This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid: Utah Jazz, vs. PHO. The Jazz are first in the NBA in production allowed to opposing guards, second against opposing small forwards and third against opposing centers over the last 10 games, according to the DraftKings scoring system. They have some vulnerability to opposing PFs, but the Suns aren't really built to take advantage of that.
Offenses to Use: Cleveland Cavaliers, at CHA. The Hornets aren't a bad defense overall, but over the past 10 days they rank 23rd in production allowed to opposing guards and 24th in production allowed to opposing forwards. On Saturday they will be welcoming three of the most productive teammates in the NBA into their gym, one guard and two forwards that each have elite potential. Plus, the Hornets are a playoff contender in the East and should be strong enough at home to force the Cavaliers to play their starters the whole game.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: none
Second game: Bulls, Rockets, Clippers, Bucks, Knicks
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs CLE ($8,000): Batum is producing at an elite level but his price is still borderline-moderate. He has scored at least 44 fantasy points in five straight games, a stretch in which he is averaging 20.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 treys per game. His Saturday opponent, the Cavaliers, rank 21st in the NBA in production allowed to opposing shooting guards over the last 10 games.
Kyrie Irving, CLE at CHA ($7,900): Irving is another whose production is almost a tier ahead of his price at the moment. He has scored 60 or more fantasy points in three of his last five games, and over his last seven is averaging 24 points, 10.0 assists, 5.4 boards, 2.9 steals and 1.9 treys per game.
Malcolm Brogdon, MIL at CHI ($3,900): Brogdon got the start on Friday and is expected to again on Saturday in place of an injured Matthew Dellavedova, but he's been getting more minutes and producing for his last five games. Over that stretch he is averaging 10.6 points, 5.4 assists, 2.8 boards, 1.6 steals and 1.0 treys in 28 minutes per game.
LeBron James, CLE at CHA ($10,400): LeBron is LeBron, and the biggest threat to his fantasy production is getting extra time to rest. Over his last five games he is aeraging 27.2 points, 9.4 boards, 6.8 assists, 3.0 treys, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. Saturday's opponent ranks 21st in the NBA in production allowed to opposing small forwards over the last 10 games.
Kristaps Porzingis, NY at HOU ($7,200): Porzingis had a monster Friday night against Anthony Davis and the Pelicans on Friday with numbers that have been stone steady over his last few games, in which he has averaged 22.3 points, 107 boards, 3.0 blocks, 2.0 treys, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals. On Saturday, he faces a Rockets defense that has struggled against opposing power forwards over the last five games, ranking 24th in the NBA over that stretch.
Michael Beasley, MIL at CHI ($3,300): Beasley is a near-minimum-priced punt play, but he's been solid in his three games back from injury with averages of 9.0 points, 4.0 boards, 2.3 assists and 1.7 combined steals/blocks in 20 minutes per game in that stretch. On Saturday, he faces a Bulls team that is 26th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing forwards over the last 10 games.
Kevin Love, CLE at CHA ($8,700): Love is the third Cavaliers player performing at an elite level, coming off of a 30 points, 15 boards, six treys, two assists, two steals game in his last outing. He has five double-doubles in his last six games, and on Saturday faces a Hornets defense that ranks 23rd in production allowed to opposing power forwards over the last 10 games (Love is dual listed at PF/C in DraftKings, but he starts at power forward for the Cavs).
Steven Adams, OKC vs LAC ($5,100): Adams has become a nightly double-double threat with reasonable scoring potential while playing next to Russell Westbrook. Over his last nine games he is averaging 13.4 points, 7.6 boards, 2.5 combined steals/blocks and 1.4 assists in 28 minutes a night. On Saturday he faces a Clippers defense that ranks 23rd in the NBA in production allowed to opposing centers over their last five games.
Montrezl Harrell, HOU vs NY ($5,000): Harrell continues to come off the bench behind Nene but play the most center minutes for the Rockets. He is coming off of a huge 29-points effort on Friday, and overall is averaging 16.6 points, 3.8 boards, 1.8 assists and 1.4 blocks in 27 minutes over his last five games.
