This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid:
San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have many fantasy-friendly players like Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, but any team against the Spurs is off-limits right now. San Antonio sits with a league-leading 92.0 defensive efficiency rating, which is four points better than the next closest team. What's scary is that they are blowing teams out and leaving almost no fantasy value for anyone. The Spurs have been allowing fewer than 84 points per game over their last six.
Offenses to Use:
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns
It's rare to recommend two teams in the same game, but this could be one of the highest-scoring games of the season. Both are playing poorly right now and it should be a close game with tons of possessions. That's a recipe for fantasy gold and there's some great options on both teams at reasonable prices. New Orleans ranks 29th in the NBA in points allowed and 10th in pace while the Suns rank 25th in points allowed and third in pace. The Vegas total currently sits at 214 which is one of the highest of the season. Players like Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans all make for fantastic options in an up-tempo matchup like this.
Teams on Back-to-Back Sets:
First Game: Bulls, Clippers, Grizzlies, Knicks and Pacers
Second Game: Raptors
Daily Player Recommendations
Point Guard:
Elfrid Payton, ORL vs. POR ($6,300): Payton has scored at least 30 fantasy points in seven of eight games, with three 40-point performances in his last 10. The one time he didn't score 30 fantasy points was in a blowout loss to Cleveland when he played just 20 minutes. What is so great about Payton is that he stuffs the stat sheet and doesn't rely on scoring. On Friday, he gets to square off against Damian Lillard, who isn't exactly considered a lockdown defender.
Other Suggestions: Jrue Holiday, NOP at PHX ($5,100); Trey Burke, UTA vs. DEN ($4,300); Jameer Nelson, DEN at UTA ($4,900)
Shooting Guard:
Tyreke Evans, NOP vs. PHX ($7,300): Evans had one horrible six-point outing against the Celtics two weeks ago but has been brilliant aside from that. If you take out that one blowout loss, he is averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game. Evans is the primary ball-handler for the Pelicans and has been doing a great job of stuffing the stat sheet. This is a fantastic matchup as well, as he faces against one of the five worst defenses in the NBA. In fact, Phoenix ranks 30th in the NBA in fantasy points allowed to guards over the last 10 games. This should be a close, high-scoring game and Evans should be a huge beneficiary of the pace and game flow.
Other Suggestions: Monta Ellis, IND vs. BKN ($5,500); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET at CHI ($5,200); Danny Green, SAN vs. LAC ($3,800)
Small Forward:
Carmelo Anthony, NYK at PHI ($8,300): Melo got off to a slow start this season, but he's getting hot and putting up some gaudy numbers. Anthony has scored over 50 fantasy points in three-straight games and providing nice numbers across the board. What's most impressive is that he is doing his damage without elite scoring. Anthony has recorded at least a steal and a block in all three games and has been averaging 12 rebounds and five assists per game in that span. This is a play-making Melo that we're not familiar with, but it's a beautiful sight for fantasy owners. On Friday, he gets the matchup of all matchups against the 76ers, who rank 29th in fantasy points allowed to forwards and are clearly one of the worst defenses in the NBA. I'm usually weary of using players against the Sixers because of blowout potential, but this should be a close game and Melo should get a full complement of minutes in a tasty matchup.
Other Suggestions: Gordon Hayward, UTA vs. DEN ($7,300); Jae Crowder, BOS vs. ATL ($5,500)
Power Forward:
Chris Bosh, MIA vs. TOR ($7,100): Bosh is coming off one of his worst games of the season, but he's due for a bounce-back performance. His price has dropped a bit over recent weeks but he's still performing at an All-Star level. Prior to that stinker, Bosh scored at least 40 fantasy points in four of eight games. What is so enticing about him on Friday is the matchup, as Toronto ranks in the bottom-five in points and rebounds allowed to power forwards.
Other Suggestions: Derrick Favors, UTA vs. DEN ($7,700); Kristaps Porzingis, NYK at PHI ($7,400); Channing Frye, ORL vs. POR ($3,600)
Center:
Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs. TOR ($6,600): Using a defensive stud against a team on a back-to-back is always a good idea. The Raptors come in with tired legs after losing in double-overtime Thursday. That means plenty of blocked shots for Whiteside, who already leads the NBA in the category this season. Toronto is extremely aggressive at the basket, proven by the fact that they are the second-most blocked team in the NBA by centers. Whiteside has been struggling lately, but the price drop has fallen too far and now's the time to jump on him in a fantastic matchup. In fact, he was at $8,300 just 10 games ago, and while he hasn't played great since, he has only scored below 24 fantasy points once in that span. A $1,700 drop is too much for a player with the upside of Whiteside.
Other Suggestions: Al Horford, ATL at BOS ($6,500); Nikola Vucevic, ORL vs. POR ($6,800); Zaza Pachulia, DAL vs. MEM ($5,600)
Injury Report:
Out:
Marcus Smart – BOS (knee)
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – BKN (ankle)
Mike Dunleavy – CHI (back)
Wilson Chandler – DEN (hip)
Jusuf Nurkic – DEN (knee)
Brandon Jennings – DET (knee)
Jodie Meeks – DET (back)
Harrison Barnes – GS (ankle)
Myles Turner – IND (hand)
Greivis Vasquez – MIL (ankle)
Greg Monroe – MIL (knee)
Kendrick Perkins – NOP (pectoral)
Quincy Pondexter – NOP (knee)
Willie Cauley-Stein – SAC (hand)
Jonas Valanciunas – TOR (hand)
Rudy Gobert – UTA (knee)
Bradley Beal – WSH (leg)
Game-Time Decision:
Shane Larkin – BKN (concussion)
Charlie Villanueva – DAL (foot)
Chandler Parsons – DAL (legs)
John Jenkins – DAL (concussion)
Devin Harris – DAL (hamstring)
Wesley Matthews – DAL (shoulder)
Darrell Arthur – DEN (knee)
Emmanuel Mudiay – DEN (ankle)
Lavoy Allen – IND (ankle)
Tony Allen – MEM (knee)
Brandan Wright – MEM (knee)
Tyler Johnson – MIA (shoulder)
Jerryd Bayless - MIL(ankle)
Nemanja Bjelica – MIN (knee)
Kevin Martin- MIN (wrist)
Kevin Garnett – MIN (knee)
C.J. Watson – ORL (calf)
Markieff Morris – PHX (doghouse)
Nerlens Noel – PHI (eye)
Damian Lillard – POR (ankle)
DeMarre Carroll – TOR (knee)
Rodney Hood – UTA (knee)
Nene Hilario – WSH (calf)
Drew Gooden – WSH (calf)
Otto Porter – WSH (knee)
