This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid: San Antonio Spurs at MIA The Spurs were an elite defense last season, and they've been strong thus far this year, as well. They are fresh off of shutting down Anthony Davis and the Pelicans on Saturday, and are facing a Heat team without many offensive threats.
Offense to Use: Houston Rockets vs DAL. There are several games Sunday that look like potential offensive explosions. The Warriors at Phoenix, the Pistons against the Bucks, and the Thunder against the Lakers are all great matchups. But the now Mike D'Antoni-led Rockets play loose, fast, and take a lot of shots. They just played the Mavs this week on the road are a good bet to pop in the rematch at home.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Clippers, Suns
Second game: Grizzlies, Bucks, Spurs
DraftKings.com Player Recommendations
Guard (premium)
James Harden, HOU vs DAL ($11,300): This slot was a tossup between Harden and Russell Westbrook, both of whom have 75-fantasy-point potential on any given day. Ultimately, Harden gets the nod because he's priced $900 cheaper. Both have excellent matchups against very beatable defenses.
Guard (moderate)
Deron Williams, DAL at HOU ($5700): Williams has had one massive game and one solid game thus far, averaging 19.5 points and 5.5 assists through two outings. He faces a weak Rockets defense Sunday in a game that is likely to be up-and-down the court.
Guard (affordable)
Ish Smith, DET vs MIL ($5200): Smith bounced back from a
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid: San Antonio Spurs at MIA The Spurs were an elite defense last season, and they've been strong thus far this year, as well. They are fresh off of shutting down Anthony Davis and the Pelicans on Saturday, and are facing a Heat team without many offensive threats.
Offense to Use: Houston Rockets vs DAL. There are several games Sunday that look like potential offensive explosions. The Warriors at Phoenix, the Pistons against the Bucks, and the Thunder against the Lakers are all great matchups. But the now Mike D'Antoni-led Rockets play loose, fast, and take a lot of shots. They just played the Mavs this week on the road are a good bet to pop in the rematch at home.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Clippers, Suns
Second game: Grizzlies, Bucks, Spurs
DraftKings.com Player Recommendations
Guard (premium)
James Harden, HOU vs DAL ($11,300): This slot was a tossup between Harden and Russell Westbrook, both of whom have 75-fantasy-point potential on any given day. Ultimately, Harden gets the nod because he's priced $900 cheaper. Both have excellent matchups against very beatable defenses.
Guard (moderate)
Deron Williams, DAL at HOU ($5700): Williams has had one massive game and one solid game thus far, averaging 19.5 points and 5.5 assists through two outings. He faces a weak Rockets defense Sunday in a game that is likely to be up-and-down the court.
Guard (affordable)
Ish Smith, DET vs MIL ($5200): Smith bounced back from a cold opening night to the tune of 16 points, eight assists and two boards in only 26 minutes in a blowout win. This game was more representative of his average potential, and he faces a poor Bucks defense that will be on the second half of a back-to-back Sunday.
Forward (premium)
Kevin Durant, GS at PHO ($9900): Durant has been the unquestioned top option for the Warriors so far, which has actually been a bit of a surprise. However, he will bring his averages of 28.5 points, 13.5 boards, 5.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals into Phoenix to face a defense that has given up 113 points in both games thus far and just got torched by Durant't former teammate Russell Westbrook to the tune of 51 points in a triple-double.
Forward (moderate)
Markieff Morris, WAS at MEM ($5600): Morris is playing well right now. He finished off the preseason with a 19-point/six-rebound/three-assist/three-block effort, then opened the regular season with 22 points, four boards, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot against the Hawks. This is the level where he was before his lost season last year, but his price tag hasn't yet caught up to that type of production.
Forward (affordable)
Marcus Morris, DET vs MIL ($5100): The other Morris has now been consistent for the last season since arriving in Detroit. There was a thought that he might lose some time to the other Pistons wings this year, but he has scored exactly 17 points with three assists and at least eight rebounds in both games so far. Morris is very consistent and is going against a tired Bucks defense that hosted Brooklyn on Saturday.
Center (premium)
Draymond Green, GS at PHO ($7500):Andre Drummond almost got this slot, as he faces a Bucks team that was last in the NBA in production allowed against opposing centers. But Green is a few dollars cheaper and has triple-double potential in what should be a high-scoring game against the Suns.
Center (moderate)
Marc Gasol, MEM vs WAS ($5600): Gasol will be facing Marcin Gortat on Sunday, and both make good moderate plays given they're priced just $100 apart. Both have a very solid shot at 30-plus fantasy points with the potential for further upside.
Center (affordable)
Dewayne Dedmon, SA at MIA ($3300): Dedmon is always a risk due to his reserve nature, as he only played 16 minutes Saturday. However, through two games he was averaging 7.0 points, 7.5 boards and 3.0 blocks, and – with the Spurs on the second half of a back-to-back – they could call on Dedmon to give Pau Gasol's older legs some rest.
