This is probably the most crucial week for me in terms of fantasy. All my season-long leagues are entering the playoffs, and it has me zoned in on everything going on. That’s why I believe we’re in for a big week, so let’s get it started with this Monday card!

We have nine games making up this Monday slate. It actually looks like most of them could be close, and it’s tough to get a grasp on who’s going to win each individual game. With that said, we also have the top-two MVP candidates going at it, and it’s going to make for an exciting night!

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Schedule and Odds

• LAC at CLE (CLE -6.5) O/U: 211.5
• POR at ATL (ATL -12.5) O/U: 233.5
• DEN at PHI (PHI -2.5) O/U: 220
• CHA at OKC (CHA -8.5) O/U: 230.5
• MIN at SAS (MIN -5) O/U: 241
• WAS at GSW (GSW -12.5) O/U: 225
• CHI at SAC (CHI -5) O/U: 236
• MIL at UTA (MIL -1) O/U: 233.5
• TOR at LAL (TOR -4.5) O/U: 225.5

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros

Injury Report

• Kawhi Leonard (knee) OUT
• Paul George (elbow) OUT
• Robert Covington (personal) Questionable
• Collin Sexton (knee) OUT
• Jarrett Allen (finger) OUT
• Lauri Markkanen (ankle) Questionable
• Caris LeVert (foot) Questionable
• Damian Lillard (abductor) OUT
• Anfernee Simons (quad) OUT
• Jusuf Nurkic (foot) OUT
• Jamal Murray (knee) OUT
• Michael Porter Jr (back) OUT
• Aaron Gordon (foot) Questionable
• Gordon Hayward (ankle) OUT
• Josh Giddey (hip) OUT
• Luguentz Dort (shoulder) OUT
• Patrick Beverley (ear) Questionable
• Jarred Vanderbilt (quad) Questionable
• Bradley Beal (wrist) OUT
• Draymond Green (back) OUT
• Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
• Zach LaVine (knee) Questionable
• Brook Lopez (back) Probable
• Rudy Gobert (foot) Questionable
• Fred VanVleet (knee) Questionable
• OG Anunoby (finger) OUT
• Anthony Davis (ankle) OUT

Core Plays

Trae Young (PG – ATL): $10,300 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
Trae carried me in one of my playoff matchups last week, and he’s on a heater right now. Young has at least 52 DraftKings points in three-straight outings, flirting with a 60-point average in that span. That should be easy to continue against Portland, with the Trail Blazers ranked 26th in points allowed and 29th in defensive efficiency. In their last matchup, Trae had the best game of his career, collecting 56 points and 14 assists!

Nikola Vucevic (C – CHI): $8,500 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
Betting Vooch props has done wonders for my wallet all season long. We especially like it now, with Chicago missing Ball and LaVine. That’s put more on Vucevic’s plate, scoring at least 33 DraftKings points in 22 of his last 23 games. He’s also got an average north of 40 DK points in that span, which should be easy against a Sacramento team surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Pascal Siakam (PF – TOR): $9,100 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
Sia has been one of the most reliable players in fantasy for nearly three months now. The versatile big man has at least 34 DK points in 43 of his last 46 games, averaging 45 fantasy points per game in that span. The best part of this is the matchup with LA, though, with the Lakers ranked 25th in total defense and fifth in pace. They’re also surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards as well!

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,400 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
The Joker is going to go nuts here. He’s scored at least 41 DK points in all but one game this season, leading the NBA with 60.8 DK points per game. That’s hard to match, and you know he’ll be motivated to play well here since he’s matching up with the guy who’s battling him for the MVP award. He’s crushing right now, too, scoring at least 75 DK points in three of his last six games.

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,800 DraftKings, $10,700 FanDuel
Stacking Jokic and Embiid might be difficult, but it’s the way to go. These two will go at it, and we genuinely believe they could combine for 150 fantasy points. We love that with Joel scoring at least 73 DK points in two of his last three games. It also sounds like Harden could sit here in the second half of a back-to-back set, and that’d add even more value to the MVP candidate.

Rudy Gobert (C – UTA): $7,700 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
We include Rudy in the cash game section in nearly every game he plays, and it’s easy to understand why. He’s the best rebounder in basketball, scoring at least 27 DK points in 48 of 52 games this year. That’s quite the floor from a sub-$8K player, especially since the center position is one of Milwaukee’s few weaknesses. With that said, there’s a chance Rudy could sit, but that’d make Hassan Whiteside one of the best plays out there after tallying 12 points, 21 rebounds, and three blocks on Saturday.

GPP Targets

Clint Capela (C – ATL): $6,000 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
Cap can be frustrating, but that’s why he’s in the GPP section. This guy has a 40-point upside every time he steps on the floor, averaging 32 DK points per game across 27 minutes a night for the season. We trust that here because it looks like Collins could sit, and that’d guarantee Cap closer to 30 minutes. The matchup with Portland is pristine, too, with the Trail Blazers surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Isaiah Roby (PF/C – OKC): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
Roby just had a stinker on Sunday, but we’re going right back to the well. This guy has been averaging 30 DK points per game over the last two weeks and needs to step up with Jerome, Robinson-Earl, Favors, Williams, Dort, Giddey, and Muscala all out. That makes Rody tough to fade, particularly with Charlotte ranked third in pace and 28th in points allowed.

Ayo Dosunmu (PG/SG – CHI): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Ayo has been a pleasant surprise for the Bulls this season, stepping up with Ball and LaVine sidelined. That has led to Dosunmu averaging 30 DK points per game across 37 minutes a night over the last 26 games played. It’s tough to find a $5K player playing 37 minutes a night, especially one as talented as this! Getting to face Sacramento is the icing on the cake, with the Kings owning a 25th OPRK against opposing guards.

Value Plays

Tre Mann (PG – OKC): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
Something tells me that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will rest here in the second half of a back-to-back set, but we like Mann whether he plays or not. He’d probably be the best play on the board if SGA sitrs, but Mann has been working no matter who’s in the lineup. In fact, Tre is averaging 29 DK points per game across 32 minutes a night over the last 10 games played. That form should be easy to duplicate against Charlotte, surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing guards this season.

Mason Plumlee (C – CHA): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
We’ve had Mason in this section all season, and it’s tough to understand why he’s so cheap. He’s got at least 23 DraftKings points in 18 of his last 22 games, posting a 27-point average in that span. That’s all you can ask for from such an affordable player, particularly since he gets to play one of the worst frontcourts in the NBA in OKC.

Brandon Williams (PG – POR): $6,500 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
This Portland team has been obliterated by roster moves, playing without McCollum, Lillard, Nurkic, Covington, Simons, and Powell. That has left Williams with the starting point guard job, playing 35 minutes a game in this expanded role. That’s led to him scoring at least 26 DK points in three of the last four games, averaging 34 DK points per game in that stretch. Facing Atlanta is an astounding matchup, too, with the Hawks ranked 27th in defensive efficiency ratings.

Advantageous Pricing

• Brandon Williams (PG – POR): $6,500 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
• Evan Mobley (PF/C – CLE): $7,700 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel
• Josh Hart (SG/SF – POR): $8,800 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
• Drew Eubanks (C – POR): $5,600 DraftKings, $4,300 FanDuel
• Tobias Harris (PF – PHI): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
• Taurean Prince (SF – MIN): $3,600 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
• Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Russell Westbrook (PG – LAL): $9,200 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel

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