DraftKings NBA: Sunday Cheat Sheet

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Updated on February 28, 2016 9:36AM EST

Team Analysis

Defense to Avoid
Miami Heat at New York Knicks
The Heat have Hassan Whiteside healthy, which makes them one of the best defenses in the NBA. They enter Sunday's game against the Knicks ranking first against point guards, fifth against opposing shooting guards, a surprisingly low 20th against small forwards (opening the way for Carmelo Anthony to play well), first against power forwards and 14th against opposing centers.

Offenses to Use:
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic
This game has excellent matchups on both sides, across the board. A very competitive nine-man roster could be made entirely out of this game. For example: Ish Smith, Victor Oladipo, Robert Covington, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, Jerami Grant and Jahlil Okafor would add up to exactly $50,000 DraftKing dollars, and could put a nice number on the board. Neither team is even adequate on defense, and big numbers are available.

Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Cavaliers, Pacers, 76ers, Wizards
Second game: Pistons, Heat, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers

Daily Player Recommendations

Point Guard
Ish Smith, PHI at ORL ($6,400): Smith averages roughly 30 fantasy points per game, but he has scored as few as 7.25 and twice finished with at least 42. He faced the Magic less than a week ago and had 22 points and five assists, and since their defense struggles against point guards, he could reach that level again Sunday.

Other suggestions: Ricky Rubio, MIN at DAL ($6,400); Deron Williams, DAL vs. MIN ($5,800)

Shooting Guard
Victor Oladipo, ORL vs. PHI ($7,100): Oladipo is averaging 17.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game over his last five and now faces a 76ers defense that ranks 21st against shooting guards.

Other suggestions: Evan Fournier, ORL vs. PHI ($6,000); Zach LaVine, MIN at DAL ($5,300)

Small Forward
Chandler Parsons, DAL vs. MIN ($6,300): Parsons is averaging 18.0 points with 2.5 treys, 4.0 boards, 3.3 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.3 steals per game over his last four. Next up is a solid matchup against an uninspiring Timberwolves defense.

Other suggestions: Carmelo Anthony, NYK vs. MIA ($8,400); LeBron James, CLE at WAS ($9,500)

Power Forward
Dirk Nowitzki, DAL vs. MIN ($6,500): Nowitzki is averaging 23.7 points, 8.7 boards and 2.0 assists per game over his past three, and after sitting out Saturday, he has a solid matchup against Gorgui Dieng, who isn't quick enough to handle him on the perimeter.

Other suggestions: Aaron Gordon, ORL vs. PHI ($6,700); Paul Millsap, ATL vs CHA ($8,000)

Center
Nikola Vucevic, ORL vs PHI ($7,900): Vucevic is averaging 22.0 points, 10.4 boards, 2.4 assists and 1.0 blocks per game over his past five and now faces a weak 76ers interior defense that ranks 24th against centers.

Other suggestions: Zaza Pachulia, DAL vs. MIN ($5,500); Hassan Whiteside, MIA at NYK ($8,000)

Injury Report

Out
Mo Williams, CLE (knee)
Stanley Johnson, DET (shoulder)
Jodie Meeks, DET (foot)
C.J. Miles, IND (calf)
Chris Bosh, MIA (blood clots)
Tyler Johnson, MIA (shoulder)
Nemanja Bjelica, MIN (foot)
Kevin Garnett, MIN (knee)
Nikola Pekovic, MIN (foot)
Cleanthony Early, NY (knee)
DeMarre Carroll, TOR (knee)
Gary Neal, WAS (leg)

Game-Time Decision
Spencer Hawes, CHA (back)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.