This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defenses to avoid
San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat against each other
The Spurs lead the NBA in defensive rating and the Heat are ranked sixth. Miami plays at the second-slowest pace in the NBA, with the Spurs clocking in at eighth. This has all of the earmarks of a slow-paced, grind-it-out battle.
Offense to use
Golden State Warriors vs. HOU
The Warriors lead the NBA in offensive rating and play at the second-fastest pace. The Rockets are 24th in defensive rating and play at the seventh-fastest pace. Win and win.
Teams on Back-to-Backs
First game: Celtics, Warriors, Rockets, Spurs, Jazz
Second game: None
Daily Player Recommendations
Point Guard
Raul Neto, UTA at DAL ($3,600): Neto has stepped up over his last five games, averaging 10.8 points with 4.0 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 30.5 minutes per game. That's an average of 21.1 fantasy points, which isn't bad at all for essentially a minimum-priced player. He matches up with a Mavericks defense that is 25th in the NBA at limiting production to opposing point guards.
Other options: Michael Carter-Williams, MIL vs. BOS ($5,900); Stephen Curry, GS vs. HOU ($11,000)
Shooting Guard
Klay Thompson, GS vs. HOU ($7,800): Thompson looks poised to have a shoot-out with James Harden on Tuesday, as the Rockets and Warriors rank 26th and 27th in the NBA, respectively, at limiting production to opposing shooting guards. Thompson is coming off consecutive solid-but-not-good games by his own standards, averaging 28 FPts over his last two outings, but he's a good bet to bounce back toward the 46.5 FPts range that he averaged in the three games preceding.
Other options: Rodney Hood, UTA at DAL ($6,000); James Harden, HOU at GS ($10,600)
Small Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. BOS ($6,900): Antetokounmpo is overly long and athletic for a small forward, which gives him an advantage against a small and relatively unathletic Celtics unit that ranks 26th in the NBA at limiting production to his position.
Other suggestions: Jae Crowder, BOS at MIL ($5,700); Kawhi Leonard, SA at MIA ($7,600)
Power forward
Derrick Favors, UTA at DAL ($7,000): Favors is coming off of a down game in which foul trouble limited him to 11 points and seven boards in 30 minutes against the Suns, but in the two previous games he averaged 13.5 points, 13 boards and 5.5 blocks. Tuesday he faces a Mavericks unit that is 26th in the NBA at limiting production to opposing power forwards.
Other suggestions: Kristaps Porzingis, NY vs. WAS ($7,200); Draymond Green, GS vs. HOU ($9,300)
Center
Tyler Zeller, BOS at MIL ($3,800): Zeller has suddenly popped up in the Celtics' rotation, averaging 13.8 points, 6.5 boards, 1.5 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.5 steals in 20.8 minutes over his last four games after not doing much of anything in the first three months of the season. Zeller has a history of being productive when he gets the minutes, and with his near-minimum price he could offer nice value as long as he's playing.
Other suggestions: Greg Monroe, MIL vs. BOS ($6,700); Marcin Gortat, WAS at NY ($6,900)
Injury Report
Out
Devin Harris, DAL (toe)
Festus Ezeli, GS (knee)
Terrence Jones, HOU (concussion)
Donatas Motiejunas, HOU (back)
Tyler Johnson, MIA (shoulder)
Chris Andersen, MIA (knee)
Greivis Vasquez, MIL (ankle)
John Henson, MIL (back)
Lance Thomas, NY (concussion)
Cleanthony Early, NY (knee)
Manu Ginobili, SA (groin)
Matt Bonner, SA (calf)
Alec Burks, UT (ankle)
Trey Burke, UT (illness)
Alan Anderson, WAS (ankle)
Game-Time Decision
James Harden, HOU (hand)
Hassan Whiteside, MIA (ankle)
Tim Duncan, SA (knee)
Nene Hilario, WAS (calf)
Kris Humphries, WAS (knee)
