This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid
San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves: The Spurs remain the best defense in the NBA, strong across the board. They rank 7th in limiting production to opposing point guards and centers, 1st against opposing shooting guards and small forwards, and 11th against opposing power forwards. Plus, there is legitimate blowout potential with one of the best teams in the league facing a lottery-bound squad.
Offense to use
Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers vs. each other
These are two poor defensive teams playing one another, each with several affordable and productive players. The Magic are 27th at limiting production to opposing point guards, 22nd against small forwards, 14th against power forwards and 19th against centers. Meanwhile, the Lakers are 28th against opposing point guards, 13th against shooting guards, 28th against small forwards, 19th against power forwards and 29th against centers.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Knicks, Jazz
Second game: Timberwolves, Magic, Spurs
Daily Player Recommendations
Point Guard
Jordan Clarkson, LAL vs. ORL ($5,900): Clarkson returned from injury on Sunday to help lead the Lakers in a huge upset over the Warriors. Clarkson (25 points, four boards and two assists) pairs with D'Angelo Russell to form a potent backcourt, and while both are playing very well right now, Clarkson has the lower price tag. Tuesday he faces a Magic defense that is 27th in the NBA at defending opposing point guards.
Other suggestions: Elfrid Payton, ORL at LAL ($5,900), Emmanuel Mudiay, DEN vs. NY ($6,300)
Shooting Guard
C.J. McCollum, POR vs. WAS ($7,200): McCollum is playing well of late, averaging 37.4 fantasy points over his last two games, up from his season average of 34.5 fantasy points per game. On Tuesday he faces a Wizards defense that is 28th in the NBA against opposing shooting guards.
Other suggestions: Garrett Temple, WAS at POR ($3,200), Rodney Hood, UTA vs. ATL ($5,300)
Small Forward
Gordon Hayward, UTA vs. ATL ($6,800): Hayward is averaging 37.2 fantasy points over his past five games, up from his season average of 34.2 fantasy points per game, and on Tuesday faces a Hawks defense that is a below-average 19th in the NBA at limiting production to opposing small forwards.
Other suggestions: Al-Farouq Aminu, POR vs. WAS ($4,100), Carmelo Anthony, NY at DEN ($8,400)
Power Forward
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA at MIN ($6,800): Aldridge is averaging 43.75 fantasy points over his last four games, well above his season average of 32.5 fantasy points per game and far exceeding his current price tag. Plus, he's one of the younger primary players on the Spurs along with Kawhi Leonard, and on Tuesday they will be on the second half of a back-to-back and thus perhaps picking up a bit of the slack from their older counterparts against the lottery-bound Timberwolves.
Other suggestions: Derrick Favors, UTA vs. ATL ($7,500), Aaron Gordon, ORL at LAL ($6,700)
Center
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. SA ($7,900): Towns is averaging more than 50 fantasy points in his last two games, and in the game before that he had 21 points and seven boards in only 22 minutes of action. The rookie is playing at an extremely high level right now, well beyond his current price tag, enough so that he still makes for a strong play even in a game with blowout potential against a great Spurs defense.
Other suggestions: Jonas Valanciunas, TOR vs. BKN ($5,300), Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. NY ($6,000)
Injury Report
Out
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, BKN (ankle)
Danilo Gallinari, DEN (ankle)
Kevin Garnett, MIN (knee)
Nikola Pekovic, MIN (Achilles)
Cleanthony Early, NY (knee)
Kevin Martin, SA (Coach's decision)
DeMarre Carroll, TOR (knee)
Alec Burks, UTA (ankle)
Bradley Beal, WAS (pelvis)
Game-Time Decision
Lou Williams, LAL (hamstring)
Nemanja Bjelica, MIN (foot)
Kristaps Porzingis, NY (leg)
Nikola Vucevic, ORL (groin)
Gary Neal, WAS (thigh)
