the Magic on Friday and has been over 50 in four of the last five contests overall, putting him nearly on par with Jokic in terms of safety.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
James Harden, LAC ($9,700)
Harden kept rolling Friday with 48.9 FD points against the Grizzlies, and the fact he has tallies of 80.3 and 70.1 within the second half of November should make him very popular at his salary.
Josh Giddey, CHI ($9,600)
Giddey tallied 54.7 FD points in just 33 minutes against the Hornets on Friday night and is up to 47.8 FD points per game for the season, which should help keep him highly rostered Saturday.
Jamal Murray, DEN ($8,700)
Murray is on an impressive run that's seen him score 43.6 to 54.2 FD points in six of the last seven games, numbers that should lock him into plenty of lineups at his reasonable salary.
Tyler Herro, MIA ($8,600)
Herro has hit the ground running by putting up 41.4 and 49.5 FD points in his first two games following his delayed season debut, making him a very appealing play at his salary in a game with the second-highest projected total of the night.
Jimmy Butler, GSW ($8,400)
Butler will be taking the floor without Stephen Curry on Saturday making him the primary option in the Warriors' attack and a very popular option as a result.
Key Values
Brandin Podziemski, GSW vs. NOP ($5,800)
Podziemski is in line for a start in Stephen Curry's stead Saturday, and the versatile third-year guard checks in having averaged 26.9 FD points on the strength of 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest in his other eight games with the first unit this season. Podziemski is also averaging 33.3 FD points per 36 minutes with Curry and Jonathan Kuminga off the floor this season, along with 16.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per 36 minutes in that scenario. The Pelicans make for good targets as well, considering they're surrendering a Western Conference-high 50.6 percent shooting on the road, along with an NBA-high 10.6 assists per contest to point guards.
Kyle Kuzma, MIL vs. BKN ($5,400)
Kuzma could be in line for a spot start at power forward if Giannis Antetokounmpo sits out the second leg of the back-to-back Saturday, but he's a consideration even if he's coming off the bench. Kuzma put up 33.3 FD points in 28 minutes from the second unit Friday against the Knicks, and he'd averaged 25 FD points per contest in the five previous games while on the first unit. Kuzma even has a massive 60.5 FD-point tally on his resume this season against the Hornets, and the matchup against the Nets is just as appealing considering Brooklyn is conceding the fourth-most FD points per game to power forwards (51.0) on the season while also yielding the third-highest offensive efficiency rating to the position (31.4).
Noah Clowney, BKN at MIL ($5,400)
Clowney makes for an intriguing option at the same salary as Kuzma on the other side of the Nets-Bucks matchup. The veteran forward is enjoying a productive season on a thin Nets squad that's providing him with plenty of opportunity, putting up a career-high 12.4 points per game despite shooting just 38.9 percent overall. Clowney has also been running particularly hot over the last eight games, averaging 30.7 FD points via 17.9 points (on improved 44.6 percent shooting), 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per contest. Clowney has a starting role that's afforded him a robust 37 minutes per game in the last four contests as well, and he may not have to contend with Antetokounmpo on Saturday, as alluded to in Kuzma's entry. Milwaukee is allowing 48 FD points per game to power forwards for the season as well, furthering Clowney's case.
ALSO CONSIDER: Duncan Robinson, DET at MIA ($4,500); Will Richard, GSW vs. NOP ($4,400)
