One of the problems with all that daytime basketball Sunday and Monday is that it creates a weird scheduling quirk. Alas, we are left with our first mini-slate of the season with just two games on tap for tonight.

That's OK though, these types of slates provide different strategic approaches. Everybody is going to have Nikola Jokic ($11k) tonight, so do you follow and try to win with the best lower tier lineup or take the contrarian approach and hope for a rare bad night for the Joker?

Today's NBA Matchups

Thunder @ Nuggets (-9.5) , O/U 220.5, 9:00 PM ET

Just a two game slate and one of them has 🕯️Blowout Potential🕯️ with the Nuggets almost double digit favorites. OKC should be able to keep this close though, as they are well rested after Sunday's game with the Sixers was canceled.

Pelicans @ Jazz (-6), O/U 218 9:00 PM ET

Utah is in a big letdown spot after beating Denver on Sunday to avenge last year's playoff loss. The Jazz have still won five straight, and the Pelicans had lost four in a row prior to 128-123 win over Sacramento last time out.

Tonight's Point Guard / Shooting Guard Notables

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander DK $8.7 k | FD $8.6k

There's a $500 difference separating Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Donovan Mitchell tonight. They face teams that are #24 and #25 in pace, but Gilgeous-Alexander is up against Denver's #25 defense, including 28th vs. the SG.

Jordan Clarkson DK $6.5k | FD $6.3k

Jordan Clarkson put up a 23/5/3 line vs. Oklahoma City in the bubble last July and that was with Joe Ingles in the lineup. Ingles has missed the last three, and Clarkson has responded with 42,32, and 36 fp. That being said, Ingles is back to questionable.

Monte Morris DK $4.2k | FD $4.8

P.J. Dozier DK $3.9k | FD $4.4

Monte Morris has scored in double figures in eight of the last 10 games, and if you like Denver to blow out OKC tonight he gets great value. The problem with Morris is he's almost solely a scorer. P.J. Dozier has double figures in just two of his last 10 games but has also posted 5+ rebounds in 3 of the last 5.

Tonight's SF / PF Notables

Will Barton DK $5.7k | FD $6.1k

This will likely be the last time to launch for a while (as a starter) for Will Barton, as Michael Porter, Jr. is expected to return to the Nuggets on Friday. Barton gets a great swan song to do so against an OKC team that has allowed a 32 fp night to Keldon Johnson and 29 to Patrick Williams at the SF spot over the past week.

Bojan Bogdanovic DK $5.3k | FD $5k

Bojan Bogdanovic was injured in the bubble and thus didn't play in the last matchup with the Pelicans. In three regular season meetings with New Orleans, Bogdanovic scored 26, 35, and 28 real points last season. The Pelicans run a much slower pace this year (25th) but BojBog obviously likes the matchup.

Royce O'Neale $5.2k | FD $5.5k

Royce O'Neale gained 'dead to me' status with most DFS players a long time ago, but is he resurrected on a two game slate? O'Neale had an 18/8 line five games ago and did go for 12 points and 9 boards against the Pelicans in the bubble last July.

JaMychal Green DK $4.6k | FD $4.4k

JaMychal Green will get his boards tonight, as he has 7+ in 4 of the last 6 and faces OKC's 4th worst team in rebounding rate tonight. He has been held below double digit scoring in 2 of the last 3 but had 10+ in five straight games before that. A Nuggets blowout would definitely help the upside here.

Tonight's Center Position Notables

Nikola Jokic DK $11k | FD $11.5k

You've got pretty much Nikola Jokic or Rudy Gobert ($7.6k) tonight (or Zion Williamson on DK). There are worse options besides the guy averaging a triple double on the season (25/11/10) up against an OKC team missing their starting center.

Isaiah Roby DK $4.1k | FD $4.5k

A punt play if you want to stay away from Gobert or Adams. The 6'8" Isaiah Roby is once again in starting C spot for Al Horford, going small vs. the Nuggets. Roby has gone for double digits in three of the last four with this increased opportunity.

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