This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday brings nine games in the NBA, eight of which make up the main evening slate on Yahoo. It will be a star-studded night with the Warriors, Sixers, Thunder and Bucks among the teams in action. Let's examine some players to target and avoid across the price scale to hopefully help put a little extra cash in your pocket.
GUARDS
Russell Westbrook, OKC at SA ($55):Paul George (shoulder) will miss his second straight game Saturday, leaving Westbrook to shoulder the scoring load for the Thunder. With George out Thursday against the Sixers, Westbrook recorded a triple-double on his way to 54.7 Yahoo. Combine his ability to contribute across the board with the added scoring opportunities that he should receive in this contest and he's a great option despite his lofty price tag.
Rajon Rondo, LAL at PHO ($19): It's not really a good sign that the Lakers are still searching for lineups that work this late in the season. After a five-game stretch in which he was moved to the bench, Rondo has started both of the last two games. The move has certainly paid off for his production considering he scored 47.4 and 46.1 Yahoo points, respectively. The Suns allow the second-most Yahoo points per game (45.6) to opposing point guards, setting up a favorable opportunity for Rondo to provide value.
Guard to Avoid
Malik Beasley, DEN vs. NO ($14): With Gary Harris and Isaiah Thomas healthy, Beasley doesn't have nearly as significant of a role as he did earlier this season. He's logged 27 minutes or fewer in four straight games, which resulted in him scoring 22.6 Yahoo points or fewer in each contest. This Nuggets team is too deep when everyone is healthy to warrant adding Beasley to your entry.
FORWARDS
LeBron James, LAL at PHO ($54): The Lakers just played Friday, but it's highly unlikely they rest James on Saturday since they are fighting to make the playoffs. He's doing his best to help them achieve that goal, scoring at least 53.2 Yahoo points in six straight games. The Suns have only won one of their last 19 contests and allow third-most points per game (116.4) in the league, leaving James with the potential for a monster night.
Markieff Morris, OKC at SA ($12): Morris stepped into the starting five with George out Thursday and scored 17 points to go along with four rebounds and a steal in only 19 minutes. The playing time wasn't encouraging, but the Thunder badly need his offensive abilities with George sidelined. If he were to receive more playing time, he could significantly out produce his price point. Even if he still hovers around 20 minutes, he might be worth the risk in tournament play.
Forward to Avoid
Caris LeVert, BKN at MIA ($19): The Nets have had their fair share of injuries this season, but they are finally at full strength after Spencer Dinwiddie returned Friday. That's not necessarily great news for LeVert's upside in DFS and is one of the contributing factors as to why he's logged 27 minutes or fewer in four of his last five games. This is a tough matchup against a Heat team that allows the sixth-fewest points per game (106.8), so it might be best to stay away from LeVert.
CENTERS
DeMarcus Cousins, GS at PHI ($31): After sitting out for rest Wednesday, Cousins stormed back with 40.2 Yahoo points against the Magic on Thursday. The key was he played 32 minutes in that contest. Now that he's off of his minute's restriction, he's one of the best center options in DFS whenever he takes the floor. Since the Sixers are still missing Joel Embiid (knee) and Boban Marjanovic (knee), Cousins could have his way in the paint.
Joakim Noah, MEM at DAL ($18): Noah's career has been brought back to life with the Grizzlies. He's become an important part of their second unit, which has helped him score at least 31.3 Yahoo points in four straight games. The Mavericks are extremely thin up front after they traded away DeAndre Jordan, leaving Noah with an excellent chance to continue his recent run of success.
Center to Avoid
JaVale McGee, LAL at PHO ($15): While Rondo has regained his starting spot, McGee has been pushed to the bench the last two games. He logged a total of 21 minutes across those two contests, putting a significant cap on his upside. With 25.7 Yahoo points or fewer in each of his last six games, it's hard to justify taking a chance on him for your lineup.
