This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid:
Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic: Many people don't look at the Hornets as an elite defensive team, but they are just that this season. In fact, they rank fifth in defensive efficiency and have regularly stifled opponents in their home building. It's not just the Charlotte side that makes Orlando a fade, as the Magic have struggled on offense all season long. Orlando currently ranks 29th in scoring, 28th in field-goal percentage, 28th in free-throw percentage and 24th in three-point percentage. Those are downright terrible numbers and it would be hard to imagine them reaching the century mark here against an elite Hornets defense. Not to mention, the Magic's rotation is in major flux right now, as they've demoted Elfird Payton and Nikola Vucevic to bench duties, thus limiting their value and muddling up fantasy production.
Offense to Use:
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns: The Lakers are in a terrible stretch right now, but there's things to like about this matchup. The biggest reason for their struggles have been injuries, but that could be beneficial for fantasy in the sense that it actually leads to more value from unexpected sources, as some under-priced players that get more minutes than anticipated. It's not like the Lakers have been terrible on offense either, as they rank top-10 in both scoring and offensive efficiency in their home building. The best part about using players from the Lakers is the matchup, though,with Phoenix currently ranking second in pace
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid:
Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic: Many people don't look at the Hornets as an elite defensive team, but they are just that this season. In fact, they rank fifth in defensive efficiency and have regularly stifled opponents in their home building. It's not just the Charlotte side that makes Orlando a fade, as the Magic have struggled on offense all season long. Orlando currently ranks 29th in scoring, 28th in field-goal percentage, 28th in free-throw percentage and 24th in three-point percentage. Those are downright terrible numbers and it would be hard to imagine them reaching the century mark here against an elite Hornets defense. Not to mention, the Magic's rotation is in major flux right now, as they've demoted Elfird Payton and Nikola Vucevic to bench duties, thus limiting their value and muddling up fantasy production.
Offense to Use:
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns: The Lakers are in a terrible stretch right now, but there's things to like about this matchup. The biggest reason for their struggles have been injuries, but that could be beneficial for fantasy in the sense that it actually leads to more value from unexpected sources, as some under-priced players that get more minutes than anticipated. It's not like the Lakers have been terrible on offense either, as they rank top-10 in both scoring and offensive efficiency in their home building. The best part about using players from the Lakers is the matchup, though,with Phoenix currently ranking second in pace and 29th in total defense.
Teams on Back-to-Back Set:
First Game: Bucks, Cavaliers, Heat, Hornets, Kings, Magic, Mavericks, Pacers and Rockets
Second Game: Raptors and Timberwolves
DraftKings.com Player Recommendations
Eric Bledsoe, PHX at LAL ($7,400): Bledsoe has quietly been playing some of the best ball of the season and should be able to continue his superb form against the Lakers. He is currently averaging 22 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game across his last nine games. In that span, he's scored at least 37 fantasy points six times and he's starting to take his reigns on this Phoenix offense.
Reggie Jackson, DET at MIN ($5,200): Jackson has played three games since returning from injury and it appears he's ready to play a full allotment of minutes. While he struggled in his last game, Jackson played 26 minutes and should be able to play 30 minutes here. When he was playing 30 minutes a game last season, he was averaging over 30 fantasy points. With his diminished price due to injury, this will be his lowest price all season, and the matchup is spectacular as well, with Minnesota ranking dead-last in fantasy points allowed to point guards, according to DraftKings.
Darren Collison, SAC vs. NYK ($5,000): Collison hasn't given us much reason to use him, but this price is getting too affordable to pass up. When he's right, Collison is a $7,000 player and now that he's recaptured the starting point guard role, he should be ready to get hot sooner rather than later. Collison is averaging nearly 32 minutes a game across his last 11 games and he's handling the ball on almost every possession as well. That alone makes him valuable at $5,000 as he'll inevitably add to his 25 fantasy-point-per-game average. The Knicks are a great matchup too, as they sport one of the worst defenses in the NBA.
Paul George, IND at DAL ($8,000): George has seen his price drop because of an injury he suffered a few weeks back, but he's back and fully healthy. In fact, George is averaging 43 fantasy points a game since his return and has done that damage in limited minutes. Now that he has his feet underneath him, George should be able to return to the $9,000 player he's been in the past. The matchup isn't great against a solid Mavericks defense, but the Pacers should lean on their superstar in a game where they need to win against a bad Dallas team with a 4-17 record.
Julius Randle, LAL vs. PHX ($6,000): Randle is easily my favorite play of the day and it's a wonder why his price is so cheap. With all the injuries in Los Angeles, Randle has taken on more responsibility in this offense and posting up elite fantasy numbers. In fact, Randle is averaging over 30 fantasy points per game and has shown the ability to stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis. That's a 5X floor and he should be able to surpass that 30-point average in a matchup against a Suns team who has allowed the third most fantasy points to power forwards this season.
Dwight Powell, DAL vs. IND ($4,700): Powell has been playing some of the best ball of his career and the timing comes as no surprise. With Andrew Bogut and Dirk Nowitzki injured, Powell has had to take on a bigger role and has thrived with the minutes increase. Powell has scored at least 25 fantasy points in three straight games and is averaging over 27 minutes per game across his last four. This matchup isn't as bad as it appears on the surface either, with the Pacers ranking bottom-10 in fantasy points allowed to power forwards.
Andre Drummond, DET at MIN ($7,600): Since Drummond was ejected from a game last week, he's been on a tear. Not only has Drummond scored at least 37 fantasy points in five straight games, he's averaging nearly 45 fantasy points per game in that span. That ejection lowered his price too, as he's been hovering in the mid $7,000's, despite the recent bump in form. This is a matchup where the Pistons will need to lean on Drummond as well, with Karl-Anthony Towns playing heavy minutes for the Timberwolves.
Al Horford, BOS vs. TOR ($6,900): Horford has been undervalued on DraftKings all season long and he's worth using at least until he reaches the $7,500 threshold. Since returning from injury, Horford is averaging 16 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 3.5 blocks/steals per game. Those numbers don't pop off the page, but that's fantastic all-around production. What they really show is the fact that the Celtics are willing to run their offense through the big man, which should only increase with Isaiah Thomas missing this game. This matchup is solid too, with Toronto ranking 21st in fantasy points allowed to centers.
Myles Turner, IND at DAL ($5,900): Turner has been a bit disappointing recently, but his price has simply fallen too far. Just four days ago, Turner was a $7,000 player and there's no reason why a player with this sort of upside should have that significant of a price drop. Not only is Turner averaging over 31 fantasy points per game for the season, he's surpassed at least 30 eight times in his last 10 games. Much like George, Turner should be leaned on heavily here against a bad Mavericks team and should easily exceed value.
