At first glance it looks like a glorious 14-game NBA slate to kick off the week. Games are scattered though, as part of the holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr. day. The focus for this newsletter will be on the 5-game main slate but there's also a 9-game early and 6-game afternoon card to partake in on this nice day of hoops.

Tonight's DFS Headlines

Lakers @ Celtics

Is this a "Come Out of Your Rut" game for Boston who has lost 6 of 8? The storylines here would be the likely return of Anthony Davis for LA, Rajon Rondo ($3.8k) returning to TD Garden, Kemba Walker ($7.4k) going 0-28 against LeBron James ($10.8k) and Marcus Smart ($5.8k) having another 🚦Green Light Game 🚦 after launching 22 three pointers Saturday?

Nuggets @ Timberwolves

Denver is on a back-to-back here but Minnesota is going to be playing their 3rd game in 4 nights. Karl-Anthony Towns ($9.9k) had 27 points in his return from a knee injury Friday, but was limited to 12 on Saturday. The Nuggets are trying to battle through injuries to Gary Harris (groin) who could return Monday while Jamal Murray (ankle) and Paul Millsap (knee) both remain out.

Pacers @ Jazz

There aren't a ton of points expected when Indiana visits Utah with a betting total of just 217. This game also has a possibility of trending towards a 💣Blowout Game 💣 with the Jazz being -7 point favorites and the Pacers coming in off 0 days rest. Indiana burned up a lot of usage in Denver on Sunday with Domantas Sabonis ($7.9k) going for 40+ minutes and Malcolm Brogdon ($7.2k) 36 minutes.

Spurs @ Suns

The Spurs are on the back end of consecutive games but have had some extra down time after an early start on Sunday vs. Miami. San Antonio still has a tough visit to Phoenix to face the Suns who have won 4 of 5. Phoenix has been getting great production from Devin Booker ($8.6k) and DeAndre Ayton ($8.3k) but also likely welcome Kelly Oubre, Jr. ($7.1k) back from a concussion which could dip into usage.

Warriors @ Trail Blazers

Portland is a -7.5 favorite tonight as Golden State only has 3 road wins on the entire season. CJ McCollum (ankle) will miss his 2nd straight game for Portland while Draymond Green (finger) and Glenn Robinson III (ankle) missed the last game for Golden State.

Guards

Joe Ingles DK $5.3k | FD $5.5k

Joe Ingles is almost a guaranteed 6X at this price, as he's hit for 30+ fp in four straight games. Ingles had just 2 points on Saturday, but saved his fantasy night with 12 assists and 9 rebounds. Ingles has shot just 1-10 from three point range the last two games, but went 13/21 in the three games prior. It wouldn't look like the best matchup vs. Indiana, but the Pacers are on a back-to-back after playing an exhausting game in the Denver air last night.

Damian Lillard DK $8.4k | FD $8.8k

Damian Lillard needs a 50fp night for 6X, which should be much easier to get with CJ McCollum (ankle) out. Lillard has 23+ shots in each of the last two with 34 real points. Lillard had 46 fantasy points on Saturday, but that was in a 3rd straight road game and with 0 days rest against a tough Oklahoma City defense. Golden State ranks 27th defensively vs. the PG position and Lillard has averaged 35 points, 8.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in two games vs. the Warriors this season.

Dejounte Murray DK $5.3k | FD $5.4k

The Spurs are on 0 days rest after hosting Miami on Sunday but they have had a bit more down time since it was a 3:00 PM EST tip yesterday. Dejounte Murray played just 22 minutes vs. the Heat and should be fresh for an upside game tonight as DeMar DeRozan and Lamarcus Aldridge both were on the court for 35+. Derrick White ($4.2k) or Bryn Forbes ($3.4k) could also be solid plays with a slight pace uptick vs. the Suns. Phoenix has given up a 44fp night to Devonte Graham and 60+ fp to both Trae Young and Marcus Smart over their past 4 games, so there are opportunities for opposing PGs.

🏀👍 Other Likes  / Dislikes 👍🏀

Devin Booker ($8.6k) has gone for 56+ fp in 2 of the last 3 but may see a usage dip with Oubre back in the lineup.

D'Angelo Russell ($7.6k) has a nice price point after hitting 74+ fp in 3 of the last 4 and in a matchup with the Blazers missing McCollum.

Forwards

Jayson Tatum DK $6.9k | FD $7.6k

Jayson Tatum needs 48 for a 7X performance tonight - not easy vs. the Lakers defense but still a number the Boston PF has hit in 2 of his last 4 games. There's got to be a time when Tatum puts two solid outings together, as he's been the 'anti-chase' this season and unfortunately had 50 fp last game. Even so, Tatum has at least 20 shots in 3 of the last 4 and also has at least 6 rebounds in each of those. Tatum gets a matchup with a slightly rusty Anthony Davis tonight as well.

Michael Porter, Jr. DK $6.5k | FD $5.3k

The Nuggets are on the back-to-back tonight, but Michael Porter, Jr. logged just 23 minutes last night vs. Indiana. Will Barton had 36 minutes and Jerami Grant 33, so their court time could go down slightly vs. the Timberwolves, not to mention Paul Millsap and Jamal Murray are out and Gary Harris is a GTD. Porter Jr. still had 10 points and 8 boards in those limited minutes vs. the Pacers, his fourth straight game with double figure scoring. Porter has 8+ boards in each of the last three games.

Royce O'Neale DK $3.6k | FD $4.1k

Royce O'Neale is in a 💵New Paper Game 💵after agreeing to a 4-year, $36 million dollar extension over the weekend and will be playing his first game since the announcement. O'Neale's matchup with Indiana gets easier with the Pacers being on 0 days rest. The Jazz F hasn't really done anything to expect a big game, just playing the Utah big win angle and the fact that he'll want to prove his worth after the contract signing - plus he only needs 21 points for 6X at this price.

🏀👍👍 Other Likes / Dislikes 👍👍🏀

Kyle Kuzma ($6.3k) would be in play if Davis does indeed sit again. Kuzma has 13+ shots in 4 of 5.

Domantas Sabonis ($7.9k) has 58 fp in 2 of the last 3 but also played over 40 minutes on Sunday.

Center

Deandre Ayton DK $8.3k | FD $8k

The only thing really working against Deandre Ayton tonight is the return of Kelly Oubre, Jr. from a concussion. Otherwise, Ayton looks like a 🔒Lock Spot🔒 after going for 26/21 and 26/15 the last two after being put back into the starting lineup. Tonight's matchup with the Spurs is what makes Ayton look like such a solid play. Bam Adebayo has averaged 50fp in two games vs. San Antonio last week, which would be 6X for Ayton at this price.

🏀👍 Other Likes / Dislikes 👍🏀

Ignore Karl-Anthony Towns' 29fp last game because he was playing on a back-to-back after missing a month with a knee injury. That doesn't mean he's not a risk tonight but the Nuggets are on a back-to-back themselves with Jokic playing 32 minutes.

Hassan Whiteside ($7.5k) has upside since he has only played one home game in the last 9. With CJ McCollum out, Whiteside's usage also gets a slight bump.

____________________________________________________________________________________

You can follow me, Carl Taylor (@dailydogsports), on Twitter for more daily fantasy and sports betting talk and make sure to check out the LineStar chat.

Freeroll

The NBA freeroll contests will take place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on DraftKings:

Here's a link for today's freeroll contest - good luck! 

1st Place: Your Choice: One month LineStar premium membership, a LineStar T-Shirt or $10 via PayPal.

Bonus: If you place 1st in the LineStar Freeroll and you are using the LineStar avatar below, you can choose 2 prizes.

Please Note: While you may enter the LineStar freeroll as often as you’d like, you can only win a prize 1 time.

Winners: DM us on Twitter with a screenshot of your win to claim your prize.

🔥 SuperDraft Multiplier Must-Play

Today's SuperDraft multiplier must-play is D'Angelo Russell. He has two 26+ real point games in the four since coming back from injury, including nearly 10 assists per game over the last three. He meets up with the McCollum-less Portland tonight.

🚨 Bonus: Get 3 Free Months of LineStar Premium

Get 3-months of LineStar Premium for new users to SuperDraft who deposit/play $10!

Terms: Partnership offers do NOT renew. See SuperDraft landing page for full terms and conditions. Must be a new user to SuperDraft and deposit and play a minimum of $10 to qualify. If you have an existing LineStar Premium subscription you get a Hat/Tee/Pen combo instead of the 3-months.