DraftKings NBA: Saturday Cheat Sheet

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Updated on February 6, 2016 10:46AM EST

Team Analysis

Defense to Avoid
Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns
The Jazz have been a strong defense all season, but it is built around their two excellent defensive big men. Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors were both injured for a while but both are back. Even with their absences, the Jazz are still in the top-7 on the season at defending point guards, shooting guards, power forwards and centers. Their one position of not-full-strength on defense is small forward, and even there they are an above-average 14th in the league.

Offenses to Use
Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers
The Nets and 76ers are both bad teams with bad defenses that have some intriguing offensive pieces. Thus, there are plus matchups going both ways at almost every position. The Nets are 22nd against point guards, 13th against shooting guards, 16th against small forwards, 28th against power forwards and 27th against centers. Meanwhile, the 76ers are 15th against point guards, 21st against shooting guards, 27th against small forwards, 30th against power forwards and 23rd against centers.

Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: None
Second game: Nets, Hornets, Bulls, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Pacers, Grizzlies, 76ers, Spurs, Jazz, Wizards

Daily Player Recommendations

Point Guard
Derrick Rose, CHI at MIN ($6,500): Rose has been playing his best ball of the season, averaging 20.2 points, 6.0 boards, 6.0 assists and a steal per game over his last five. In the last two, he has especially picked it up with Jimmy Butler hurting, and with Butler nursing a sprained knee, it seems likely that Rose will be called upon heavily Saturday.

Other suggestions: Donald Sloan, BKN at PHI ($4,400); Ish Smith, PHI vs. BKN ($7,100)

Shooting Guard
C.J. McCollum, POR at HOU ($7,200): McCollum has an excellent matchup against an often indifferent Rockets perimeter defense. He's also in a groove right now, averaging 24 points on almost 50 percent shooting over his last three games.

Other suggestions: Rodney Hood, UTA at PHO ($5,900); Danny Green, SAS vs. LAL ($4,700)

Small Forward
Stanley Johnson, DET at IND ($5,200): Johnson has moved into the starting lineup at shooting guard in place of the injured Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and on Thursday against the Knicks he responded with 22 points, nine boards, five assists, two steals and a blocked shot. On Saturday, he faces a Pacers defense that is 22nd in the NBA against shooting guards.

Other suggestions: Joe Johnson, BKN at PHI ($5,100); Al-Farouq Aminu, POR at HOU ($5,200)

Power Forward
Bobby Portis, CHI at MIN ($4,000): Portis got extra time on Friday night due to all of the injuries to the Bulls' frontcourt. Pau Gasol joined Nikola Mirotic and Joakim Noahon the bench, allowing Portis to get 27 minutes, which he converted into eight points, seven boards, two assists and two steals despite foul trouble. If Gasol sits again, Portis should get another chance to produce in more minutes.

Other suggestions: Nerlens Noel, PHI vs. BKN ($6600); Thaddeus Young, BKN at PHI ($6,300)

Center
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs CHI ($8,100): Towns has been averaging well over 20 points and 12 boards for the past couple of weeks, and is distancing himself from the rest of the rookie class. On Saturday, he faces a Bulls defense that is 29th against centers and is also struggling with injuries that are thinning their frontcourt.

Other suggestions: Brook Lopez, BKN at PHI ($7,700); Gorgui Dieng, MIN vs. CHI ($6,100)

Injury Report

Out
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, BKN (ankle)
Mike Dunleavy, CHI (back)
Nikola Mirotic, CHI (appendix)
Matthew Dellavedova, CLE (hamstring)
Devin Harris, DAL (toe)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET (groin)
Jodie Meeks, DET (toe)
Al Jefferson, CHA (knee)
Festus Ezeli, GS (knee)
Donatas Motiejunas, HOU (back)
Terrence Jones, HOU (concussion)
Rodney Stuckey, IND (foot)
Ian Mahinmi, IND (back)
Larry Nance, LAL (knee)
Brandan Wright, MEM (knee)
Eric Gordon, NO (finger)
Tyreke Evans, NO (knee)
Andre Roberson, NO (knee)
Brandon Knight, PHO (groin)
Ronnie Price, PHO (toe)
Noah Vonleh, POR (ankle)
Tim Duncan, SA (knee)
Manu Ginobili, SA (groin)
Alec Burks, UTA (ankle)
Nene Hilario, WAS (calf)
Alan Anderson, WAS (ankle)
Kris Humphries, WAS (knee)

Game-Time Decision
Jimmy Butler, CHI (knee)
Pau Gasol, CHI (hand)
Kevin Love, CLE (thigh)
Salah Mejri, DAL (knee)
Kevin Martin, MIN (wrist)
Kevin Garnett, MIN (knee)
Nikola Pekovic, MIN (foot)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.