This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Saturday's featured NBA slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and includes six games. The Pelicans, Bulls, Lakers, Mavericks and Bucks will all be wrapping up back-to-back sets, while the other seven teams come in fresh.
Slate Overview
Games to Target
Bucks (-6) at Trail Blazers O/U: 228.5
This figures to be the fastest-paced game in this slate, as Milwaukee leads the league with 119.1 points per game and Portland ranks 12th at 111.7. Both teams have top-end players worth paying up for.
Celtics (-10) vs. Pelicans O/U: 224.5
Boston should take advantage of facing a Pelicans team that's allowing the third-most points per game in the league and the most in this slate at 116.5. New Orleans makes up for that poor defense with the league's eighth-ranked offense (113.3 points per game).
Game to Fade
Lakers (-0.5) at Thunder O/U: 215.5
Points will be hard to come by in this battle of top-10 defensive teams, and the slightly favored Lakers won't want to push the pace in this second leg of a back-to-back for them.
Positional Breakdown
Small forward is especially deep in this slate. It's tied with point guard for the most players priced at $7,500-plus with seven, and many of the small forwards just below that cutoff should benefit from favorable matchups. On the other hand, both center and shooting guard could have as few as two healthy players priced at $7,500 or more. The latter position will probably be the toughest to fill here.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Anthony Davis missed Friday's game due to a bruised back, and the Lakers' star will be hard-pressed to return one day later. LeBron James will sit out with an illness.
Joel Embiid underwent surgery on his finger Friday and will miss at least the next eight games.
Hassan Whiteside (illness) is a game-time decision for the Trail Blazers.
Jrue Holiday (elbow) is doubtful for New Orleans after missing the last three games, the most recent of which came Friday. Teammate Derrick Favors strained his hamstring Friday, leaving him unlikely to suit up as well.
Kristaps Porzingis (knee) has been ruled out for a seventh consecutive game for Dallas.
Elite Players
Luka Doncic ($12,400) was held to 47.0 fantasy points by the Lakers on Friday, but he had averaged 65.6 in the previous five games Porzingis missed. His upside will give Doncic plenty of GPP appeal against a 76ers team that will also be without its best big man in Embiid.
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,500) was held in check by a tough Sacramento defense Friday, and while his floor is lower in the second leg of a back-to-back, his ceiling is also immense against a bottom-10 Portland defense that's allowing 113.6 points per game.
Andre Drummond ($10,100) has topped 60.0 fantasy points in consecutive games, averaging 25.5 PPG and 21.5 RPG as Detroit's clear go-to big man with Blake Griffin sidelined by a knee injury. With trade rumors swirling around Drummond less than a month before the deadline, he'll be motivated to keep delivering in a favorable matchup against a Chicago team that can't guard him inside.
Nikola Jokic ($9,700) is another big man who will be a mismatch against a Central Division opponent. The Nuggets star is hot coming into this home matchup against the Cavaliers, averaging 40.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 6.0 APG in the last two games.
Expected Chalk
Kemba Walker ($7,600) has shaken off the illness that was recently bothering him, scoring 26 points in 33 minutes Thursday in Philadelphia. He has a good chance of topping that number against a Pelicans team that ranks among the five most generous defensively and will be battling tired legs in its second game in as many nights.
Al Horford ($6,700) was a dominant force in Thursday's win over Boston, filling in for Embiid with 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists, a steal and two blocks. Horford has struggled to mesh with Embiid when the two share the court, but he's played well when Embiid sits, so this is the time to lock him in against a tired Dallas team.
Lonzo Ball ($6,700) has made the most of Holiday's absence, averaging over 43 fantasy points over the past four games thanks to 17.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 8.8 APG. Ball should keep rolling if Holiday sits, even against a tough Celtics defense.
Will Barton ($7,100) will return after missing Wednesday's game due to a personal issue, and he'll be fresh and ready to dominate the overmatched Cavaliers, who are allowing 113.6 points per game. If you take out Barton's surprising clunker in Washington last Saturday, he's averaging 40.7 fantasy points over the remainder of his past six games.
Key Values
Sterling Brown ($3,000) needed just 18 minutes to post a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds Friday. The affordable wing could be given an extended look by Milwaukee on this second leg of a back-to-back following that strong performance, making Brown a low-risk, high-reward choice at $3,000.
Carmelo Anthony ($5,600) continues to hold GPP appeal with massive game-to-game scoring swings. Case in point, he scored 28 points and 44.25 fantasy points Tuesday in Toronto before adding just eight points and 10.5 fantasy points Thursday in Minnesota. With Portland thin in the front court, Anthony will be given every opportunity to thrive if he gets hot against the Bucks.
