This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid: San Antonio Spurs at ATL. The Spurs defense has been strong in the frontcourt of late, ranking 1st in production allowed to opposing forwards, 4th to opposing centers and 11th to opposing point guards in the DraftKings scoring format over the last 10 games. The one position they've had some difficulty with, ranking 22nd against opposing shooting guards, isn't one that the Hawks are equipped to really take advantage of.
Offense to Use: Orlando Magic at IND. The Pacers are pretty "meh" across the board on defense. On the season they rank 22nd in production allowed to opposing guards, 23rd against opposing forwards and 19th against opposing centers in the DraftKings scoring system.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Magic
Second game: none
Kyle Lowry, TOR at LAL ($8800): Lowry has been one of the most productive guards in the league of late, averaging 28.5 points, 6.3 assists, 5.5 boards, 4.3 treys and 2.1 combined steals/blocks over his last four games. On Sunday he faces a Lakers defense that is 25th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing point guards.
Josh Richardson, MIA vs DET ($5700): Richardson has been playing both guard slots over the last few games with Goran Dragic going in and out of the lineup, and has excelled. He is averaging 20.3 points, 5.0 boards, 4.3 assists, 2.3 treys, 2.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and only 1.3 turnovers over that stretch.
Manu Ginobili, SA at ATL ($4000): We're going back to the well again with Ginobili, who has been in the "affordable guard" slot several times in the last week and responded well. He has produced more than 25 fantasy points in four of his last five games despite never playing more than 20 minutes. Over that stretch, he has averaged 11.6 points, 3.8 boards, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks with 2.4 treys and only 1.2 turnovers in 19 minutes per game.
Paul George, IND vs ORL ($7800): George is always a strong option at forward, but is hotter than usual coming off back-to-back games with over 30 points. He has torched his last two opponents for 33 points, 4.5 treys, 3.5 boards, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals versus only 2.0 turnovers. He'll face a Magic defense that is 22nd in production allowed to opposing small forwards over the last 10 games according to DraftKings.
Serge Ibaka, ORL at IND ($6400): Ibaka is averaging a solid 40 fantasy points over his last four games, comprised of 19.5 points, 8.5 boards, 2.3 blocks, 2.3 assists, 2.0 treys and 0.5 steals per contest. He'll face a Pacers defense that ranks 24th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing power forwards.
Jon Leuer, DET at MIA ($4900): Leuer played so well in his role off the bench that he earned a spot in the starting lineup. He has produced more than 20 fantasy points in his last eight games, and is coming off 22 points, six boards and two steals in 37 minutes against the Hawks on Friday.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs POR ($9400): Towns has grown into an every-game superstar. Over the last month, he has averaged 22.8 points, 13.5 boards, 3.1 assists and 1.6 blocks a game. On Sunday he faces a Trail Blazers defense that struggles against opposing power forwards (the position Towns often plays on offense), ranking 29th against opposing fours over the past 10 games.
Mason Plumlee, POR at MIN ($5700): Plumlee's versatility is a plus in the DraftKings scoring system. He has three double-doubles (bonus points) in his last six games. He also has nine games with at least six assists, which gives him reasonable triple-double potential (more bonus points) in any given game. Overall, he's averaging 29.8 fantasy points per game.
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at LAL ($5100): Valanciunas doesn't have the consistency or playing time to produce as a consistent impact player like he's been in the past. However, he still regularly produces reasonably for his price point with six games of 26 or more fantasy points in his last nine outings.
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid: San Antonio Spurs at ATL. The Spurs defense has been strong in the frontcourt of late, ranking 1st in production allowed to opposing forwards, 4th to opposing centers and 11th to opposing point guards in the DraftKings scoring format over the last 10 games. The one position they've had some difficulty with, ranking 22nd against opposing shooting guards, isn't one that the Hawks are equipped to really take advantage of.
Offense to Use: Orlando Magic at IND. The Pacers are pretty "meh" across the board on defense. On the season they rank 22nd in production allowed to opposing guards, 23rd against opposing forwards and 19th against opposing centers in the DraftKings scoring system.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Magic
Second game: none
Kyle Lowry, TOR at LAL ($8800): Lowry has been one of the most productive guards in the league of late, averaging 28.5 points, 6.3 assists, 5.5 boards, 4.3 treys and 2.1 combined steals/blocks over his last four games. On Sunday he faces a Lakers defense that is 25th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing point guards.
Josh Richardson, MIA vs DET ($5700): Richardson has been playing both guard slots over the last few games with Goran Dragic going in and out of the lineup, and has excelled. He is averaging 20.3 points, 5.0 boards, 4.3 assists, 2.3 treys, 2.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and only 1.3 turnovers over that stretch.
Manu Ginobili, SA at ATL ($4000): We're going back to the well again with Ginobili, who has been in the "affordable guard" slot several times in the last week and responded well. He has produced more than 25 fantasy points in four of his last five games despite never playing more than 20 minutes. Over that stretch, he has averaged 11.6 points, 3.8 boards, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks with 2.4 treys and only 1.2 turnovers in 19 minutes per game.
Paul George, IND vs ORL ($7800): George is always a strong option at forward, but is hotter than usual coming off back-to-back games with over 30 points. He has torched his last two opponents for 33 points, 4.5 treys, 3.5 boards, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals versus only 2.0 turnovers. He'll face a Magic defense that is 22nd in production allowed to opposing small forwards over the last 10 games according to DraftKings.
Serge Ibaka, ORL at IND ($6400): Ibaka is averaging a solid 40 fantasy points over his last four games, comprised of 19.5 points, 8.5 boards, 2.3 blocks, 2.3 assists, 2.0 treys and 0.5 steals per contest. He'll face a Pacers defense that ranks 24th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing power forwards.
Jon Leuer, DET at MIA ($4900): Leuer played so well in his role off the bench that he earned a spot in the starting lineup. He has produced more than 20 fantasy points in his last eight games, and is coming off 22 points, six boards and two steals in 37 minutes against the Hawks on Friday.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs POR ($9400): Towns has grown into an every-game superstar. Over the last month, he has averaged 22.8 points, 13.5 boards, 3.1 assists and 1.6 blocks a game. On Sunday he faces a Trail Blazers defense that struggles against opposing power forwards (the position Towns often plays on offense), ranking 29th against opposing fours over the past 10 games.
Mason Plumlee, POR at MIN ($5700): Plumlee's versatility is a plus in the DraftKings scoring system. He has three double-doubles (bonus points) in his last six games. He also has nine games with at least six assists, which gives him reasonable triple-double potential (more bonus points) in any given game. Overall, he's averaging 29.8 fantasy points per game.
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at LAL ($5100): Valanciunas doesn't have the consistency or playing time to produce as a consistent impact player like he's been in the past. However, he still regularly produces reasonably for his price point with six games of 26 or more fantasy points in his last nine outings.
