SLATE OVERVIEW
WAS (-7.5) vs. ORL O/U: 217.5
BOS (-3.5) @ IND O/U: 210.5
PHI (-5.5) vs. CHA O/U: 226.5
ATL (-3.5) vs. MIA O/U: 223.5
DAL (-2) @ NYK O/U: 207.5
SAS (-5.5) vs. HOU O/U: 231.5
UTA (-6.5) vs. CLE O/U: 221.5
CHI (-1) vs. BKN O/U: 227.5
LAL (-2.5) @ SAC O/U: 230.5
Back-to-back games: Magic, Wizards, Bulls
As you'll find in our recommendations, the Spurs are very popular tonight due to value pivots, a weak opponent, and a respectable total prediction. Lower potential outcomes leave us very light on the Pacers, Knicks, Mavericks and Celtics tonight.
INJURIES
ORL Wendell Carter (hamstring) - QUESTIONABLE
ORL Mo Bamba (toe) - QUESTIONABLE
If Carter and/or Bamba can't make it, Chuma Okeke ($5,500) and Robin Lopez ($4,900) will see a boost in production.
WAS Bradley Beal (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
With Beal out, the Wizards will turn to Corey Kispert ($3.500) as the starter at the two. He recorded 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in relief of Beal Tuesday.
BOS Marcus Smart (thigh) - DOUBTFUL
Dennis Schroder ($5,300) is your best pivot in Smart's absence.
IND Caris LeVert (conditioning) - QUESTIONABLE
IND Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) QUESTIONABLE
LeVert's return is slightly more likely than Brogdon's, but Duane Washington ($4,100) and Lance Stephenson ($6,400) are your top pivot candidates if both guards remain out.
CHA Kelly Oubre (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
Cody Martin ($4,300) is my favorite pivot in this spot.
PHI Seth Curry (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
PHI Shake Milton (back) - OUT
Regardless of Curry's status, the return of Tyrese Maxey ($6,200) represents a great spot against the Hornets, as his absence sent his salary down.
MIA Jimmy Butler (back) - OUT
MIA Bam Adebayo (thumb) - OUT
MIA Dewayne Dedmon (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
Not much is new here, but you'll see more of Omer Yurtseven ($6,800) if Dedmon is compromised. You'll see appearances from other Miami players later in the article.
ATL Clint Capela (ankle) - DOUBTFUL
ATL Cam Reddish (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
Onyeka Okongwu ($3,900) will start in Capela's absence, and if Reddish misses, give Bogdan Bogdanovic ($6,000) a bit more love. John Collins ($8,100) also usually sees a boost in a Capela absence.
DAL Kristaps Porzingis (COVID-18 Protocols) - OUT
Maxi Kleber ($5,600) is your clear pivot when Porzingis is absent.
NYK Kemba Walker (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
NYK Nerlens Noel (conditioning) - QUESTIONABLE
If Walker is sidelined, things will look suitable for Alec Burks ($5,800) and Evan Fournier ($5,600).
SAS Derrick White (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
SAS Keldon Johnson (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
SAS Devin Vassell (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
We'll mention an obvious pivot in a bit but look to Lonnie Walker ($4,800) and Joshua Primo($3,800) during these absences.
UTA Rudy Gobert (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
UTA Rudy Gay (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
UTA Joe Ingles (conditioning) - QUESTIONABLE
Hassan Whiteside ($7,000) and Royce O'Neale ($5,500) are my favorite pivots here.
BKN James Harden (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
BKN Kyrie Irving (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
BKN LaMarcus Aldridge (foot) - OUT
BKN Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) - QUESTIONABLE
We've got significant issues with the Nets, but if you want to take some late-swap chances, I will seal up Kevin Durant or an elite Chicago player and pivot as Harden and Irving's status become clearer. Either way, you can expect output from Day'Ron Sharpe ($3,500) in Aldridge's absence.
Walker and Okongwu represent two of my favorite picks of the evening.
ELITE PLAYERS
I will have LeBron James ($11,300) all over my lineups tonight against the Kings, and the probable tag doesn't bother me one bit. Joel Embiid ($10,900) is also bound to keep the ball rolling with another 31 points (or more) against Charlotte, but we have a lot of value available at center, and we might need to go another way to get the best deal. Dejounte Murray ($10,200) is also in a pretty obvious spot with many productive players absent for the Spurs.
LaMelo Ball ($8,400) will have his work cut out for him against the Sixers, but he's still too good to pass up at this depressed salary point. I like multiple Chicago players against the potentially depleted Bulls backcourt, with DeMar DeRozan ($8,300) and Zach LaVine ($7,400) earning the highest marks in that spot.
Also consider: Donovan Mitchell, UTA ($8,500) vs. CLE, Russell Westbrook, LAL ($8,500) @ SAC
EXPECTED CHALK AND CORE TARGETS
Cole Anthony, ORL ($7,400) @ WAS
There's a chance that Carter will play, and Franz Wagner is a top producer, but when Anthony is healthy, he is the glue that holds this offense together. He'll have an excellent shot at leading his team with the top stat line tonight. He's averaged 19.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists since his return to action three games ago.
Tyler Herro ($6,500) and Kyle Lowry ($7,200), MIA @ ATL
As per usual, in a Butler absence, Lowry and Herro will strive to keep the Heat competitive against their opponent. The Hawks could present some problems, but you can expect reliable floors from both players and upside potential to pop if they are draining shots early.
Spencer Dinwiddie, WAS ($7,100) vs. ORL
As one might expect, a lot of Beal's production will be absorbed by Dinwiddie. He did precisely that in the last game without Beal, logging an excellent 22-point,10-assist double-double. If he can keep his shot volume and assist numbers up, he'll be an excellent value on Tuesday's slate.
Also consider: Malik Monk, LAL ($7,000) @ SAC, Christian Wood, HOU ($7,000) @ SAS
VALUE PLAYS
We've offered some massive value in the injury section, but here are a few plays below the FanDuel median that slipped through the cracks.
Kevin Porter, HOU ($5,900) @ SAS
Some underwhelming games from Porter have sent his salary spiraling downward, and he's now at a point where we need to take advantage. The Lakers will give Barnes more problems than Hield, but both players could smash value at these salaries.
Keita Bates-Diop, SAS ($3,900) vs. HOU
The sharps will find their way to more effective options for the Spurs, but Bates-Diop has great potential at this low salary. Over three starts, he's averaged 7.7 points and 6.0 rebounds, but his average of 30 minutes per game over that span is what really has my attention. The team seems happy with keeping him on the floor in the second half, and although Houston is back to full health, they're still one of the worst defenses in the league. If you want to dig deep for a Spurs punt play, I offer you Devontae Cacok ($3,900), who could find himself with elevated usage in a blowout.
Also consider: Jakob Poeltl, SAS ($6,100) vs. HOU, Caleb Martin, MIA ($5,200) @ ATL