This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Tuesday's NBA slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features seven games. None of the 14 teams in action played Monday, so all of them will be fresh. There are a few interesting games to choose from on this slate, while some slower-paced contests are better off mostly left alone.
Slate Overview
Games to Target
Mavericks (-3.5) at Pelicans O/U: 234
Both of these teams rank in the top seven in points scored at 117.8 (Mavericks) and 114.5 (Pelicans) per game. Dallas' players are particularly appealing against a New Orleans team that's giving up 118.8 points per game.
Rockets (-3) at Spurs O/U: TBD
Houston took over the league lead with 120.3 points per game after lighting up the Hawks for 158 Saturday, and the Spurs are one of six teams surrendering over 115 points per game. Both stars and role players from the Rockets could shine once again in this one.
Games to Fade
Nuggets (-2) vs. Lakers O/U: 209
This should be a well-played game, but the defense is likely to be too good to glean much fantasy value out of this one, as both teams rank among the three stingiest in points allowed per game.
Pistons (-2.5) at Cavaliers O/U: 214.5
There just isn't much offensive talent in this one, leading to an over/under substantially lower than most games on this slate, as both teams score fewer points than league average.
Positional Breakdown
Point guard is especially rich in top-end talent, as all three players priced over $10,000 are eligible at that position. This slate is quite balanced otherwise, but small forward has the fewest players priced at $6,500 or more with eight, while center has the most such players with 11.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Kyle Lowry (thumb) is getting closer to returning after missing the past 11 games, but the Raptors point guard is still listed as doubtful against the Heat.
Sticking with the Heat-Raptors game, Goran Dragic (groin) will sit out for Miami.
LaMarcus Aldridge (thigh) is in danger of missing a second consecutive contest, carrying a questionable tag into the all-Texas battle between the Rockets and Spurs.
Danuel House (illness) is questionable for the Rockets after missing the team's last game.
Elite Players
Clearing out the cap space for Luka Doncic ($11,300) should be worth it against the porous Pelicans defense. He's come up one rebound short of a triple double in each of his past two games while averaging 34.5 PPG over that span, and Doncic has topped 70.0 fantasy points in five of his past nine games.
With averages of 17.1 PPG and 17.1 RPG, Andre Drummond ($9,100) should dominate a Cavaliers frontcourt that's had trouble defending the center position, making him the man to target from that game if you touch it at all.
James Harden ($12,500) needed just three quarters to score 60 points and 85.25 fantasy points against the Hawks in his last game. His exorbitant price will likely scare away most in 50/50s, but some in GPPs will chase his upside against a Spurs team that's giving up 115.1 points per game.
The three superstars in the Lakers-Nuggets game are all capable of thriving regardless of opponent, but the deliberate pace and quality defense from this contest suggests it could be a good time to leave LeBron James ($10,200), Anthony Davis ($9,600) and Nikola Jokic ($8,900) out of lineups.
Expected Chalk
Kristaps Porzingis ($6,500) has been a force on both ends in Dallas, averaging 17.2 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 2.1 blocks per game. He's doing this while shooting a career-low 40 percent, but Porzingis' efficiency should improve against a Pelicans team that's allowing opponents to shoot 47.5 percent this season. The lanky Latvian has also shown improved proficiency in the steals department recently, with eight thefts in his last five games.
Both sides are expected to do plenty of scoring in the Mavericks-Pelicans game, and Brandon Ingram ($8,100) should lead the way for the home side. He's filling the stat sheet with 25.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 4.0 APG, and you should keep riding the Ingram wave in favorable matchups like this one until Zion Williamson's return cuts into his volume.
Ben McLemore ($5,100) has been terrific in a starting role whenever House sits out. He's averaging 19.8 PPG in his last four starts, including a 24-point, 13-rebound in Houston's last game Saturday. At this salary, McLemore is a nice cheap pairing for some of this slate's expensive stars.
Evan Fournier ($6,200) has scored 30-plus points twice in the past three games and at least 25 in five of the past eight. His high-scoring ways should continue here, as the plodding Magic will be forced to pick up the pace against a Wizards team that allows a league-high 122.7 points per game and scores the third most at 118.8.
Key Values
DeMar DeRozan ($7,200) only played 25 minutes in Sunday's blowout loss to Detroit, but he still scored 20 points with Aldridge sidelined. If Aldridge sits again, San Antonio's offense will run through DeRozan against a Houston team that's giving up 114.5 points per game.
Markelle Fultz ($5,500) could join Fournier in having a productive game for Orlando. The first overall pick from the 2017 draft has scored no fewer than 12 points in each of his past eight games, averaging 14.6 PPG over that span. He's added 1.5 steals per game in that stretch while throwing in a pair of nine-assist efforts, showcasing the type of all-around performance the affordable guard is capable of churning out in favorable matchups such as this one.
