This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid:
Toronto Raptors at PHO: Miami is usually the answer to this question, but with Hassan Whiteside (hip) unavailable against the fast-paced Rockets, the Heat may not be a sure thing. Instead, the Raptors get the call. They are solid-to-strong across the board, ranking 12th in limiting production to opposing point guards, ninth to shooting guards, 12th to small forwards, ninth to power forwards and third to centers. Plus, the Raptors are a strong team and the Suns are injured, have been struggling, and just fired their coach so there is blowout potential here.
Offense to Use
Minnesota Timberwolves at LAL: The Lakers continue to linger as one of the worst defenses in the NBA…28th at limiting production from opposing point guards (Ricky Rubio), 19th against shooting guards (Zach Lavine), 28th against small forwards (Andrew Wiggins) and 30th against centers (Karl-Anthony Towns!).
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Celtics, Heat, Timberwolves
Second game: Bucks, Raptors
Daily Player Recommendations
Point Guard
Ricky Rubio, MIN at LAL ($6,500): Rubio is coming off of his best game of the week, a 40 fantasy-point effort against the Trail Blazers, and he is averaging 33.4 fantasy points over his last five games. Meanwhile, he is playing a Lakers defense that is terrible at defending opposing point guards, as mentioned above.
Other suggestions: Marcus Smart, BOS at NY ($5,400), Kyle Lowry, TOR at PHO ($8,700)
Shooting guard
Terrence Ross, TOR at PHO ($4,000): Ross has scored 20 or more fantasy points in four of his last five games, and has a good chance for increased minutes on Tuesday with both DeMarre Carroll (knee) and James Johnson (ankle) out injured.
Other suggestions: C.J. McCollum, POR vs. MIL ($6,900), DeMar DeRozan, TOR at PHO ($8,100)
Small Forward
Carmelo Anthony, NY vs. BOS ($8,400): Anthony is coming off of his best two-game stretch since early January, averaging 48.3 fantasy points over those two contests. On Tuesday he faces a Celtics team that is weak against the position, and Anthony is really the only big-time small forward with a great matchup on the evening.
Other suggestions: Al-Farouq Aminu, POR vs. MIL ($4,900), Luol Deng, MIA at HOU ($4,800)
Power forward
Julius Randle, LAL vs MIN ($6,400): Randle has been playing well of late, averaging 32 fantasy points per game over his last six contests. The Timberwolves have a decent season-long average against opposing power forwards, but that was skewed from when they were starting Kevin Garnett (knee). In recent weeks, without Garnett, they have been weak enough against opposing fours for their ranking to noticeably slide.
Other suggestions: Kristaps Porzingis, NY vs. BOS ($7000), Jabari Parker, MIL at POR ($5300)
Center
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at LAL ($7,800):Towns has been absolutely incandescent of late, averaging more than 50 fantasy points over his last four outings. At this price point he's a must-start, especially when you factor in that he is facing a Lakers defense that is last in the NBA at production allowed to opposing centers.
Other suggestions: Gorgui Dieng, MIN at LAL ($5400), Mason Plumlee, POR vs MIL ($5500)
Injury Report
Out
Chris Andersen, MIA (knee)
Greivis Vasquez, MIL (ankle)
O.J. Mayo, MIL (hamstring)
Cleanthony Early, NY (knee)
Ronnie Price, PHO (foot)
Brandon Knight, PHO (groin)
DeMarre Carroll, TOR (knee)
James Johnson, TOR (ankle)
Game-Time Decisions
Jae Crowder, BOS (shin)
Donatas Motiejunas, HOU (back)
Kobe Bryant, LAL (shoulder)
Larry Nance, LAL (knee)
Hassan Whiteside, MIA (oblique)
John Henson, MIL (back)
Kevin Martin, MIN (wrist)
Kevin Garnett, MIN (knee)
Nikola Pekovic, MIN (foot)
Jose Calderon, NY (groin)
T.J. Warren, PHO (ankle)
