This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid
Utah Jazz vs. Milwaukee Bucks
There isn't a scarier defense in the NBA than the Jazz when they are fully healthy. Earlier in the season, Utah ranked in the top-three in defensive efficiency and points allowed per game with a full complement of players. They ended up losing Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors for a over a month and the defense slid a bit. Both of them are fully healthy now and the defense has returned to being excellent. In fact, Utah is allowing under 87 points per game in their last six and playing at one of the slowest paces in the league. This is a great matchup for them to lower that average as well, with the Bucks ranking 24th in points scored per game. These teams are going in opposite directions too, with Milwaukee losing six of their last seven and Utah winning their last four.
Offense to Use
Brooklyn Nets vs. Sacramento Kings
Most people overlook the Nets because of how bad they have been this year, but that makes for great DFS value with some cheap underutilized players. While the losing has been excessive, the scoring has been somewhat consistent. The Nets have scored at least 100 points in three consecutive games and that's quite the accomplishment for this offense. On Friday, they get to face a Sacramento team that ranks last in defense, as well as the fastest-paced team in the league. That should automatically give some of these cheap players on Brooklyn value and open the door for fantasy production.
Teams on Back-to-Back Sets:
First Game: 76ers, Bulls, Cavaliers, Grizzles, Hornets, Jazz, Mavericks, Nets, Pacers, Spurs, Wizards
Second Game: Knicks
Daily Player Recommendations
Point Guard
Donald Sloan, BKN vs. SAC ($4,300): Since taking over starting point guard duties, Sloan is averaging 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 0.6 steals per game across a 14-game stretch. Those numbers aren't anything special, but it's a great value for a player so cheap. What is so enticing Friday is the matchup, as he faces a Kings team that ranks 28th in fantasy points allowed per game to point guards this season and 30th in total defense.
Other Options: John Wall, WSH vs. PHI ($9,700); Elfrid Payton, ORL vs. LAC ($5,300)
Shooting Guard
Dwayne Wade, MIA at CHA ($7,200): Not many shooting guards have been as good as Wade over recent weeks and it's clear he's back at All-Star form. Wade is averaging over 40 fantasy points per game over his last seven, never scoring fewer than 29 in that span. Those are very solid numbers and he's got a great matchup against the Hornets, who rank 23rd in fantasy points allowed per game to shooting guards this season.
Other Options: Bradley Beal, WSH vs. PHI ($6,100); E'Twaun Moore, CHI at DEN ($4,300)
Small Forward
Joe Johnson, BKN vs. SAC ($5,100): Johnson is overlooked in most fantasy circles because of his lack of productivity, but he's been quietly reliable recently. The key to his success is his assist numbers, as Johnson is averaging over six per game along with 12 points and four rebounds in his last six. Johnson has also scored at least 22 fantasy points in seven of his last nine games. As mentioned before, this is a great matchup too, with the Kings ranking 24th in fantasy points allowed per game to small forwards this season.
Other Options: Gordon Hayward, UTA vs. MIL ($7,400); Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. MIA ($6,300)
Power Forward
Taj Gibson, CHI at DEN ($5,800): With all the injuries in Chicago, Gibson is regularly playing at least 30 minutes per game and putting up some great numbers. In fact, Gibson has scored at least 26 fantasy points in five of his last six games. The beauty about that stretch is that he has not scored more than 15 points in any of those games, which makes him extremely reliable in terms of accumulating other stats such as rebounds, blocks and steals. He'll now square off against Kenneth Faried and the Nuggets, who are giving up the third-most fantasy points per game to power forwards this season.
Other Options: Paul Millsap, ATL vs. IND ($8,000); Chris Bosh, MIA at CHA ($7,400)
Center
Al Horford, ATL vs. IND ($6,500): There's nothing about Horford's form or matchup that makes this intriguing; his price has simply fallen too far. A player who averages 33 fantasy points per game shouldn't cost $6,500 and we get a nice bargain with his decreased price tag. On the surface, it doesn't look like a great matchup, but the Pacers were prone to huge games from opposing centers earlier in the year. The consistency is what I like most about Horford though, as he rarely scores fewer than 30 fantasy points at a volatile position.
Other Options: Marc Gasol, MEM at NY ($7,600); Zaza Pachulia, DAL vs. SAS ($5,700)
Injury Report
Out
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – BRK (ankle)
Jarrett Jack – BRK (knee)
Al Jefferson – CHA (calf/suspension)
Joakim Noah – CHI (shoulder)
Nikola Mirotic – CHI (appendectomy)
Wilson Chandler – DEN (hip)
Jodie Meeks – DET (back)
Blake Griffin – LAC (hand)
Tyler Johnson – MIA (shoulder)
Greivis Vasquez – MIL (ankle)
Alec Burks – UTA (leg)
Game-Time Decision
Tiago Splitter – ATL (hip)
Jae Crowder – BOS (ankle)
Kemba Walker – CHA (knee)
Kirk Hinrich – CHI (quad)
Pau Gasol – CHI (hand)
Jimmy Butler – CHI (knee)
Deron Williams – DAL (hip)
Devin Harris – DAL (foot)
Darrell Arthur – DEN (quad)
Jameer Nelson – DEN (wrist)
Festus Ezeli – GS (knee)
Ian Mahinmi – IND (back)
DeAndre Jordan – LAC (back)
Matt Barnes – MEM (thumb)
O.J. Mayo – MIL (hamstring)
C.J. Watson – ORL (calf)
Tim Duncan – SAN (rest)
Drew Gooden – WSH (calf)
Kris Humphries – WSH (knee)
