This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
This Saturday slate has some interesting matchups and some great opportunities to buy low on particular players. What we really need to pay attention to here are the back-to-back situations, as there are nine teams playing the second half of back-to-back sets. Those teams are: BOS, CHA, DAL, DET, GS, LAC, MEM, NOP and PHX. It will be crucial to monitor these teams and see which may have their minutes limited or which may play more in the second game. Determining those circumstances will be key on this slate and understanding the minutes distribution will significantly put you ahead of the curve.
Kemba Walker, CHA at NOP ($8,500): The UConn product is quietly having the best season of his career and there's even some MVP talk floating around the Charlotte point guard. Not only is Walker averaging over 40 fantasy points per game for the season, he's scored 53 or more fantasy points twice in his last four games. That's downright elite production and it's not yet reflected in his price. What I like here most is the matchup, though, with the Pelicans allowing 24.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists a game to point guards this season.
Josh Richardson, MIA at WSH ($4,300): The only reason this price is so low is because of Richardson's early season injury issues, but he's clearly over that now. Over his last five games, Richardson is averaging 14.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. The best part about that stretch is that he's playing 32 minutes per game and taking over 14 shots per game. This matchup is great, as well, with Washington allowing the third-most fantasy points to shooting guards this season. There's no better cash option on this slate, and he's a strong tournament play, as well.
Seth Curry, DAL at ORL ($4,100): Curry is the beneficiary of an injury-riddled Mavericks team and he should be able to produce through sheer volume. With J.J. Barea and Deron Williams out, Curry will assume most of the leftover minutes in the backcourt. Not only is he averaging over 25 fantasy points across his last five games, he's a near guarantee for 30-plus minutes. The price is what's most surprising here, though, as $4,100 is near-minimum for a player who's averaging 6X value in his new role.
Andrew Wiggins, MIN at MEM ($7,300): No one is scoring like Wiggins right now and it's an easy recommendation to ride the hot hand. Across his last six games, Wiggins is averaging 33 points per game in nearly 40 minutes. It's not just scoring either, as he is also providing 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in that stretch. Those are MVP-caliber numbers and it's clear that he's taken the next step in his pursuit to be a true superstar. While this matchup against the Grizzlies is tough, it's just too difficult to pass up on someone producing at this level.
Alex Len, PHX at PHI ($4,800): Len was in for a monster game against the Pacers on Friday, but the Phoenix bench came in and went bonkers. The Suns bench scored 78 points in that dominating win and that relegated all the Suns' starters to temporary bench duty. That appears unlikely to happen twice in a row and Len should be back to his regular role Saturda. In Friday's win, Len totaled 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in 22 minutes, filling in for Tyson Chandler. With Chandler expected to miss this game, as well, Len will surely be starting again in this fantastic matchup. Not only will the Suns need Len to match up against this big Sixers frontline, Philadelphia also ranks 28th in fantasy points allowed to centers. The position eligibility is what makes me most excited, though, as you can put him in at a shallow power forward position at an extremely affordable price.
Robert Covington, PHI vs. PHX ($4,200): This is easily the riskiest of my recommendations and I've fallen victim to using Covington multiple times this season. With that said, I'm going to give him one more chance here. The reason for that is the matchup and opportunity. Not only do the Suns rank dead-last in total defense, but they also play at the fastest pace in the NBA. That should benefit a player like Covington who thrives off defensive statistics and open threes. That brings me to my next point: Despite some inconsistency, he hasn't stopped pulling the trigger. In fact, Covington is still averaging 7.2 three-point attempts across his last six games and eventually those will start falling for him. If he can get hot and provide some ancillary production through rebounds, steals and blocks, as he's proven capable in the past, Covington could easily be the value of the day at just $4,200.
Hassan Whiteside, MIA at WSH ($9,000): Much like Wiggins, Whiteside is just too good right now to pass up. Whiteside is currently the only player in the league with at least 10 rebounds in every game and he's averaging an absurd 16 boards per game. That doesn't even include his ability to block or score, as he is second in the league in blocks and leading his team in scoring (17.6 PPG). The matchup is the icing on the cake, with the Wizards ranking as one of the worst defenses in the league.
Marc Gasol, MEM vs. MIN ($7,100): Gasol is a regular in my articles and it's no surprise with his consistency. Aside from an ugly 80-64 win over the Mavericks on Friday, Gasol has scored at least 27 fantasy points in nine of his previous 10 games. What's surprising about that stretch are the lack of peripheral stats, as he is doing most of that damage through scoring. That makes me only more encouraged, as Gasol has shown the ability to stuff the stat sheet throughout his career. One thing that stuck with me too was a quote from Karl-Anthony Towns over the offseason, in which he said Gasol was the toughest guy he's had to play against. Gasol surely heard that and he'll want to prove the youngster right.
Robin Lopez, CHI at LAC ($4,700): Lopez has quietly been playing very well recently and he's much more valuable against a team with a traditional center. There's no team with a more stereotypical traditional center than the Clippers, as they play DeAndre Jordan big minutes every night. That means more minutes from Lopez and more fantasy production. Lopez has actually played 38 or more minutes in three of his last four games, while scoring at least 27 fantasy points in all four of those games. Those 38-minute games came against the Jazz, Heat and Wizards, who all play traditional centers big minutes. Most people will be scared off by this matchup against the defensively stout Clippers, but it actually benefits a player like Lopez in this particular situation.
