DFSGhost 
Yesterday, we saw a rollercoaster of a storyline finally come to an end with Kyrie Irving being traded to the Dallas Mavericks. This not only has implications on future NBA slates, but also sets the wheels in motion for other negotiations to heat up. Injury reports will be key to monitor from now until the trade deadline. It’s a Mojito Monday edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
Be sure to use our proprietary NBA projections and cheat sheet to build your lineups as the news rolls in. Moreover, join the conversation in the Win Daily Discord to get the insight you need from both subscribers and staff.
Sacramento Kings @ Houston Rockets (+6.5)
Sacramento Kings (-6.5)
De’Aaron Fox missed a second straight game last night due to personal reasons. Should he be ruled out once again, Domantas Sabonis is a prime candidate to be one of the highest scoring players on this NBA slate. Houston is surprisingly the best rebounding team in the league at this point in the season, but they struggle mightily versus Sabonis, who has amassed 29 rebounds across two previous meetings between these two teams. Moreover, he has averaged 22/14.5/12.5 versus Houston this season. The Rockets rank 26th in the NBA in points allowed in the paint per game, setting the stage for a bounce back performance from the Kings All-Star after a disappointing outing last night.
Houston Rockets (+6.5)
Kevin Porter Jr. remains without a timetable to return, making Houston one of the more intriguing rotations to follow in the latter stages of the NBA season. Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun hold bright futures, but the Rockets have a tough road ahead of them in this rebuild. The former returned to the lineup last game after missing the previous three, but struggled mightily with his shot. However, he led the team in usage rate and will do so again tonight. In the mid range of the pricing grid, Green carries a ton of risk, but has massive potential to be in the optimal lineup given his shot-making ability. KJ Martin and Eric Gordon make for intriguing plays in the mid range as well, but lack the upside that Green carries.
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors (-4.5)
Oklahoma City Thunder (+4.5)
Fresh off a 32-point blowout versus the Rockets, where the Thunder put up a ridiculous 153 points, OKC have been thriving in an up-tempo offense this season. They currently sit third in the NBA in pace, while sitting 13th in net rating. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was recently named an All-Star for the first time in his young career, and deservingly so. However, Josh Giddey offers tremendous upside in this matchup as well. Over his last three games, Giddey has averaged 19.3/8/8 on 53.1% shooting. Moreover, he led the team in rebounds during that stretch, as he has done for the duration of the season. Giddey offers a safe floor and a high ceiling in an elite game environment.
Golden State Warriors (-4.5)
The reigning NBA Champions have been dealing with injuries all season long. After an extended absence earlier this season, Steph Curry is now ruled out for multiple weeks. Thus, Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson will be tasked with picking up the bulk of minutes in the backcourt. On the year, Poole has averaged 20.5/2.8/4.3 on 43.5% shooting. Not only is he third in the team in scoring, but also in field goal attempts per night. However, with Curry off the court, Poole takes on a bigger role, both off the bench and in the starting unit. In this scenario, Poole sees his usage rate increase from 29.4% to a whopping 34.8%, while producing 1.12 fantasy points per minute.
Honorable Mentions:
- Los Angeles Clippers @ Brooklyn Nets (+6.5)
- Milwaukee Bucks @ Portland Trail Blazers (+4.5)
Key Injury Reports:
- Dallas Mavericks: Luka Doncic (heel – out), Spencer Dinwiddie (traded – out), Christian Wood (thumb – questionable), Dorian Finney-Smith (traded – out)
- Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant (knee – out), Kyrie Irving (traded – out), Ben Simmons (knee – questionable), Seth Curry (adductor – out)
You can find me on Twitter @BetsByGhost and in the Win Daily Discord
