This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The NBA has 11 games on tap Sunday, a big number on a day that normally has four to eight games. But with the baseball season beginning and the NCAA basketball national championship on Monday, the NBA will have Monday off. Thus, they loaded up on Sunday. With the playoffs coming up quickly and a bunch of injury absences as well, Sunday shapes up as a day where huge numbers could be put on the board.
Point Guard
J.J. Barea, DAL at MIN ($5,500): Barea has been dominant the last few games with Deron Williams out, including the last one in which Raymond Felton sat as well. Barea has averaged 24.3 points, 7.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds over the last three games, and has a positive matchup Sunday against a weaker Timberwolves defense.
Shooting Guard
Jordan Clarkson, LAL vs BOS ($5,500): Clarkson is an up-and-down player, but he has been mainly up lately with 27.6 to 36.7 fantasy points scored in three of his last four games. This includes 26 points and six rebounds in his last outing against a tough Miami Heat perimeter defense.
Jimmy Butler, CHIA at MIL ($7,800): Butler was already the smart play Sunday because his price got depressed while he was injured, and with Derrick Rose battling an elbow injury he was going to be called upon to do more for the Bulls. However, after his monster triple-double Saturday he likely will be even more popular Sunday, with the main risk that he may be tired.
Small Forward
Jae Crowder, BOS at LAL ($5,900): Crowder has only played one game since his return from injury, but he picked up right where he left off with a 13-point/10-rebound double-double. He faces a Lakers defense that struggles against small forwards.
Power Forward
Julius Randle, LAL vs BOS ($6,500): Randle had an understandable clunker this week in Utah against the dominant Jazz frontline, but other than that he has averaged well over 40 fantasy points in his last six games. He faces a Celtics defense that has not excelled against opposing bigs this season.
Jared Sullinger, BOS at LAL ($5,900): Sullinger has grabbed double-digit rebounds in three straight games, including double-doubles in his last two outings. In Friday's upset of the Warriors on the road, Sullinger dominated with 20 points, 12 boards and three assists. He faces a Lakers team that has been weak against bigs all season.
Center
Alexis Ajinca, NO at BKN ($4100): Ajinca has been good value since Anthony Davis went down for the season, averaging just less than 25 fantasy points over his last five games. His minutes tend to fluctuate, 16 to 36 over that five-game span, but Sunday he has a favorable matchup against an underwhelming Nets big man defense.
