This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid:
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies: The Thunder have quietly been a stud defense at home this season and they should have no problem slowing down a weak Memphis attack. In fact, OKC ranks second in the NBA in defensive efficiency at home, while playing at a slow pace. The Grizzlies are not an offense to fear either, as they rank fifth in scoring and bottom-three in pace. The individual matchups make this scary too, as Mike Conley will have to deal with Russell Westbrook and Marc Gasol will be matched up with Steven Adams.
Offense to Use:
Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks: With these two teams going in opposite directions, this makes for an easy recommendation. Not only have the Nuggets won seven of their last 11 games, the Bucks have lost nine of their last 10. What's turned Denver's season around is their offense, as they rank third in scoring and have had the best offense in the league since the turn of the calendar. Milwaukee's defense has been equally as poor, allowing at least 102 points in 14-straight games. This is not the recipe to fix that form either, with Denver averaging 114 points a game in their home building in what's already a tough environment at altitude. What's also intriguing about Denver is the amount of injuries they have, as that could clear up some minutes and usage for cheap players.
Teams on Back-to-Back Set:
First Game: Bucks, Grizzlies, Kings, Magic, Nuggets, Pacers, Pistons, Suns and T'Wolves
Second Game: Lakers and Rockets
DraftKings.com Player Recommendations
Eric Bledsoe, PHX at SAC ($8,800): Bledsoe has brought his game to another level recently and his price is still affordable enough to use him. Not only has he set and tied a career high in scoring twice in his last three games, he's regularly hitting 50 fantasy points. In fact, Bledsoe has at least 42 fantasy points in eight of his last 10 games. This matchup is a great one too, with Sacramento coming in at 25th in defensive efficiency and Darren Collison ranking as one of the worst defenders in the league..
D'Angelo Russell, LAL at BOS ($5,900): Russell has seen his price drop over recent weeks because of an injury, but now that he's back, he's a heck of a value south of $6,000. He showed his upside in his return on Thursday, as he dropped 51 fantasy points in a near triple-double. The best part of this play is the matchup though, as he'll square up against Isaiah Thomas, who ranks as one of the worst defenders in the NBA based on efficiency ratings.
Wesley Matthews, DAL at POR ($5,300): With at least 29 fantasy points in six of his last nine games, Matthews is regularly obliterating his price tag. It's his minutes and usage that makes him most attractive, as he always approaches 40 minutes and takes nearly 10 three-point attempts per game. The matchup is just the icing on the cake, with Portland ranking 26th in defensive efficiency. At just $5,300, Matthews has a 5X floor and that's all you can ask for in such a spectacular matchup.
Paul George, IND at BRK ($8,100): George had a terrible game in his most recent outing, but was a beast prior to that. Not only did he have at least 30 points in four straight games, he scored at least 45 fantasy points in all of those as well. The best part about using George is the matchup though, with Brooklyn allowing the most fantasy points in the NBA to power forwards this season and ranking as the worst defense in the league..
Wilson Chandler, DEN vs. MIL ($5,700): With Nikola Jokic, Emmanuel Mudiay, Danilo Gallianri and Will Barton all questionable or out for this game, Chandler becomes one of the most intriguing options on the board. If even three of those players sit, Chandler could be looking at a season high in both minutes and shot attempts. This is a great matchup too, with Milwaukee allowing the second most fantasy points to small forwards this season. Not to mention, the Nuggets are shopping Chandler and this is a perfect opportunity to showcase him and raise his stock with some monster usage.
Ryan Anderson, HOU vs. CHI ($5,400): Anderson is one of the most inconsistent players in the league, but that makes him an enticing option for DFS. It's his blowup potential that makes him so fascinating, as he scored 89 combined fantasy points in his two previous games before a stinker on Thursday. What determines whether Anderson has a good game or not is his shooting, and considering he'll face a Chicago defense that allows the fifth highest field-goal percentage to power forwards, he could be dropping three's all night long. The price is attractive as well, as he's one of few players who has 10X potential at just $5,400.
Andre Drummond, DET vs. MIN ($7,900): Drummond has been a beast lately and he should be able to go to work against Karl-Anthony Towns. Averaging 51 fantasy points across his last three games is impressive enough, but it's his defense that makes him especially valuable. Drummond ranks second in the NBA in individual defensive rating and should add elite steals and blocks against a high-usage player like Towns. That's before considering his rebounding ability, as he's put up at least 17 boards in five of his last seven games.
Al Horford, BOS vs, LAL ($6,800): Horford is regularly underpriced on DraftKings and he becomes a great option in a matchup like this. What makes him so good is his reliability, as he almost never falls below 30 fantasy points. It's his ability to stuff the stat sheet that makes him so consistent, as he provides points, rebounds, assists and blocks at ease. The matchup may be the best part of this play though, facing a Lakers defense that has allowed the second most fantasy points to centers this season.
Clint Capela, HOU vs. CHI ($4,700): Capela saw his price drop significantly due to an injury and DraftKings has been slow to react to his return. With at least 26 fantasy points in four of his last five games, Capela has recaptured the form that made him a $6,000 player early on in the season. The 31 minutes he played Thursday show that he's fully healthy and ready for a full complement of minutes, and while the matchup against Chicago's frontline is tough, he'll need to play big minutes to match up with all the Bulls' bigs. At just $4,700, Capela is an easy bet for 5X value and is a far better option than players like Steven Adams, Taj Gibson, Jusuf Nurkic and Ivica Zubac, who are the four players surrounding him in price.
