This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
TEAM ANALYSIS
Defense To Avoid
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
The Cavs are allowing 97.1 points per game this season, third-best in the league. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are scoring under 100 points per game (99.1) and are even more compromised since Marc Gasol's season-ending foot injury. They could be further short-handed Monday, with Tony Allen (knee) and Chris Andersen (shoulder) both questionable to play. Factoring in that the Cavs will be home and that they held Memphis to 76 points in their previous meeting this year, and Cleveland shapes up as a defense to avoid.
Offense To Use
Golden State Warriors vs. Orlando Magic
The Magic could be walking into a hornet's nest Monday, after Golden State was embarrassed by the Lakers on Sunday in a shocking 112-95 upset. Stephen Curry doesn't figure to go 1-for-10 from beyond the arc again as he did Sunday, and the Warriors could well approach the 130 points they scored in Orlando in the teams' previous meeting on Feb. 25. Despite the outlier performance Sunday, Golden State continues to lead the league in points scored per game (115.1), and is a perfect 26-0 at home.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Timberwolves, Spurs, Magic
Second game: Grizzlies, Bulls, Mavericks, Warriors
DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Point Guard
Jrue Holiday, NOP vs. SAC ($7,700): Holiday could be primed for a significant heaping of minutes Monday with the absence of Eric Gordon (finger), and the possibility of Norris Cole (back) joining him on the sideline. Holiday will likely spend some time at both backcourt spots and will be in a prime position to flourish either way. The Kings rank in the bottom five against both guard positions in fantasy points, three-pointers and assists allowed per game this season, all metrics that bode well for Holiday's potential production. He has also been on a terrific 10-game stretch, scoring over 30 fantasy points in six games, over 40 in two others and over 50 once.
Other options: Stephen Curry, GS vs. ORL ($10,600); Chris Paul, LAC at DAL ($9,700); Rajon Rondo, SAC at NOP ($8,000); Kemba Walker, CHA vs. MIN ($8,000); Kyrie Irving, CLE vs. MEM ($7,400); Elfrid Payton, ORL at GSW ($5,700)
Shooting Guard
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. MIN ($6,800): Batum presents as an intriguing mid-tier pivot from another appealing play in Jimmy Butler ($8,400), offering a similar ceiling at a significant savings. Batum has scored between 31.50 and 50.25 fantasy points over the last three games, and he also had a 52.75-fantasy-point outing in his last 10. He's coming off a 31-point performance against the Pacers and now draws a Timberwolves defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game (49.0) to shooting guards over the last 10 games, and fourth-most (46.8) over the last five.
Other options: Jimmy Butler, CHI vs. MIL ($8,400); Klay Thompson, GSW vs. ORL ($7,500); Khris Middleton, MIL at CHI ($7,500); Victor Oladipo, ORL at GS ($7,100); Andrew Wiggins, MIN at CHA ($6,200); Zach LaVine, MIN at CHA ($6,000)
Small Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at CHI ($8,200): Antetokounmpo is on a tear of epic proportions, scoring over 60 fantasy points twice and over 70 fantasy points on two other occasions over the last 10 games. He'll draw another matchup ripe for some explosive production Monday, as the Bulls give up the ninth-most fantasy points per game (40.7) to small forwards and ninth-most over the last five games (46.1). The Bulls will be hard-pressed to match up effectively with Antetokounmpo, even with the 6-foot-10 Nikola Mirotic, who will likely be on limited minutes in only his second game back from an appendectomy.
Other options: LeBron James, CLE vs. MEM ($9,600); Kawhi Leonard, SAS at IND ($8,200); Paul George, IND vs. SAS ($8,100); Chandler Parsons, DAL vs. LAC ($6,800); Jeff Green, LAC at DAL ($4,700)
Power Forward
David Lee, DAL vs. LAC ($4,800): For those looking to spend up, you'll find no shortage of elite options at the top of the power forward list. However, the best fantasy-points-per-dollar value by night's end could well be Lee, who has fit into coach Rick Carlisle's rotation seamlessly. He's played over 20 minutes in three of his last five games, and tallied double-digit boards three times that span. Lee is coming off back-to-back double-doubles, and he could be in line for a solid allotment of playing time Monday. With 18-year veteran Dirk Nowitzki having played 35 minutes in an overtime loss to Denver on Sunday, the well-rested Lee could capitalize on some extra run against a weak Clippers frontcourt. Los Angeles is giving up the ninth-most fantasy points per game (52.4) to power forwards over the last five contests, and eighth-most rebounds (11.1) per game on the season.
Other options: DeMarcus Cousins, SAC at NOP ($10,200); Anthony Davis, NOP vs. SAC ($10,000); Draymond Green, GSW vs. ORL ($8,500); Kevin Love, CLE vs. MEM ($6,900); Aaron Gordon, ORL at GSW ($6,500); Jabari Parker, MIL at CHI ($6,500); Marvin Williams, CHA vs. MIN ($5,600); Ryan Anderson, NOP vs. SAC ($5,500)
Center
Greg Monroe, MIL at CHI ($6,300): Monroe is a solid mid-tier alternative to the multitude of appealing but pricier options. While he is still coming off the bench, he's averaged 30.3 minutes per game over the last three and has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight games. He's continued to be a solid source of rebounds as well, and is still capable of the occasional fantasy explosion, totaling over 40 fantasy points once and over 50 twice in the last 10 games. It's hard to argue with his matchup Monday, as he'll draw a Bulls defense that allows 51.9 fantasy points per game to centers this season, including 57.2 per game over the last five.
Other options: Pau Gasol, CHI vs. MIL ($8,300); Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at CHA ($8,300); DeAndre Jordan, LAC at DAL ($7,600); Nikola Vucevic, ORL at GSW ($7,500); Zaza Pachulia, DAL vs. LAC ($5,200)
INJURY REPORT
Out
Kevin Garnett (knee)
Spencer Hawes (back)
Jordan Adams (knee)
Brandan Wright (knee)
Mo Williams (knee)
C.J. Miles (calf)
Michael Carter-Williams (knee)
Greivis Vasquez (ankle)
John Henson (back)
Cameron Bairstow (back)
Eric Moreland (foot)
Eric Gordon (finger)
Alexis Ajinca (sternum)
Festus Ezeli (toe)
Game-Time Decision
Nemanja Bjelica (foot)
Nikola Pekovic (Achilles)
Tony Allen (knee)
Chris Andersen (shoulder)
Ty Lawson (transactional)
Joe Young (knee)
Derrick Rose (tailbone)
Taj Gibson (hamstring)
LaMarcus Aldridge (migraine)
Rajon Rondo (thumb/toe/ankle)
Seth Curry (foot)
Kosta Koufos (illness)
Rudy Gay (shoulder)
Norris Cole (back)
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (eye)
Victor Oladipo (back)
Andre Iguodala (hamstring)
