We’re down to the final few weeks of the NBA season, and this time of the year is critical for everyone. It’s vital for these teams to reach the postseason, and it’s essential for us fantasy managers because we need to make some dough! We got off to an excellent start on Monday, so let’s keep rolling here!

After a massive nine-game slate on Monday, we’re looking at just four games here. These are my favorite types of slates because it means we only have to examine eight rotations. The NBA can be extremely volatile at this time of the year, and having fewer teams makes things easier on us as fantasy managers.

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Schedule and Odds

• GSW at ORL (GSW -8.5) O/U: 216
• ATL at NYK (ATL -2) O/U: 225
• CHI at MIL (MIL -6) O/U: 231
• LAC at DEN (DEN -6.5) O/U: 219

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros

Injury Report

• Stephen Curry (ankle) OUT
• James Wiseman (knee) OUT
• Jalen Suggs (ankle) OUT
• Trae Young (ankle) Questionable
• Bogdan Bogdanovic (quad) Questionable
• John Collins (foot) OUT
• Derrick Rose (ankle) OUT
• Kemba Walker (rest) OUT
• Khris Middleton (wrist) OUT
• Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
• Zach LaVine (knee) Questionable
• Paul George (elbow) OUT
• Kawhi Leonard (knee) OUT
• Jamal Murray (knee) OUT
• Michael Porter Jr (back) OUT
• Norman Powell (foot) OUT

Core Plays

Trae Young (PG – ATL): $10,400 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
If you don’t already know, Trae is a monster when he plays the Knicks. He shredded them in last year’s playoffs, with Trae scoring at least 45 DraftKings points in 12 of his previous 14 meetings with the Knicks in total. He’s also averaging 55 fantasy points per game, playing even better in MSG. That arena is known to spark up some of the best players, and Young is no exception.

Julius Randle (PF/C – NYK): $9,000 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
Randle has got a lot of crap this season for his inconsistent play, but he’s been fantastic since the All-Star break. In fact, Julius has scored at least 32 DK points in 20 of his last 21 games, providing a 46-point average in that span. That’s the stud we saw last season, and it’s clear that he’s doing more in the absence of Walker and Rose. We also don’t mind that he faces an Atlanta team that ranks 22nd in points allowed and 27th in defensive efficiency.

Clint Capela (C – ATL): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
One rule of thumb to use with Capela is that he should always be in your lineup when John Collins is sidelined. That’s the case right now, forcing Capela into a 30-minute role. Capela has been cruising in this role all season, averaging nearly 40 DK points per game when he plays 25-plus minutes. He’s also killed NY this season, averaging 38 DK points per game in their two matchups.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,400 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
Jokic is coming off one of his worst games of the season on Sunday, but he still had 43 DraftKings points. That was his third-worst game of the year, scoring at least 41 DK points in all but one game this season. That’s made The Joker the highest-scoring option in fantasy, leading the NBA with 61 DK points per game. Don’t miss out on that sort of consistency in such a short slate!

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF – MIL): $12,100 DraftKings, $11,200 FanDuel
Jokic and Giannis are the safest options on any slate, and both guys are impossible to avoid on a four-game card. Giannis might be the better option here because he’ll likely be asked to do more in the absence of Khris Middleton. That’s scary since he’s a near guarantee for 50 DraftKings points, averaging 58 DK points per game. The matchup with Chicago is sensational, too, with Antetokounmpo averaging 61.3 DK points in their three matchups this season.

Jordan Poole (PG/SG – GSW): $7,400 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
Many people might pivot to Draymond or Klay with Curry out of the lineup, but Poole should be your guy. He’s leading the Warriors in usage with Chef Curry off the floor, generating a 31 percent usage rate in these circumstances. He’s actually played seven games without Curry this season and is averaging over 35 DK points per game! We love all of that against Orlando, with the Magic ranked 21st in points allowed and 25th in defensive efficiency.

GPP Targets

Marcus Morris (SF/PF – LAC): $5,600 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
The Clippers had a nightmarish game in their most recent outing, but it’s making people forget how good Morris was before that. The superior twin had at least 41 DK points in three of his previous four games before that ugly blowout. That’s no surprise with Morris taking on more usage in the absence of Kawhi, PG13, and Powell. Getting to face Denver is dandy, too, with the Nuggets owning a 25th OPRK against opposing forwards.

Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
It’s hard to understand why Robinson has remained so cheap all season long. He’s been given a monster role in the absence of Nerlens Noel, playing some of the best basketball of his career. The big man’s upside is what’s really amazing, scoring at least 45 DK points in five of his last 18 games. He’s also providing a 32-point average in that stretch, making him tough to fade against one of the worst defenses in the NBA.

Alec Burks (PG/SG – NYK): $5,600 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
Burks has quietly done a great job of filling in at point guard in the absence of Walker and Rose. He’s regularly playing 35-40 minutes a night in this role, averaging 29 DK points per game. That’s all you can hope for from a $6K player, especially since he faces an Atlanta team surrendering the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing ball-handlers. In his three matchups with the Hawks this season, AB is averaging over 31 fantasy points per game!

Value Plays

Otto Porter (SF/PF – GSW): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
It was unclear who would step up in the absence of Curry, but Porter had his best game of the year in that first one without the former MVP. Otto played 29 minutes off the bench and dropped 43 DraftKings points. We don’t expect him to do that again, but it should be easier against an outstanding matchup like Orlando.

Immanuel Quickley (PG/SG – NYK): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
Quickley is the final piece to our Knicks stack. We want to use as many guys as possible against the Hawks, but Quickley has been one of their best values over recent weeks. He’s filled the Rose/Walker role perfectly, scoring at least 28 DK points in seven of his last nine games. That’s an amazing total for a guy barely cracking $5,000, particularly in such a tasty matchup.

Jordan Nwora (SF/PF – MIL): $3,400 DraftKings, $3,500 FanDuel
Nwora has been the one stepping up when Giannis or Middleton has sat out, and we have to believe he’ll be looking at a 30-minute role here. If you look at the 16 games he’s played at least 25 minutes this season, Nwora is averaging 27 DK points per game. If you get that from a $3,500 player, you’ve stumbled into the best per-dollar play on the board!

Advantageous Pricing

• Wendell Carter (C – ORL): $8,400 DraftKinga, $7,300 FanDuel
• DeMar DeRozan (SF/PF – CHI): $8,600 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
• Nikola Vucevic (C – CHI): $7,700 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
• Bobby Portis (PF – MIL): $6,600 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
• Pat Connaughton (SG/SF – MIL): $3,700 DraftKings, $4,500 FanDuel
• Julius Randle (PF/C – NYK): $9,000 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
• Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
• Terance Mann (PG/SG – LAC): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
• Robert Covington (PF – LAC): $4,600 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel

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