This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defenses to Avoid:
Toronto Raptors, at CHI: There aren't any truly intimidating defenses on the board on Tuesday night, but the Raptors are probably the best of the crew. The have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to guards, the 15th-most to forwards, and the 11th-most to centers this season. The Bulls are also weakened in the backcourt, with Dwyane Wade missing the game with a wrist injury.
Offense to Use:
Cleveland Cavaliers, at MIN: The textbook answer here would have been the Kings at the Lakers, because the Lakers have the worst defense going tonight. But with the way that players are priced, and the announcement that Kevin Love is out for six weeks, the Cavaliers have more recommended players tonight and are facing a Timberwolves defense that they carved up as a team not-quite two weeks ago.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Cavaliers, Lakers, Timberwolves, Kings, Raptors
Second game: none
DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Premium
Kyrie Irving, CLE at MIN ($8,400): Irving likely takes on a larger scoring role in the next six weeks, with Kevin Love recuperating from knee surgery. He was already averaging 28 points, 5.3 assists and 2.4 combined steals/blocks over his last three games but actually has upside. On Tuesday he faces a Timberwolves defense that he faced two weeks ago, scoring only 14 points but dishing 14 assists.
Moderate
Lou Williams, LAL vs SAC ($5,400): Williams is a professional scorer. In his last 12 games he has put up 21.7 points, 3.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game. He has a great match-up on Tuesday against a Kings defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to shooting guards this season.
Affordable
Nick Young, LAL vs SAC ($4,300): Young is another Lakers wing that just keeps scoring, with 17 points or more in four of his last six games. Over that stretch he has put up 16.5 points, 2.8 boards and 1.4 combined blocks/steals per game. And he faces the same weak Kings defense as Williams, that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to shooting guards on the year.
Premium
LeBron James, CLE at MIN ($10,500): James is already Mr. Do-Everything for the Cavaliers, and with Kevin Love down he could be relied upon even more heavily. He played against his Tuesday opponent, the Timberwolves, two weeks ago and burned them for 27 points, 12 assists, eight boards and three combined blocks/steals.
Moderate
Julius Randle, LAL vs SAC ($5,900): Randle has been working himself back into shape after missing time with an illness, and in his last two games he has gotten his minutes played average back up to 28 minutes. In those two games he has averaged 16 points and 6.5 boards, and on Tuesday he faces an average Kings defense that has allowed the 13th-most fantasy points to power forwards this season.
Affordable
Channing Frye, CLE at MIN ($4,900): Frye is the bench player most likely to see the biggest benefit from Kevin Love's injury absence. He may start, and if not he should get closer to starter's minutes. He faced his Tuesday opponents, the Timberwolves, two weeks ago and scored 18 points with four boards and two blocks in 22 minutes of action.
Premium
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs CLE ($10,000): Towns has scored more than 20 points in ten straight games, averaging 29.2 points with 11.1 boards, 2.5 assists and 2.3 combined steals/blocks over that stretch. On Tuesday he faces the Cavaliers, who he lit up for 26 points, 12 boards, four assists and three combined steals/blocks just two weeks ago.
Moderate
Tristan Thompson, CLE at MIN ($5,500): Thompson has been a double-double machine for the Cavaliers of late, averaging 12.2 points with 9.8 boards and 1.9 combined steals/blocks in his last nine games. He is another Cav that is likely to step up in Kevin Love's absence. He faced this same Timberwolves team two weeks ago, and dropped an 18 points/14 rebounds double-double on them with two blocked shots.
Affordable
Robin Lopez, CHI vs TOR ($4,800): Lopez has been more aggressive on offense of late, averaging 14 points with seven boards and 1.3 combined blocks/steals in his last seven games. He has a relatively tough match-up on Tuesday, though, against a Raptors defense that has allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points to centers this season.
