This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Tuesday's NBA slate is a small one, with just three games scheduled after 7:30 PM Eastern time. Among the Hawks-Heat, Mavericks-Nuggets and Grizzlies-Lakers matchups, Atlanta and Denver will be finishing up back-to-back sets.
Slate Overview
Game to Target
Lakers (-12) vs. Grizzlies O/U: 219.5
This isn't the defensively stout Grizzlies team that we got used to for most of the last decade, as this young squad is giving up 121.0 points per game. With both teams fresh, they should be able to push the pace throughout. While the Hawks-Heat game has a higher over/under, Atlanta finishing a back-to-back and Miami rearranging its rotation for Jimmy Butler's return shrouds that game in uncertainty.
Game to Fade
Nuggets (-6) vs. Mavericks O/U: 216
All three games have something to offer here, but this is likely to be the lowest scoring. Denver's deep rotation makes it hard to predict which players will stand out, while Dallas doesn't have much to offer besides its European one-two punch.
Positional Breakdown
There's plenty to choose from at the point guard position, even in this small slate, and center is surprisingly deep in both high-priced and affordable options. The depth falls off much quicker at the shooting guard and small forward positions, with small forward being the hardest to fill.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Kyle Kuzma (ankle) remains out for the Lakers and Rajon Rondo (calf) is questionable. Quinn Cook is the most likely player to see his minutes slashed should Rondo return.
Dion Waiters apparently isn't ready to return for the Heat, even though his three-game suspension to start the season is over. Jimmy Butler (personal) is expected to make his Miami debut, which should cut into the value of Tyler Herro and/or Kendrick Nunn.
Elite Players
Both the Lakers and Mavericks are driven by a pair of stars who should stand out in this slate.
The Lakers duo of Anthony Davis ($10,300) and LeBron James ($9,700) should dominate the Grizzlies, but the Lakers run the risk of getting up too much and cutting their minutes in this one.
They're not getting quite as much attention as James and Davis, but Luka Doncic ($9,500) and Kristaps Porzingis ($8,200) have demonstrated a similar dynamic in Dallas. Doncic has stellar averages of 29.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 7.3 APG and 2.3 steals per game, while Porzingis is at 26.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.3 APG and 2.7 blocks per game.
With Denver finishing up a back-to-back set, Nikola Jokic ($10,000) might not have as much gas as usual in the tank. The same could be true of Atlanta's Trae Young ($9,000).
Expected Chalk
Dwight Howard ($5,000) should be popular at his affordable valuation considering he just logged a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double in Sunday's win over the Hornets.
Ja Morant ($7,100) has stuffed the stat sheet through his first three games with 18.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. The rookie second overall pick is coming off a 30-point performance, so plenty of owners will look his way in hopes of a repeat effort. He's probable with right ankle soreness, but that injury is unlikely to have a major effect on Morant.
Key Values
While Ja Morant is the Grizzlies rookie getting all the hype, Summer League MVP Brandon Clarke ($5,100) could be a nice cheap filler to round out your lineup. The 21st overall selection from the 2019 draft is contributing on both ends with 10.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.7 steals and 1.7 blocks per game, along with just one turnover through three games.
As a big man, Bam Adebayo ($7,000) shouldn't have his minutes impacted by Butler's return. Adebayo's averaging a well-rounded 15.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. He'll likely have the ball in his hands less, but Adebayo's rebounding and defensive stats are unlikely to take a hit, and those represent the majority of his fantasy value.
