This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Saturday brings a fun, seven-game slate and there are three games I want to key in on. Those three games are: DEN-PHX, BRK-MIN and MEM-UTA. The reason we're going to focus on them is the pace and nature of the defenses. The Denver-Phoenix and Brooklyn-Minnesota matchups are two games we want to exploit, simply because they feature four of the eight worst defenses in the NBA.
In addition, those are the two-highest implied totals of the night and there should be an abundance of fantasy points scored. The Memphis-Utah game is the opposite circumstance -- this is a game we want to completely avoid. The reason for that is once again the defenses and pace, as both teams rank bottom-three in pace and top-four in defensive efficiency.
Eric Bledsoe, PHX vs. DEN ($9,700): Bledsoe has seen a monstrous rise in his price, and rightfully so. Not only has he scored 39 or more fantasy points in five of his last six games, but he's averaging 37 fantasy points a game for the season. What's especially enticing here is the matchup, as he faces a Denver defense that is allowing the most fantasy points in the NBA to point guards. When Bledsoe played the Nuggets on Thursday, he tallied 28 points, four rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes, despite playing through foul trouble all night.
Jameer Nelson, DEN at PHX ($4,700): With Emmanuel Mudiay (back) injured, Nelson has taken over starting point guard duties and revived his career. With at least 27 minutes in five straight games, it appears coach Mike Malone is comfortable leaning on the veteran, and he should have even more usage here in the absence of Nikola Jokic (hip). Nelson has been productive of late, scoring 64 combined fantasy points in his last two games at an incredible value.
Garrett Temple, SAC at CHA ($4,500): Temple is simply a minutes eater and that's what makes him so valuable at this sort of price. The starting shooting guard is averaging 32 minutes per game across his last 11 games and he's been great in the absence of Rudy Gay. It's not just empty minutes either, as he's averaging 22 fantasy points per game across his last fiv. That's over 5X value and he makes for a great pair with some of the five-figure studs. The matchup is solid, too, with Charlotte allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to shooting guards.
Andrew Wiggins, MIN vs. BRK ($7,300): Wiggins has been recapturing his form over recent weeks and he should be able to add to that productive stretch with this matchup against the Nets. The former number one pick is averaging 37 fantasy points across his last four games and putting up shots at will. What makes him particularly attractive here is the matchup, with the Nets ranking dead-last in both defensive efficiency and fantasy points allowed to small forwards.
Danilo Gallinari, DEN at PHX ($6,400): Gallinari has seen his numbers slip recently, but he should take on a bigger role with Jokic ruled out. Jokic is the team leader in nearly every category and that should open up the door for Gallinari to get more usage. He showed his ability in the most recent game against Phoenix too, as he scored 25 points and grabbed seven boards against them on Thursday. It's a great matchup for him as well, with the Suns are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to small forwards this season. With the ball in his hands so often in such a great matchup, it should be easy for Gallo to reach value at just $6,400.
T.J. Warren, PHX vs. DEN ($4,300): Warren is coming off a 21-point, eight-rebound game against Denver on Thursday and that sort of upside is not indicative of his price. What was most encouraging is Warren's workload, as he played 41 minutes, looking more like the player we saw earlier in the season before he was injured. The tastiest part of this play is the matchup, with Denver ranking as one of the worst defenses in the league.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. BRK ($10,700): Towns has been a freak over recent weeks and he should be able to abuse this sort of matchup. With at least 53 fantasy points in six of his last nine games, Towns is easily one of the hottest players in the NBA. The amazing thing is that he's not the most expensive center, which alone makes him a nice value. It's the matchup that makes that adds to the intrigue, with Brooklyn allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to centers this season.
Andre Drummond, DET at MIA ($7,700): Drummond has shown the capability to be a $9,000 player in the past, so paying $7,700 for him is a heck of a bargain. What makes him more intriguing here is the fact that he's likely to avoid Hassan Whiteside, as Drummond should be able to feast against this undermanned Miami frontcourt. He's been solid all season, averaging nearly 36 fantasy points a game for the season. One important factor to consider as well is the lack of offense in Miami, as they allow the seventh-most rebounds to centers with an ugly 22nd ranked field-goal percentage,
Willie Reed, MIA vs. DET ($4,300): Reed looks poised to start for Whiteside (ankle) and he's been great in his absence. In the six games that Reed has played at least 20 minutes, he is averaging 33 fantasy points per game. That's 8X value, which is incredible for any player. This matchup is tough against a big defender like Drummond, but that should only make Reed more valuable, as he's the only Heat player with enough size to match up with Drummond.
