This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defenses to avoid: Utah Jazz, at BOS: The Jazz have settled in as clearly the best defense in the NBA right now, ranking first in the league in production allowed to opposing guards and forwards and third against opposing centers over the last 10 games in the DraftKings scoring format.
Offense to use: Sacramento Kings, at DEN: The Nuggets rank last in production to opposing centers, 19th against opposing forwards and 27th against opposing guards over the past 10 games. Essentially, opponents are able to get just about whatever they want at whatever their positions of strength might be when they face the Nuggets, meaning DeMarcus Cousins is likely to put a ridiculous number on the board on Tuesday.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Grizzlies, Heat, Kings
Second game: Nuggets, Suns, Jazz, Wizards
Kyle Lowry, TOR at SA ($8,400): Lowry is scorching right now, with six straight games of at least 43 fantasy points. Over his last five games he is averaging 31 points, 6.4 assists, 6.2 boards, 4.6 treys and 1.4 steals per game. The Spurs are average as a point guard defense, ranking 14th against opposing PGs over the past 10 games.
T.J. McConnell, PHI vs MIN ($4,300): Sergio Rodriguez will not play Tuesday, which likely gives McConnell another chance to start on Tuesday. He has been strong in each of his previous two starts this season, including a 17 points, eight assists, three treys effort on Friday against the Nuggets.
Nick Young, LAL vs MEM ($4,100): Young just continues to score since his return from injury. He has now scored 17 or more points in three of his last four and six of his last eight games. His matchup against the Grizzlies is tough, as the Jazz are eighth in the NBA in limiting production to opposing shooting guards in the DraftKings scoring format, but his recent level of play and price tag still make him solid value for Tuesday.
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs TOR ($7,600): Aldridge has been dominant in four of his last five games, averaging 22.6 points, 10.0 boards, 2.4 assists and 1.8 combined steals/blocks over that time period even including his one poor game in that stretch. His Tuesday opponent, the Raptors, ranks 19th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing power forwards over the last 10 games.
Andrew Wiggins, MIN at PHI ($7,200): Wiggins has re-found his scoring mojo, with a streak of five straight games of more than 20 points scored. Over that stretch he is averaging 24.8 points, 4.4 boards, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 treys with only 1.4 turnovers per game. His Tuesday opponent, the 76ers, rank 26th on the season against opposing small forwards though they have been a more solid 12th over the last five games.
Jon Leuer, DET vs IND ($4,800): Leuer had a clunker in his last game against the Heat, but in his eight games before that he averaged 15.3 points, 5.9 boards, 2.1 assists, 0.9 treys and 1.2 combined steals/blocks to set his expected value. On Tuesday, he faces a Pacers defense that ranks 24th in the league in production allowed to opposing power forwards.
Joel Embiid, PHI vs MIN ($7,500): Embiid has moved back to the center slot for the 76ers, starting his last game next to Ersan Ilyasova instead of Jahlil Okafor, and he just continues to produce as his minute counts creep up. He is averaging 23.8 points. 7.4 boards, 2.2 blocks, 1.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 treys over his last five games.
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs SAC ($6,900): Jokic posted a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double on Monday, his ninth in his last 15 games, despite only playing 25 minutes. His level just continues to rise, as he is now averaging 21.5 points, 9.5 boards, 6.0 assists and 1.3 combined steals/blocks in 28.3 minutes over his last four games.
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at SA ($4,800): Valanciunas returned to more normal minutes in his last outing against the Lakers after two shorter performances against small-ball line-ups in Golden State and Phoenix, and responded with a 14-points, 10-rebound double-double. He is averaging 27.6 points per game on the season and should have a size advantage against even a fairly large Spurs frontline.
