This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
The DraftKings slate for Saturday night features five games and brings plenty of high-end value, cost-effective plays and injury-driven opportunities. This article breaks down today's matchups, key injury updates and recent performances to help you make winning picks.
Slate Overview
UTA at ORL: Jazz 2-8 in last 10 games; Magic 15-8 at home
CHA at ATL: Hornets on eight-game win streak; Hawks on two-game win streak, 10-14 at home
DEN at CHI: Nuggets on three-game slide, 19-9 on road; Bulls on three-game slide, 15-11 at home
GSW at LAL: Warriors 11-15 on road; Lakers on two-game win streak, 7-3 in last 10 games
PHI at PHX: 76ers 14-9 on road; Suns 17-8 at home
For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
Injuries to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
UTA - Keyonte George (ankle): Probable
ORL - Franz Wagner (ankle): OUT
CHA - Coby White (calf): OUT
ATL - Onyeka Okongwu (mouth): Questionable; Jonathan Kuminga (knee): OUT
DEN - Cameron Johnson (knee), Nikola Jokic (ankle): Questionable; Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Peyton Watson (hamstring), Spencer Jones (concussion): OUT
CHI - Jalen Smith (calf): Questionable; Josh Giddey (hamstring), Tre Jones (hamstring): OUT
GSW - Stephen Curry (knee), Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles): OUT
LAL - Luka Doncic (hamstring): OUT
PHI - Joel Embiid (knee): Questionable; Paul George (suspension): OUT
PHX - Devin Booker (ankle), Jalen Green (hip): Questionable; Grayson Allen (knee): OUT
Elite Players
Guards
Jamal Murray, Nuggets 
($9,000) at Bulls
Murray has topped 30 points in each of the last two games and is averaging 26.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.0 steals over five games, surpassing 40.0 DK points in each. He should keep rolling against the Bulls, who have undergone significant roster changes and are surely still fine-tuning their game plan. The Bulls also give up the league's fifth-most points and eighth-most three-pointers per game.
LaMelo Ball, Hornets 
($7,700) at Hawks
Ball is rolling, averaging 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists over the last five games, including racking up a high of 46.0 DK points in that span. He has a good opportunity to keep it up against the Hawks, who are giving up the league's fifth-highest field-goal percentage to opposing point guards. He also finished with 28 points, four rebounds, 13 assists and a steal in his previous encounter with the Hawks this season.
Forwards/Centers
Paolo Banchero, Magic 
($9,000) vs. Jazz
Banchero is averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 0.9 steals over the last 10 games, including three with over 55.0 DK points. He faces a great chance to pad his stats against the Jazz, who are giving up the league's most points and third-most free throws per game, including the second-most points per game to opposing power forwards. On the other hand, recent roster changes, including the debut of Jaren Jackson, will result in a slightly different look from the Jazz, but that shouldn't get in the way of Banchero continuing to lead the charge for his squad.
LeBron James, Lakers 
($8,700) vs. Warriors
James continues to put up numbers across the board, averaging 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.1 steals over the last 10 games, including three outings with over 40.0 DK points. He must look to step up offensively in the absence of Luka Doncic (hamstring), and James is likely to keep up the strong play against a shorthanded Warriors squad that is also giving up the league's fourth-most turnovers per game.
Jaren Jackson, Jazz 
($7,800) at Magic
Jackson is set for his debut with his new club and should find the chance to pad his stats against the Magic, who are giving up the league's sixth-most blocks per game to opposing centers. Jackson is averaging 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks on the season and will likely be looking to make a good impression for the occasion.
Expected Chalk
Jalen Johnson, Hawks 
($10,900) vs. Hornets
Johnson is coming off three straight triple-doubles and is averaging 22.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 0.9 blocks over his last 10 appearances, including five with more than 60.0 DK points. He is set to clash with a streaking Hornets squad but should have no trouble continuing to fill the stat sheet, as they give up the league's fifth-most points and fourth-most steals to opposing power forwards. He is also averaging 35.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 1.0 steals over two meetings with the Hornets this season.
Mid-Range Money
CJ McCollum, Hawks ($6,200) vs. Hornets
McCollum is coming off a bit of a dud but finished with 26 points in the game prior and is averaging 17.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists over the last five games. He faces a challenge against the Hornets' backcourt, but he should be able to get his shot going, as they give up the league's sixth-most three-pointers per game to opposing point guards.
Matas Buzelis, Bulls 
($6,700) vs. Nuggets
Buzelis has topped 33.0 DK points in five of the last six games, averaging 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 blocks over that span. He faces a favorable matchup against the Nuggets, who are missing valuable depth in the frontcourt and are giving up the league's fourth-most rebounds and eighth-most blocks per game to opposing power forwards.
Value Picks
Moses Moody, Warriors 
($5,000) at Lakers
Moody is averaging 13.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 steals over the last 10 games, including two with at least 38.0 DK points. He should keep up the production against the Lakers, who are giving up the league's most points per game to opposing small forwards. He is also in line to see some extra shot opportunities in the absence of Stephen Curry (knee).
Gui Santos, Warriors ($4,900) at Lakers
Santos has done a great job stepping up for his shorthanded squad, averaging 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks over the last five games, including three with over 30.0 DK points and a high of 37.0. He faces a tough matchup against the Lakers but should find room to keep up his production, as the Lakers are giving up the league's seventh-most points per game and highest field-goal percentage to opposing power forwards.
Dominick Barlow, 76ers 
($4,200) at Suns
Barlow is averaging 14.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals over four consecutive starts, including racking up a high of 57.0 DK points in that span. He is in line for another start in the frontcourt alongside Joel Embiid (knee), and the former should do well against the Suns, who do not boast a lot of size in the frontcourt and give up the league's seventh-most free throws per game to opposing power forwards.
