This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid
Miami Heat vs. Washington Wizards
The chalk defense to avoid would normally be the Heat, at home against the Wizards, as they are clearly the best defense on the board for the season. But with Hassan Whiteside, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all out on Friday, their unit was questionable, giving up 111 points to the Hawks. Nevertheless, Whiteside is expected back from suspension Saturday and all seven of the other defenses going are relatively weak, so if not the Heat, then there's no obvious squad to avoid.
Offense to Use
Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have been one of the friendliest defenses in the league all season, ranking 20th against shooting guards, 29th against the small forwards and 30th against power forwards. They're a solid fourth and seventh against point guards and centers, respectively, but the Hawks' wings and Paul Millsap have great matchups.
Teams on Back-to-Backs
First game: None
Second game: Hawks, Warriors, Heat, Bucks, Timberwolves, Knicks, Wizards
Daily Player Recommendations
Point Guard
Chris Paul, LAC vs. GSW ($9,400): Paul has scored 129 fantasy points in his last two games, which came against the Spurs and the Celtics, two of the best perimeter-defending defenses in the NBA. He is in the zone, and he will be up for a rematch against Stephen Curry and the defending champion Warriors.
Other suggestions: Ricky Rubio, MIN vs. NYK ($6,100); Goran Dragic, MIA vs. WAS ($5,700)
Shooting Guard
Gerald Green, MIA vs. WAS ($3,800): Green started in place of Dwyane Wade on Friday and was one of several larger-than-usual contributors with Wade, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside all out. Whiteside should be back on Saturday, but Green could get another start for Wade and has a good matchup against a less-than-stellar Wizards wing defense.
Other suggestions: Jamal Crawford, LAC vs. GSW ($5,200); Kyle Korver, ATL vs. MIL ($4,200)
Small Forward
Kent Bazemore, ATL vs. MIL ($5,500): Bazemore had a down game Friday, scoring only seven points with four boards, but he is ripe for a bounce back Saturday against a Bucks defense that allows the second-most fantasy points per game to small forwards.
Other suggestions: Otto Porter, WAS at MIA ($5,600); Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at ATL ($7,000)
Power Forward
Paul Millsap, ATL vs MIL ($7,800): Millsap, like Bazemore, has an excellent matchup with the Bucks, who allow the most fantasy points per game to small forwards this season.
Other suggestions: Gorgui Dieng, MIN vs. NYK ($6,700); Kristaps Porzingis, NYK at MIN ($7,300)
Center
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs NYK ($8,500): Towns has been averaging nearly 20 points and 12 boards per game for the past couple of weeks, and he is distancing himself from the rest of the rookie class, as he is playing like an All-Star. On Saturday, he faces fellow hotshot rookie Kristaps Porzingis in what could be a bit of a rookie grudge match.
Other suggestions: Greg Monroe, MIL at ATL ($6,900); Marcin Gortat, WAS at MIA ($6,400)
Injury Report
Out
Festus Ezeli, GS (knee)
Blake Griffin, LAC (hand)
Austin Rivers, LAC (hand)
Tyler Johnson, MIA (shoulder)
Dwyane Wade, MIA (knee)
Chris Bosh, MIA (blood clot)
Greivis Vasquez, MIL (ankle)
Nemanja Bjelica, MIN (foot)
Kevin Garnett, MIN (knee)
Cleanthony Early, NY (knee)
Alan Anderson, WAS (ankle)
Gary Neal, WAS (knee)
Game-Time Decision
Kirk Hinrich, ATL (trade)
Hassan Whiteside, MIA (suspension, should be back)
Jerryd Bayless, MIL (knee)
John Henson, MIL (back)
Nikola Pekovic, MIN (foot)
Nene Hilario, WAS (calf)
