This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday's five-game slate shouldn't lack for high-quality basketball with both the Spurs and Warriors in action. While both of those teams have plenty of tantalizing fantasy options, it's important to survey the rest of the league for value as well.
GUARDS
Ish Smith, DET at OKC ($20): Smith should be able to stay hot against the worst defensive team in action after easily outperforming his price in three of his past four games. No team in this five-game slate has allowed more points per game than Oklahoma City's 106.4, and the Thunder will have some tired legs on defense after going to overtime Friday in Denver. Smith has scored at least 28.8 fantasy points in three of his past four, and this vulnerable opposition likely won't prevent Detroit's starting point guard from eclipsing that mark once again.
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. NY ($31): Batum played over 45 minutes while narrowly missing a triple-double with an 18-9-9 line Friday in New York, and he will likely once again be leaned on for heavy minutes with Marvin Williams (knee) out for their rematch in Charlotte. The versatile wing doesn't need to score efficiently to provide value, and there's little reason to believe he won't come close to repeating that strong effort at home against the same opponent.
Guard to Avoid
Zach LaVine, MIN at GS ($27): LaVine is averaging just 24.1 fantasy points per game over his last five despite facing three of the league's eight-worst defensive teams in that span. While his flashy dunks are nice, the young guard still makes poor decisions with the ball, as illustrated by his awful 11:10 assist-to-turnover ratio over that aforementioned five-game stretch. Holding onto the ball won't be any easier for him against a Warriors team that's tied for the league lead in steals per game.
FORWARDS
David West, GS vs. MIN ($10):Draymond Green left Friday's game against the Lakers with an ankle contusion, and there's a good chance he gets held out of the second game of Golden State's back-to-back set. His absence would create a void in the frontcourt, and West is the logical choice to fill it. The veteran power forward's projected increase in playing time hasn't been reflected in his price, so he's still available at the minimum. West is averaging 4.75 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in just 13 minutes per game over his past four but could be expected to double those totals in double the minutes should Green sit.
Carmelo Anthony, NY at CHA ($35): There's still room on the Melo bandwagon, so hop on before his price skyrockets. The veteran forward is averaged 46.8 fantasy points per game in his past three, thanks in large part to his season-high 64.8 in Friday's win over these same Hornets. While he's unlikely to repeat that performance on the road, even two-thirds of that output would make Anthony a terrific play. The surging Knicks continue to lean on him for offense, and $35 is a small price to play given his current role and momentum.
Forward to Avoid
Otto Porter, WAS vs. SA ($28): Porter powered through a hip injury for a solid game Friday against the Magic, but asking him to do the same for a second consecutive night could be too much with the Spurs in town. San Antonio ranks eighth in the league defensively, and Porter's counterpart at the small forward position is two-time reigning defensive player of the year Kawhi Leonard. With plenty of alternative options available, there's little reason to roll with a guy who's going to be guarded by Kawhi.
CENTER
Willy Hernangomez, NY at CHA ($10): Hernangomez played more minutes than Joakim Noah on Friday and should once again get plenty of run with the Knicks unlikely to push the veteran on the second night of a back-to-back. He grabbed nine boards against the Hornets in the first game of this set and is likely to be active on the glass once more given that Charlotte has allowed the eighth-most rebounds per game at 46.1. While you shouldn't expect a spectacular outing from Hernangomez, he'll almost certainly outplay his current minimum-price valuation.
Pau Gasol, SA at WAS ($25): Prior to Friday's dud against the Celtics, Gasol had been averaging 34.1 fantasy points per game in his previous seven. On the bright side, he'll be fresh for the second game of this back-to-back after playing just 17 minutes Friday. With a full complement of playing time expected against the below-average Wizards defense, expect the veteran to get back to the strong play he had been exhibiting of late.
Center to Avoid
Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs. MEM ($45): Whiteside has posted two consecutive duds, with just 40.5 fantasy points in his past two outings combined. The last one came Friday against these same Grizzlies, and a similar performance isn't out of the question in his rematch with the league's second-best defensive team. There's simply too much downside to shell out $45 on Whiteside.
