This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
We enter the final full month of the regular season with a solid six-game slate that features a couple of potentially high-scoring affairs in the Magic-Mavericks and Hawks-Warriors. A host of value exists all across the pricing scale, offering the opportunity to fit in the likes of Stephen Curry (if healthy), Damian Lillard and Pau Gasol.
GUARD
D'Angelo Russell, LAL vs. BKN ($19) - Russell has been the subject of recent praise from coach Byron Scott, and deservedly so. He's tallied 21.5 to 39.3 fantasy points over the last four games, including more than 30 in his last two on the strength of a pair of 22-point outings. The Nets also check in as a bottom-10 defense in fantasy points (45.51) and assists (8.98) allowed to point guards per game this season.
Victor Oladipo, ORL at DAL ($30) - Oladipo seems to particularly thrive in fast-paced games, and Tuesday's tilt against the Mavs should qualify. The individual matchup is there for him as well, as Dallas checks in as a bottom-half defense versus two guards (36.87 fantasy points allowed per game). He's also been on a heater, totaling 29.2 to 46.4 fantasy points over the last six, including more than 40 in three of those games.
Dwyane Wade, MIA vs. CHI ($32) - Wade tallied 46.1 to 45.4 fantasy points in two of his last three and draws a favorable matchup against his hometown team Tuesday. E'Twaun Moore's defense won't be confused with that of Jimmy Butler's anytime soon, and Wade should be significantly involved once again with the continued absence of Chris Bosh (calf). He's also received more than 30 minutes in six straight and should meet that figure in what figures to be a competitive matchup.
Guard to Avoid:
Kemba Walker, CHA vs. PHO ($43) - As is often the case with avoid candidates, the overriding factor is price as opposed to talent. Walker struggled in his last game against the Hawks on Sunday, going only 3 for 15 from the field while amassing a modest 25.7 fantasy points. However, it's actually his production in the stretch of games before that which make him slightly overpriced, more so than the outlier performance. Walker posted 31.9 to 43.1 fantasy points in the five prior contests, certainly respectable totals but not quite what one would expect when paying in the upper tier. With Damian Lillard ($48) just a few dollars more and Jeff Teague ($26) in a fast-paced and favorable matchup at a considerably lower cost, Walker can be avoided Tuesday.
FORWARD
Chandler Parsons, DAL vs. ORL ($27) – Parsons somehow remains priced less than $30 despite some outstanding recent production. He's posted more than 40 fantasy points in three of his last five games, including respective tallies of 41.0 and 46.2 in his last two games. The Magic's defense has also been a boon for fantasy production for small forwards this season, as it's yielded the seventh-most fantasy points per game (39.77) to the position. The Magic could be further weakened Tuesday if Evan Fournier (wrist) is out, which likely would leave Parsons frequently facing off against rookie Mario Hezonja.
Aaron Gordon, ORL at DAL ($25) - Gordon is another case of a drastically underpriced player in the Magic-Mavs tilt, with an even better stretch of recent production than that of Parsons. He's coming off a career-high 22 points Sunday versus the Sixers, and has racked up 30.3 to 44.6 fantasy points in nine straight games. He'll also have the benefit of facing a Dallas defense that ranks in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points (43.99), points (21.86) and rebounds (12.42) allowed to fours in what should be an up-tempo game.
Forward to Avoid:
Taj Gibson, CHI at MIA ($22) - Gibson's fantasy upside has always been fairly limited, and he'll draw one of the tougher frontcourt matchups in the league Tuesday to boot. Although starter Chris Bosh (calf) continues to be sidelined, Luol Deng has stepped in to the starting role at the four and held his own. Deng helped hold the trio of Draymond Green, Jared Sullinger and Kristaps Porzingis to 10, 12 and nine points, respectively, over the last three games, all players with more offensive upside than Gibson. With Deng ($20), Kent Bazemore ($19), Harrison Barnes ($19) and Joe Johnson ($18) cheaper and in better matchups, Gibson is a stay-away candidate Tuesday.
CENTER
Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs. CHI ($31) - Center offers a host of appealing options up and down the pricing scale Tuesday, so much so that we'll provide you with one at each level. Whiteside actually checks in a few dollars cheaper than the upper echelon of Pau Gasol ($41), Brook Lopez ($37) and Nikola Vucevic ($36), but his recent production has been on par with or better than that trio's. The Heat big man has tallied 55.6, 53.1, 40.6, 48.0 and 37.2 fantasy points off the bench in his last five games. Despite the reserve designation, the minutes have been plentiful for Whiteside, as he's played no less than 26 in the last five games. His matchup against a Bulls defense that's given up the seventh-most fantasy points (48.69) per game to centers this season only furthers his appeal.
Robin Lopez, NY vs. POR ($17) - Despite having hit his stride offensively in February, Lopez remains affordable. He's been particularly proficient over the last five games, totaling 28.6 to 46.2 fantasy points in four. He tallied 23.7 fantasy points in his other meeting this season against his former Blazers teammates on Dec. 12, which came in the midst of some considerable offensive struggles for Lopez. Portland is also much weaker against centers now, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points (49.14), third-most points (22.16) and ninth-most rebounds (15.37) per game to the position.
Alex Len, PHO at CHA ($10) - Without question, the best fantasy-point-per-dollar bargain on the Tuesday slate is Len, who is somehow minimum priced despite amassing 28.1 to 46.7 fantasy points in four of the last six. The other two games during that span -- when Len totaled 15.4 and 18.2 fantasy points -- came when he played less than 20 minutes and was dealing with a sprained ankle. After totaling 46.7 fantasy points on the strength of a 22-point, 16-rebound performance in his most recent game versus the Grizzlies on Saturday, Len looks like a good play against a Hornets defense that is ranked in the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed per game to power forwards (44.68) this season.
Center to Avoid:
Zaza Pachulia, DAL vs. ORL ($22) - Pachulia is one player you can sidestep in what should otherwise be a game ripe for fantasy production. Coach Rick Carlisle recently said the veteran center likely will receive limited minutes down the stretch to keep him rested for the playoffs, and Pachulia's upside is generally limited even when he receives a normal helping of playing time. Nikola Vucevic and the Magic have also proven to be much more formidable against fives this year, checking in as the seventh-stingiest defense versus centers in fantasy points surrendered per game (45.86).
