This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defenses to avoid: San Antonio Spurs, vs MIN: The Spurs' defense has been dominant of late, which earns them this spot even against a scrappy young Timberwolves unit. The Spurs are number one against opposing centers, tied for fourth against opposing forwards, and tied for seventh against opposing guards over the past 10 games. This brings up an interesting question for Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been outplaying his price tag but will have a tough matchup with these Spurs on Tuesday.
Offense to use: Los Angeles Lakers, vs DEN: The Lakers are a generally poor defense themselves, but the Nuggets have them beat on that front. The Nuggets rank last in production allowed to opposing guards, 21st against opposing forwards and 27th against opposing centers over the past 10 games. Plus, the Nuggets are on the second half of a back-to-back and playing on the road.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Rockets, Raptors
Second game: Nuggets
Kyle Lowry, TOR at BKN ($8,600): Lowry is explosive (four games of 55 or more fantasy points in his last 10 outings), and on Tuesday faces a Nets defense that is last in the NBA at limiting production to opposing point guards.
Wesley Matthews, DAL at CHI ($5,000): Matthews seems to have re-found his shot over the last couple of games, knocking down 14-of-29 attempts, including 8-of-16 from downtown, in those contests to average 18.5 points, 3.5 boards, 3.0 assists, 4.0 treys and 0.8 combined steals/blocks. The Bulls are solid defensively on the wing, but if Matthews has his shot working he's still value for that price.
Tony Parker, SA vs MIN ($4,700): Parker has scored in double-digits in nine of his last 10 games, averaging 15.2 points with 5.6 assists, 2.4 boards and 0.7 treys over that stretch. His Tuesday opponents, the Timberwolves, are 20th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing point guads over the last 10 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at SA ($9,300): The premium-priced forwards all have tough matchups Tuesday, with each of Towns, Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard facing teams that are in the top-5 against their position over the past 10 games. Thus, this slot is chosen on how the player has been playing, and Towns has been in the biggest zone. Over his last six games, he is averaging more than 50 fantasy points, based on averages of 23.3 points, 13.3 boards, 3.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, 1.0 steals and 0.7 treys per game.
Harrison Barnes, DAL at CHI ($6,400): Barnes is consistent, steady production at either forward slot in DraftKings. He has scored more than 30 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games, over which time he has averaged 21.6 points, 4.8 boards, 2.3 assists, 1.6 treys, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks with a microscopic 0.9 turnovers per game.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, BKN vs TOR ($3,800): Hollis-Jefferson is a punt-play with the potential to produce starters' numbers on any given night. He's very inconsistent, but in his last game had 14 points with seven boards, three steals and two assists. The Raptors are only average against opposing small forwards, and this game has blowout potential, which could actually increase Hollis-Jefferson's chances to play more minutes.
Nikola Jokic, DEN at LAL ($8,100): Jokic had a huge game on Monday, and his play overall has trended upwards as he has settled back into the starting lineup. On Tuesday, he faces a Lakers defense that is last in the NBA in production allowed to opposing centers over the last 10 games.
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at BKN ($6,200): Valanciunas is having a monster week, averaging 14.7 points, 16.3 boards and 1.0 blocks over the last three games. On Tuesday, he faces another huge center in Brook Lopez, who is a poor defender that should allow Valanciunas to continue his hot week.
Robin Lopez, CHI vs DAL ($4,200): Lopez has broken out of his slump, averaging 10.5 points, 7.5 boards, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 assists over his last four games. He has a tough match-up against the Mavs on Tuesday, but he still has a solid chance to outperform his price tag.
