This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defenses to avoid: San Antonio Spurs, vs MIL: The Jazz may be the best defense in the league, but on Tuesday they have a tough game against the strong offense of the defending champion Cavaliers. Meanwhile, the Spurs' defense has been dominant of late and, though the Bucks are no pushovers, they are not as strong an opponent as the Cavs. The Spurs are number one against opposing centers, number two against opposing forwards, and number six against opposing guards over the past 10 games.
Offense to use: Portland Trail Blazers, at LAL: The Trail Blazers have good production across several players, most of them at solid value. Similarly, the Lakers' defense is weak across the board with rankings of 25th against opposing guards, 28th against opposing forwards and 25th against opposing centers this season.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Celtics, Cavaliers, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Wizards
Second game: Bulls
C.J. McCollum, POR at LAL ($8,100): McCollum went ballistic while Damian Lillard was out, but even with Lillard back for the last two games McCollum has continued to thrive with averages of 31 points, 6.5 assists, 3.5 boards, 3.0 treys and 1.5 combined steals/blocks in those two contests. On Tuesday, he faces a Lakers defense that is tied for 22nd in production allowed to opposing shooting guards on the season.
Dennis Schroder, ATL at BKN ($6,700): Schroder has a wonderful matchup on Tuesday against a Nets defense that has been by far the worst defense in the NBA against opposing point guards this season. He comes into the game averaging 20.2 points, 6.0 assists, 3.2 boards, 1.3 treys and 1.2 steals over his last six games.
Michael Carter-Williams, CHI at WAS ($4,800): Carter-Williams has a chance to make an impact on Tuesday's game with primary offense-generators Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade scheduled to sit out. Carter-Williams will be facing a Wizards defense that is average against opposing point guards, ranking 15th in the NBA over the past 10 games.
DeMarcus Cousins, SAC vs. DET ($10,100): Cousins is always the favorite to lead big men in fantasy production on any given night but two games under 50 fantasy points in his last three has lowered his price by $1,400 since last week. However, he has moved back to starting center for the Kings and faces a Pistons defense on Tuesday that ranks 26th in the NBA against centers over the past 10 games.
Marcus Smart, BOS at TOR ($5,800): Smart is playing well and should be in the starting lineup on Tuesday as Avery Bradley is out injured. Smart started for Bradley on Saturday and turned in 22 points, six assists, five boards, five treys, two steals and a blocked shot in 32 minutes of action. His Tuesday opponent, the Raptors, are 26th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing shooting guards over the past 10 games.
Al-Farouq Aminu, POR at LAL ($5,100): Aminu seems to have fully recovered from his injury and is over his poor play from early in the season, playing more like he did at his best last season with contributions across the board. Over his last three games, he is averaging 11.7 points, 8.7 boards, 3.7 assists, 1.3 treys, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks. On Tuesday, he faces a Lakers defense that ranks 29th in the NBA against opposing power forwards over the last 10 games.
Andre Drummond, DET at SAC ($7,700): Drummond has three monster games in his last four outings, and over that stretch is averaging 22.3 points, 13.8 boards, 1.8 blocks and 1.8 steals per game. On Tuesday, he faces a Kings defense that ranks last in the NBA in production allowed to opposing centers over the last 10 games, but he will have to be careful to avoid foul trouble with DeMarcus Cousins having moved back to starting center two games ago.
Mason Plumlee, POR at LAL ($6,100): Plumlee has been strong all season and continues to be a nightly double-double threat with legitimate triple-double potential due to his strong passing. Over his last three games, he is averaging 13 points, 9.0 boards, 7.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. On Tuesday, he faces a Lakers defense that is 26th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing centers over the last five games.
Derrick Favors, UTA vs CLE ($5,000): Favors is working himself back from injury, but previous to his last game when he struggled at Memphis, he had been turning in a solid 12 points, 6.7 boards, 3.0 assists and 2.0 combined steals/blocks in 29.7 minutes of play. On Tuesday, he faces a Cavs defense that ranks 20th against opposing power forwards over the last 10 games.
