This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Tuesday leaves FanDuel participants with five games to choose from in one of the last opportunities to play daily games before the All-Star break. There are some poor defensive squads in action in the Lakers, Kings and Nuggets that could lead to some juicy fantasy lines. Let's examine the matchups to highlight some of the better value plays.
Tuesday Value Plays
Point Guard
Jordan Clarkson, LAL, $4,900: The Lakers have a favorable matchup against a poor Nuggets' defense, and Clarkson has been playing heavy minutes as the starting point guard. He has scored at least 30.4 FanDuel points in three of his last five games. This could be a track meet Tuesday against the Nuggets, leaving Clarkson as a strong value play.
Shooting Guard
Wayne Ellington, DEN, $5,000: The Lakers are really riding Ellington heavily, as he has played at least 36 minutes in five of his last six games. Ellington has largely been productive as he has scored at least 21.0 FanDuel points in five of his last seven games. He's priced right and has the ability to put up big numbers in a favorable matchup, making Ellington a solid option Tuesday.
Jimmy Butler, CHI, $8,800: There is no discount shopping when it comes to Butler, but he has been excellent of late. He has scored at least 38.4 points in four of his last five games and had 45.9 points Sunday against the Magic. He always plays big minutes, leaving him with more opportunities than most to contribute. The Kings are no defensive juggernauts, so Butler looks like a strong play even at a high price Tuesday.
Small Forward
Trevor Ariza, HOU, $5,500: Ariza always seems to fly under the radar, but he has been a key part of Houston's success this season. He plays a lot of minutes and is an excellent defensive player. Ariza has recorded at least 30.5 FD points in each of his last three games. The Rockets play the Suns Tuesday, a favorable matchup for the long Ariza. He's a mid-priced option that could pay off big time.
Gerald Henderson, CHA, $5,700: Henderson has scored at least 27.9 FD points in each of his last four games. With Kemba Walker (knee) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (hamstring) out, Henderson has picked up his game, contributing in unexpected ways. Over his last two games, he has posted eight and nine assists. That extra production in the assists category from a player who has averaged just 2.1 assists per game in his career, has helped elevate Henderson to a value pick Tuesday. Expect him to play big minutes, leaving him with the opportunity to put up solid production at a very reasonable price.
Power Forward
Ed Davis, LAL, $5,500: The Nuggets/Lakers game should be a battle of defensive utility, which could lead to plenty of opportunities for Davis. He has taken on a larger role with Jordan Hill (hip) out of action and has produced well, registering at least 35.5 FD points in two of his last three games. There is plenty of upside here at a moderate price.
Josh Smith, HOU, $6,100: Smith should see plenty of minutes against a small Suns lineup with Dwight Howard (knee) still out of action. Smith has scored at least 34.2 FD points in four of his last six games. His ability to consistently contribute on the defensive end helps make him a safe play at the very least, especially considering his price tag. The Suns love using an undersized center, which could lead to Smith playing huge minutes if coach Kevin McHale decides to play matchups.
Center
DeMarcus Cousins, SAC, $10,800: Cousins is the most expensive center option by a large margin Tuesday, but he has been worth it lately, scoring at least 40.7 FD points in each of his last six games. The Bulls aren't the same stout defensive team this season that they were in years past, and they have had a lot of trouble defending opposing bigs this season. There are a lot of solid cheap options at other positions Tuesday, so this might be the day to spend big at center with Cousins.
