This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid:
San Antonio Spurs vs. Atlanta Hawks
This section was originally the Jazz against the Pelicans, but if the Pelicans' best player, Anthony Davis, is injured then, ironically, it makes them less susceptible to the Jazz's defense. Utah's defense is inside-out, built around Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors, and if Davis can't play then the Pelicans become outside-in with Eric Gordon, Ish Smith and Ryan Anderson. Thus, the Spurs take this space. Their defense is as strong as the Jazz's, and their old men Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili should be fresh after they were Popoviched on Friday night.
Offenses to Use:
Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans allow 111 points per 100 possessions, with only the Lakers (109.2 points per 100 possessions) as competition for "worst defense" on Saturday night. However, the Pelicans tend to be more competitive than the Lakers and thus less likely to be blown out, increasing the odds that the Jazz players will play longer (as opposed to the Lakers' opponents, the Trail Blazers). The Pelicans are also on the second night of a back-to-back, and possibly without Anthony Davis, while the Jazz should be fresher and able to take advantage.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Nets, Lakers, Raptors
Second game: Hawks, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Warriors, Pelicans, Spurs, Kings, Wizards
Daily Player Recommendations
Point Guard
Ish Smith, NO at UTA ($6,600): Smith has been in the zone lately, whether Jrue Holiday plays or not, with four straight games between 37 and 47.25 fantasy points. Holiday will not play Saturday, which means Smith will have the keys to the team. And though the Jazz defense is strong, it is merely average against opposing point guards.
Other suggestions:Deron Williams, DAL vs. DEN ($5,800), Jeff Teague, ATL at SA ($6,700)
Shooting Guard
DeMar DeRozan, TOR at WAS ($7,000): DeRozan is the highest priced shooting guard on the board, but it is still very reasonable for a player averaging almost 35 fantasy points per game and has a matchup against a Wizards defense that struggles to defend the wing. The Wizards are allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to shooting guards.
Other suggestions:Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, BKN at CLE ($4,400), Eric Gordon, NOP at UTA ($6,200)
Small Forward
DeMarre Carroll, TOR, at WAS ($5,700): Carroll has been working himself back into game shape after missing a few games due to plantar fasciitis. He's been hovering around 30 fantasy points per game in the last week, and coming off the extra Thanksgiving rest he should be fresh against a Wizards team that allows the third most fantasy points per game to small forwards.
Other suggestions:Al-Farouq Aminu, POR vs. LAL ($6,400); Andre Iguodala, GS vs. Sac ($5,200)
Power Forward
Ryan Anderson, NO at UTA ($6,500): The latest news on Anthony Davis was that there was no structural damage to his knee, which is good news. That said, he was unable to walk to the locker room on his own Friday night. While it's possible that he returns Saturday, it seems unlikely enough that Anderson is a good choice. Anderson has been playing well of late anyway, with six straight games between 25 and 48 fantasy points, and if Davis sits then Anderson is a potential impact player even against a stout Jazz frontline, as he can pull them to the perimeter and away from their comfort zone.
Other suggestions:Kevin Love, CLE vs. BKN ($8,300), Ed Davis, POR vs. LAL ($4,600)
Center
Rudy Gobert, UTA vs NO ($6,100): The Pelicans aren't very strong defensively in the middle even when Anthony Davis plays. If Davis sits, Gobert should have carte blanche to clean the glass and score when called upon.
Other suggestions:Mason Plumlee, POR vs. LAL ($6,000), Al Horford, ATL at SA ($6,700)
Injury Report
Out
Tiago Splitter, ATL (hip)
Kyrie Irving, CLE (knee)
Iman Shumpert, CLE (wrist)
J.J. Barea, DAL (ankle)
Wilson Chandler, DEN (hip)
Jusuf Nurkic, DEN (knee)
Norris Cole, NO (ankle)
Quincy Pondexter, NO (knee)
Kendrick Perkins, NO (chest)
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR (hand)
Alan Anderson, WAS (ankle)
Martell Webster, WAS (hip)
Game-Time Decision
Thabo Sefolosha, ATL (rest)
Kenneth Faried, DEN (ankle)
Harrison Barnes, GS (ankle)
Anthony Davis, NO (knee)
Tyreke Evans, NO (knee)
DeMarcus Cousins, SAC (Back)
Caron Butler, SAC (knee)
Manu Ginobili, SA (rest)
Tim Duncan, SA (rest)
Trey Burke, UTA (back)
Rodney Hood, UTA (back)
