It's a 10-game Monday NBA slate on tap and one of the biggest themes of tonight is injuries and absences. COVID protocols are running through locker rooms in Denver, Milwaukee, and Chicago among others, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker continued to be sidelined, and Giannis Antetokounmpo (on his birthday), Jimmy Butler, and Karl-Anthony Towns are a few of the GTDs.

Let's see if these games are a little more 'top heavy' as teams are down a bit in their depth.

Tonight's Key NBA Matchups

76ers (-6.5) @ Hornets, O/U 217 7:00 ET

This line seems like it should be higher with Charlotte playing on the back to back and down LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier (among others) to COVID protocols. The Hornets also had a very fast-paced 130-127 win over Atlanta last night.

Wizards @ Pacers (-5.5), O/U 211 7:00 ET

Washington is playing on 0 days rest here after an offensive dud in a 102-90 loss to Toronto on Sunday. Spencer Dinwiddie (rest) is going to sit against a Pacers team that has lost five of their last six.

Nuggets @ Bulls(-3.5), O/U 217 8:00 ET

The Bulls (like many teams right now) are a bit shorthanded with Coby White and Javonte Green in COVID protocols and Alex Caruso nursing a sore hamstring. Denver doesn't want to hear it though with all the ailments going through that locker room.

Cavs @ Bucks (-6.5), O/U 213.5 8:00 ET

This would have actually been a very highly anticipated matchup if the Cavs weren't on the back to back because Cleveland has been playing great basketball lately, even in their 109-108 loss to Utah on Sunday. Giannis Antetokounmpo is questionable for the Bucks (calf).

Hawks @ Timberwolves (-2.5), O/U 222.5 8:00 ET

Atlanta got beat 130-127 by a shorthanded Hornets team last night so they're in a bit of disarray right now losing despite a 55 fantasy point night from Trae Young and 55 from John Collins.

Spurs @ Suns (-7.5), O/U 216.5 10:00 ET

San Antonio has rattled off four wins in a row, and they'll get a Phoenix team that is without Devin Booker (hamstring).

Clippers (-3) @ Trail Blazers, O/U 222.5 8:00 ET

Portland is on the back to back, but a 145-117 stomping at the hands of the Celtics didn't exactly warrant a lot of physical exertion. CJ McCollum took 21 shots but ended up with just 37fp in the loss to Boston, and he looks like he'll play through a rib injury vs. the Clippers.

Tonight's Point Guard / Shooting Guard Notables

Khris Middleton DK $8k FD $7.5k vs. Cleveland

• Took 18 shots last game with Antetokounmpo and Grayson Allen out of the lineup

• +31fp, +11.16% usage with Milwaukee's expected absences tonight

• Plays a Cleveland team on the back to back

Derrick White DK $6.5k | FD $7.2k @Phoenix

• Has a 34fp floor in five of the last six games

• Has taken 15+ shots in four of the last six

• Should be a closer game than PHX -7.5 would indicate

Pat Connaughton DK $5.2k | FD $5.6k vs. Cleveland

• All depends on if the shot is hitting, which it should be vs. a Cavs defense on the back to back

• Launched 13 three-pointers on Saturday starting in place of Grayson Allen (COVID)

• Antetokounmpo could sit with a calf injury

Aaron Holiday DK $3.1k | FD $3.9k @ Indianapolis

• Misses the brother vs. brother matchup with Justin out (COVID)

• Dinwiddie sitting for Wizards

• Pacers have allowed 40+ to 5 straight PGs

Tonight's SF / PF Notables

Domantas Sabonis DK $10k | FD $8.3k vs. Washington

• Absurd FD pricing considering his history with Washington

• Wizards also playing on the back to back

Jerami Grant DK $76k | FD $7.7k vs. OKC

• Solid matchup play as Thunder are 30th defensively vs. starting PFs over past 20 days

• Has taken 19 shots in two of the last three games

• 39fp floor in five of the last seven games

Franz Wagner DK $6k | FD $6.4k @ Golden State

• Starting to shoot the ball more with all of Orlando's injuries

• Has a 33fp floor last three games

Tonight's Center Position Notables

Joel Embiid DK $11k | FD $10.4k @Charlotte

• This looks like the 'pay up' spot as Embiid has gone for 56+fp in three of the last four

• Plays a Charlotte team that's on the back to back, but also 25th defensively vs. the C position

• Two of the last four opposing C's have hit 60+ fp vs. the Hornets

Isaiah Stewart DK $5.5k | FD $5.3k vs. Oklahoma City

• Has grabbed 14 rebounds in consecutive games (37fp, 36fp)

• Had a 21 rebound game vs. Oklahoma City last year

• OKC 5th worst rebounding team in the NBA

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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.

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