This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid
Toronto Raptors at Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have had a myriad of injuries over recent weeks and the offense is really struggling. Not only has Chicago lost seven of their last eight games, they have only surpassed 100 points four times in their last 11. And now they are on the second half of a back-to-back against a dominant defense. Toronto ranks in the top-five in multiple defensive statistics and regularly holds point guards to very little production. Derrick Rose is the only Bulls player playing well right now and he'll likely struggle against the defensively-sound Kyle Lowry.
Offense to Use
Denver Nuggets at Sacramento Kings
Using any offense against the Kings is a good idea, especially a hot one. Denver is over .500 in their last 17 games and has failed to surpass 100 points only once in their last 14. They also have some great cheap options, with no player costing more than $7,000. Sacramento is full of turmoil right now and much of it stems from their defensive form. Not only do they rank last in the NBA in points allowed, they play at the fastest-pace in the league as well. With a total of 218 and the Kings being favored by four, that means Denver is projected to score 107 points, which would provide great value to many of these cheap Nuggets.
Teams on Back-to-Backs
First Game: Bucks, Hawks, Heat, Knicks, Timberwolves, Warriors
Second Game: Bulls, Jazz, Spurs, Wizards
Daily Player Recommendations
Point Guard
Ish Smith, PHI at NOP ($7,300): Over his last 20 appearances, Smith is averaging 15.3 points, 8.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. That's well over 30 fantasy points per game and his usage is sky high with the Sixers. It's also a fantastic matchup, with the Pelicans ranking in the bottom-five in nearly every defensive statistic.
Other Options: Reggie Jackson, DET at WSH ($6,500); Emmanuel Mudiay, DEN at SAC ($5,800)
Shooting Guard
Dwyane Wade, MIA at ATL ($7,100): Wade comes into this game questionable, but if he plays, he's a fantastic option. What makes him so likable is his projected usage. With Chris Bosh injured and Hassan Whiteside suspended, Wade should get an increase on his already high usage rate. Over his last 10 games, Wade is averaging 21.1 points, 5.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. That's about 40 fantasy points per outing, which is a great value for a player barely cracking $7,000. This is also a great matchup, as he'll likely be squared off against Kent Bazemore or Kyle Korver.
Other Options: Nicolas Batum, CHA at MIL ($7,400); Wesley Matthews, DAL at ORL ($4,400)
Small Forward
Danilo Gallinari, DEN at SAC ($6,900): Gallinari has been a go-to option all season, and he's been providing great value. What makes him so effective is the volume he receives, as he's averaging 14.5 field-goal attempts and 10 free-throw attempts per game since his return from injury on Jan. 2. Gallinari is also averaging 23 points per game in that span, which is one of the leading scoring totals in the NBA in that stretch. The matchup is what makes this so tasty, as he faces the worst defense in the NBA that is allowing the most fantasy points per game to small forwards over the last 10 games.
Other Options: Otto Porter, WSH vs. DET ($5,900); Robert Covington, PHI at NOP ($5,700)
Power Forward
Amar'e Stoudemire, MIA at ATL ($4,200): This is a rare circumstance where a guy becomes a one-time play because of the team situation. Not only did the Heat lose Chris Bosh to a blood clot, Hassan Whiteside is suspended, leaving almost no one in the frontcourt. This should be a case where Stoudemire plays a season-high in minutes and that alone should destroy his $4,200 price tag. His per 36-minute numbers are impressive as well, averaging 13.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.9 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. Look for Stoudemire to approach 30 minutes for the first time this season in a game against a defense who can't stop anyone in the frontcourt. In fact, the Hawks are one of the three-worst rebounding teams in the NBA.
Other Options: Anthony Davis, NOP vs PHI ($9,700); Kenneth Faried, DEN at SAC ($5,900)
Center
Andre Drummond, DET at WSH ($8,100): There may not be a lower priced player on the board with higher 50-point potential. Not only has Drummond done that on numerous occasions this season, this is the sort of matchup he can abuse. The Wizards have a weak frontcourt and they play at a high pace. Washington ranks as one of the four-fastest paced teams in the NBA and rank last in rebounding rate. That's a recipe for disaster against an athletic player like Drummond, who leads the league in rebounding.
Other Options: Al Horford, ATL vs. MIA ($6,700); Zaza Pachulia, DAL at ORL ($5,600)
Injury Report
Out
Tiago Splitter – ATL (calf)
Kelly Olynyk – BOS (shoulder)
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – BRK (ankle)
Jarrett Jack – BRK (knee)
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - CHA (shoulder)
Joakim Noah – CHI (shoulder)
Jimmy Butler – CHI (knee)
Nikola Mirotic – CHI (appendectomy)
Wilson Chandler – DEN (hip)
Jodie Meeks – DET (back)
Blake Griffin – LAC (hand)
Marc Gasol – MEM (foot)
Chris Bosh – Mia (blood clot)
Tyler Johnson – MIA (shoulder)
Hassan Whiteside - MIA (suspension)
Greivis Vasquez – MIL (ankle)
Kendrick Perkins – NOP (pectoral)
Eric Gordon – NOP (finger)
Tyreke Evans – NOP (knee)
Quincy Pondexter – NOP (knee)
Joel Embiid – PHI (foot)
Eric Bledsoe – PHX (knee)
T.J. Warren – PHX (foot)
Manu Ginobili – SAN (you don't wanna know)
DeMarre Carroll – TOR (knee)
Alec Burks – UTA (leg)
Game-Time Decision
Spencer Hawes – CHA (back)
Marvin Williams – CHA (neck)
Courtney Lee – CHA (hip)
Al Jefferson – CHA (calf)
Devin Harris – DAL (foot)
Darrell Arthur (quad)
Jameer Nelson – DEN (wrist)
Tobias Harris – DET (ankle)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – DET (groin)
Festus Ezeli GS (knee)
Terrence Jones – HOU (concussion)
Jordan Hill – IND (finger)
Ian Mahinmi – IND (face)
Rodney Stuckey – IND (ankle)
Larry Nance – LAL (knee)
Lance Stephenson – MEM (hip)
Brandan Wright – MEM (knee)
Josh McRoberts – MIA (knee)
Jerryd Bayless – MIL (knee)
John Henson – MIL (back)
Nemanja Bjelica – MIN (foot)
Kevin Martin – MIN (wrist)
Kevin Garnett - MIN (leg)
Nikola Pekovic – MIN (foot)
C.J. Watson – ORL (calf)
Brandon Knight – PHX (hip)
Jerami Grant – PHI (groin)
Marco Belinelli – SAC (mouth)
Ben McLemore – SAC (wrist)
Omri Casspi – SAC (mouth)
Kawhi Leonard – SAN (calf)
James Johnson – Tor (ankle)
