DFSGhost 
A few teams are on the second half of a back-to-back, while others’ injury reports figure to be lengthy. This NBA slate will certainly be one to monitor throughout the day. It’s a Taco Tuesday 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.
Chicago Bulls @ Indiana Pacers (-1.5)
Chicago Bulls (+1.5)
The Bulls are on the second half of a back-to-back, meaning there is a chance players miss this game. In addition, Chicago has many players still on contracts with term, making them attractive trade deadline pieces. However, this is still one of the best game environments on the NBA slate. The trio of Lavine, Vucevic, and DeRozan will continue to dominate usage on the offensive side of the ball. Of the three, Lavine has the highest ceiling, but Vucevic has the best ceiling/floor combination. Over his last 11 games, Vucevic has record 11 straight double-doubles. Moreover, he has been dominant on the glass and has seen an increase in offensive looks. With the Pacers ranked 27th in the NBA against true centers, Vucevic will line up on Turner for a ton of minutes.
Indiana Pacers (-1.5)
Tyrese Haliburton continues to rehabilitate from a knee injury, leaving this offense with plenty of additional looks to go around. In this particular matchup against the Bulls, Buddy Hield will be the x-factor. On the season, Hield leads the NBA in three-pointers made with 181. Moreover, he has shot 42.2% from behind the arc, averaging 3.8 three-pointers per night. With the Bulls ranked 29th in the league in three-pointers allowed, Hield will be relied upon to shoulder the load.
Denver Nuggets @ New Orleans Pelicans (OTB)
Denver Nuggets (OTB)
In a rare occurrence, Nikola Jokic has missed the last two games for the Nuggets. Should he miss this one again tonight, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. will see more shot attempts. However, the latter is also in question tonight considering he missed last game due to personal reasons. Should Porter Jr. miss this game, Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon make for intriguing options on this NBA slate, barring a Jokic absence. This is an important injury report to monitor.
New Orleans Pelicans (OTB)
The Pelicans got off to a hot start but have been falling in the absence of both Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. While the former is set to be re-evaluated soon, the latter is still listed as doubtful for tonight. Thus, CJ McCollum will continue leading this offense. Over the course of the season, McCollum has a 27.4% usage rate, resulting in 1.11 fantasy points per minute. However, with both Williamson and Ingram off the court, McCollum sees increases to 1.21 fantasy points per minute through a 31.8% usage rate. Denver ranks 26th in the NBA versus primary ball handlers, setting the stage for McCollum to have a stellar performance.
Los Angeles Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers (+3.5)
Los Angeles Clippers (-3.5)
Despite missing many games for the Clippers throughout his tenure, Kawhi Leonard has been tremendous. The Klaw now has scored 24 or more points in seven straight appearances. Moreover, he has averaged 29.9/6.7/3.9 on 54.1% shooting during that span. In a game between the two Los Angeles teams, all eyes will be on Kawhi & Paul George versus LeBron James. If you are looking for serious star power on this NBA slate, there is no greater game environment than this one.
Los Angeles Lakers (+3.5)
Despite being in his 20th NBA season, LeBron James is showing no signs of slowing down. Only 223 points behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time scoring record, James is set to make history in the near future. This season, James has averaged 29.8/8.5/6.9 on 50.8% shooting through a 36.8% usage rate. Moreover, he has scored 30 or more points in four of his last five games, averaging 35/8.8/7.6 during that span. Committing to this game environment limits your options for the rest of your DFS lineups, but it truly has the best potential on the slate.
Honorable Mentions:
- Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks (+3.5)
- Charlotte Hornets @ Phoenix Suns (OTB)
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