This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Tuesday's NBA slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features six games. Eleven of the 12 teams in action come in fresh, while the Suns are capping off a back-to-back set. With a few of the league's best defenses in action as well as a couple of the worst, playing matchups will be crucial to forming an effective lineup.
Slate Overview
Games to Target
Nets (-2) at Pelicans O/U: 230.5
The Pelicans give up the second-most points per game (120.1) while the Nets are worse than average with 111.9 points allowed per game. Both teams also rank above league average offensively, with the Pelicans scoring 112.8 points per game and the Nets at 111.9.
Knicks (-2) vs. Hawks O/U: 221
New York has looked much more competitive since replacing David Fizdale with new coach Mike Miller, going 2-3 while losing to Indiana by one and in Denver by six. The team's improvement should be evident against a Hawks team that's hemorrhaged points this season, allowing the fourth-most points per game at 117.8.
Games to Fade
Jazz (-6) vs. Magic O/U: 207
This game promises to be a defensive slog, as both teams rank among the 10 best defensively and in the bottom 10 offensively.
Kings (-4.5) at Hornets O/U: 207
While the defense in this one won't be quite as good as the game above, the offense promises to be even worse, as these are two of the six teams that average fewer than 105 points per game. With two of the league's four worst defensive teams in action elsewhere around this slate, this isn't the spot to find value.
Positional Breakdown
The point guard position has a couple of notable injuries, yet it still offers the most depth in this slate with nine options priced at $7,400 or more likely to dress. Scarcity isn't a major issue at any position, with at least five options priced at $7,000 or more set to dress at every spot if Anthony Davis plays. With the selection of big men noticeably shallower than the guard options, expect to see a point guard in the UTIL spot for most lineups.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Anthony Davis (ankle) is questionable in Indiana with an injury that's more serious than the shoulder that customarily lands him on the injury report.
Devin Booker (forearm) missed Monday's game for the Suns and will be hard-pressed to get into game action one day later.
De'Aaron Fox (ankle) is expected to suit up for the first time since Nov. 8, but it's hard to recommend the Kings point guard considering he'll be rusty and will likely have his minutes limited.
Lou Williams (calf) has missed the past two games, but his questionable listing for this one suggests the Clippers spark plug has a legitimate chance of making his return.
Elite Players
The Pacers are stingy, but it will be hard not to like LeBron James ($10,900) whether Davis sits for the Lakers or not.
Trae Young ($9,900) will face a Knicks team that's ranked among the 10 toughest when it comes to defending point guards, but it's worth noting that New York gives up the third-most made three-pointers per game (13.4). The second-year stud should capitalize on that weakness, as Young is in the top 10 league-wide in made three-pointers per game at 3.3.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard ($9,400) scored 42 points with Williams out Friday before resting Saturday, while teammate Paul George ($8,800) has averaged 36.5 PPG over these past two games. They'll both be appealing options against the Suns if Williams is unable to make his return, and either guy is still capable of producing a strong performance even if Williams comes back.
Expected Chalk
Spencer Dinwiddie ($7,500) has put himself in the Eastern Conference All-Star mix by doing his best Kyrie Irving impression while the star point guard continues to nurse a shoulder injury that's kept him out since Nov. 14. Dinwiddie's averaging 21.0 PPG and 6.2 APG overall this season and has scored at least 24 points in seven of his past eight games. He'll serve as the focal point of Brooklyn's offense for this juicy matchup in New Orleans.
Brandon Ingram ($8,100) is the Pelicans' best counter to Dinwiddie in what promises to be a fast-paced affair. The second overall selection from the 2016 draft is enjoying a breakout campaign, with averages of 25.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 3.7 APG.
Marcus Morris ($6,200) has taken his game to a new level this season, thriving in an increased role with New York. He's averaging 18.7 PPG and 5.8 RPG, and that production has climbed to 20.6 PPG and 5.2 RPG in five games under Miller. At $800 cheaper than Julius Randle, Morris is set to provide excellent value in the Knicks front court, though stacking both guys against the leaky Hawks defense should be a prudent move.
Montrezl Harrell ($6,900) is averaging a robust 20.5 PPG and 8.1 RPG over his past 12 games — a modest improvement over his season marks of 19.1 PPG and 7.6 RPG. The springy Clippers big man should wreak havoc in a favorable matchup against a tired Suns team that has struggled to defend the interior, although they should be welcoming Deandre Ayton back from suspension.
Key Values
Finally healthy, Elfrid Payton ($5,200) has been given the opportunity to strut his stuff over the past three games, averaging 13.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 6.7 APG, as well as a steal per game in 27 minutes. He's a triple double threat when getting consistent playing time, and the affordable point guard should carve up Atlanta's underwhelming defense.
DeAndre Jordan ($5,400) has been the more productive Nets center of late, yet he remains $1,000 cheaper than Jarrett Allen. Jordan has scored more fantasy points than Allen in three of the past five games, including each of the last two. The veteran big man is averaging a double-double over this five-game stretch with 10.4 PPG and 11.4 RPG, and he has a nice opportunity to excel as both a scorer and rebounder in New Orleans.
