This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Tuesday's abbreviated five-game slate is short on games, but long on top-tier star power. With the likes of Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant and LeBron James in play, we'll focus on several mid-tier players and one bargain option who can help create room to roster some of the elite.
GUARD
Mike Conley, MEM vs. MIA ($27) - The veteran guard has been as steady as they come this season save for a handful of hiccups, totaling 28.3 to 44.3 fantasy points over his last six. He'll also catch a Heat team on the second half of a back-to-back and that's slowly slipped in point guard defense the last month. Miami is now just middle-of-the pack against the position, giving up 20.4 points a game.
Khris Middleton, MIL at OKC ($27) - Middleton has been hot, tallying a pair of games apiece over 30 and 40 fantasy points in the last five. He's also managed double-digit scoring in seven of the last eight and should enjoy ideal conditions for fantasy production Tuesday. Not only will Middleton -- and the Bucks as a whole -- be forced to take their aggressiveness on offense up several notches against the high-octane Thunder, but his individual matchup will be favorable as well. OKC comes into Tuesday's game as a bottom-10 defense against shooting guards, surrendering 21.9 points per game to the position.
Guard to Avoid:
J.R. Smith, CLE at DEN ($19) - Smith has struggled mightily recently, surprisingly posting single-digit scoring totals in five of his last seven games prior to Cleveland's Monday matchup against the Suns. He'd also failed to even reach 20 fantasy points in eight straight games prior to Monday, and is priced higher than several options (Patrick Beverley, Arron Afflalo, Courtney Lee, Dennis Schroder) capable of matching or exceeding his recent production.
FORWARD
Will Barton, DEN vs. CLE ($31) - Barton continues to score at a blistering clip relative to his reserve role. Over his last five, the Nuggets guard has totaled 28.5 to 39.6 fantasy points in four games and 55.5 in the fifth. He's managed 16 consecutive games with double-digit scoring, and the Cleveland defense is merely average against shooting guards (Barton is listed as a small forward but has been manning the two-guard spot for Denver).
Kevin Love, CLE at DEN ($39) - Love draws a Nuggets frontcourt that is one of the league's worst, giving up 21.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game to power forwards. He'd also tallied more than 40 fantasy points in three of the five games prior to the Cavs' blowout loss to Portland last Saturday, and he actually collected 13 points in just 20 minutes in that contest. Love already totaled 16 points and seven rebounds Monday against the Suns and could be primed for a huge night Tuesday.
Forward to Avoid:
Carmelo Anthony, DET at NY ($41) - While this one may raise some eyebrows, it's primarily a combination of an elevated price and a Pistons shutdown defense versus small forwards that dictates the designation. Detroit is the top-ranked unit against opposing threes, even ahead of a Spurs team that throws out the defensive abyss known as Kawhi Leonard against small forwards. The Pistons have allowed only 15.4 points per game to the position, which means Anthony could be in for a night where he won't be able to generate sufficient numbers to pay off his price.
CENTER
Enes Kanter, OKC vs. MIL ($14) - Kanter has been looking more and more like the player that averaged 18.7 points and 11.0 rebounds over 26 games after coming over from the Jazz in a trade at the 2015 All-Star Break. He's posted 31.1 to 39.8 fantasy points in four of the last five games, receiving 22, 26 and 25 minutes, respectively, in his last three. With the type of production that he's clearly capable of generating, Kanter's $14 price looks like an absolute steal.
CENTER TO AVOID:
Steven Adams, OKC vs. MIL ($10) - The other side of the coin with respect to Kanter's recent success is the diminished contributions from Adams. He's mustered five single-digit scoring performances in the last six games and has generated 7.8 and 3.6 fantasy points, respectively, over his last two. Even though he's at a rock-bottom price, a plethora of more potential-laden options at the position (Robin Lopez, John Henson, Nikola Jokic, Joffrey Lauvergne) require the same minimal investment.
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