This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid:
Miami Heat vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Heat have become a defensive juggernaut, built around defensive anchor Hassan Whiteside on the interior and aggressive defensive wings like Dwyane Wade, Justise Winslow and Luol Deng. They are second in the NBA with only 96.5 points allowed per 100 possessions, and they also play at the third slowest pace in the league at only 93.5 possessions per game. They'll make life tough on a Timberwolves team that relies on a lot of isolation play from Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins to score while Ricky Rubio is sidelined. If Rubio is able to return it would help, but the Heat defense is still very tough.
Offenses to Use:
Washington Wizards vs Milwaukee Bucks
Usually I go with whoever-is-playing-the-Pelicans as my offense du jour, but I'll switch it up here. The Nuggets are still good plays against the Pelicans, but in the Wizards vs. Bucks game we have the fourth worst defense (Bucks, 108.3 allowed points/100 possessions) vs. the eighth worst (Wizards, 107.3 points allowed/100 possessions). Usually what works in the Bucks' favor is that they play a very slow pace (91.7 poss/game, slowest in NBA), but the Wizards are an up-tempo team (101.5 poss/game, second fastest in league). Something has to give, and if the Wizards increase the pace at all then it gives more opportunities against a Bucks defense that is awful on a per-possession basis. And since both defenses are pretty bad, there could be a lot of fantasy production on both sides.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First Game: Hawks, Nets, Hornets, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Raptors
Second game: None
Point Guard
Dennis Schroder at BKN ($4,600): Teague is out with an injured ankle, and Schroder tends to go big when that's the case. Teague missed their last game against the Jazz, one of the top defenses in the league, and Schroder responded with 32.5 fantasy points. Against a Nets defense that is 25th in the NBA in fantasy points allowed to opposing point guards, Schroder should have better luck.
Other suggestions:Zach LaVine (if Ricky Rubio sits) at MIA ($5,300); Emmanuel Mudiay at NO ($6,100)
Shooting Guard
Will Barton at NO ($4,700): Barton has been getting extra time in blowouts lately, exploding to average 43.5 fantasy points per game in his last two outings. While it can't be guaranteed that he'll play 34 minutes as he has averaged in those games, it seems likely that he should get enough minutes to produce well with as hot as he is right now.
Other suggestions:Khris Middleton at WAS ($5,800), Langston Galloway vs. CHA ($4,300)
Small Forward
Thabo Sefolosha at BKN ($3,500):Kent Bazemore injured his ankle at the end of his last game and is expected to sit out Tuesday. Sefolosha is expected to start in his place, and he has been playing solidly since his return, averaging about 20 fantasy points in roughly 20 minutes per game, so if he gets starter's minutes he should outperform his price tag.
Other suggestions:Otto Porter vs. MIL ($5,400), Giannis Antetokounmpo at WAS ($7,000)
Power Forward
Thaddeus Young vs. ATL ($5,900): Young is on a roll right now, averaging 36.4 fantasy points per game over his last four and coming off a gem against the Warriors when he had 26 points, 10 boards, three steals and three assists. He is facing a Hawks team that is seventh-worst in fantasy points allowed to opposing power forwards.
Other suggestions:Chris Bosh vs. MIN ($7,300), Kristaps Porzingis vs CHA ($5,900)
Center
Brook Lopez vs. ATL ($7,100): Lopez has been a solid 40-fantasy-point-per-game player over the past three, and he is facing a Hawks team that is fourth in the NBA in most points allowed to opposing centers. While Al Horford is a great player, he's just not big enough to prevent Lopez from doing what he wants on the block.
Other suggestions:Hassan Whiteside vs. MIN ($8,100), Jonas Valanciunas at GS ($5,900)
Injury Report
Out
Jeff Teague, ATL (ankle)
Kent Bazemore, ATL (ATL)
Kyrie Irving, CLE (knee)
Iman Shumpert, CLE (wrist)
Brandon Jennings, DET (Achilles)
Jodie Meeks, DET (foot)
Wilson Chandler, DEN (hip)
Jusuf Nurkic, DEN (knee)
Joffrey Lauvergne, DEN (back)
O.J. Mayo, MIL (hamstring)
Jabari Parker, MIL (knee)
Nikola Pekovic, MIN (Achilles)
Norris Cole, NO (ankle)
Quincy Pondexter, NO (knee)
Tyreke Evans, NO (knee)
Kendrick Perkins, NO (chest)
Terrence Ross, TOR (thumb/wrist)
Alan Anderson, WAS (ankle)
Martell Webster, WAS (hip)
Game-Time Decision
P.J. Hairston, CHA (quad)
Jeremy Lamb, CHA (shoulder)
Marvin Williams, CHA (chest)
Kenneth Faried, DEN (back)
Leandro Barbosa, GS (personal, expected to play)
Klay Thompson, GS (back, probable)
Draymond Green, GS (flu)
Amar'e Stoudemire, MIA (knee)
Ricky Rubio, MIN (hamstring)
Bradley Beal, WAS (shoulder)
