This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
TEAM ANALYSIS
Defense To Avoid
Detroit Pistons vs. Charlotte Hornets: The Pistons give up the fifth-fewest points (101.7) per game, and the Hornets stumbled into the All-Star break, losing 11 of their last 12 contests. Detroit has also successfully clamped down on them in two of their three previous meetings this season, limiting them to 89 and 87 points, respectively.
Offense To Use
Houston Rockets at New Orleans: The Rockets average the second-most points (114.4) per game and already scored 122 points against this same squad in their one previous game this season. The Pelicans should be fired up for their first game with the dream frontcourt of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, but the fact remains that they surrender the ninth-most points (106.5) per night, a vulnerability the prolific Rockets should be able to exploit.
Teams on a Back-to-Back Set
First game of a back-to-back: Clippers, Nuggets
Second game of a back-to-back: None
DraftKings.com DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Kyrie Irving, CLE vs. NY ($8,700): It's hard to go wrong with James Harden ($12,500), particularly considering he went off for 67.8 fantasy points in his one previous meeting against the Pelicans this season. However, given his astronomical price, he doesn't necessarily fit into everyone's budget, leaving Irving as a highly viable upper-tier option. He's had impressive success against his Thursday opponent in his own right, having averaged 42.6 fantasy points over his two previous games against the Knicks this season. He'd also rattled off five straight efforts of over 40 fantasy points prior to the All-Star break, and will face a Knicks squad that surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points (58.1) to point guards in the last five games of the first half of the season.
Derrick Rose, NY at CLE ($6,100): Rose is an appealing play on the other side of the Cavs-Knicks matchup, assuming he's still a member of the Knicks come Thursday evening. Rose went over 40 fantasy points in two of the last four games before the All-Star break, and Cleveland has given up the third-most fantasy points (57.7) to point guards on the season, the most (75.2) over the last five games, and ranks in the bottom 10 in points (24.5), rebounds (6.1), assists (8.9), made three-pointers (2.5) and field-goal percentage (45.8) surrendered to the position. Rose also sports a 27.1 percent usage rate and nearly a fantasy point per minute (0.96) with Joakim Noah off the floor this season, and the latter will miss Thursday's game with a hamstring injury.
Jamal Murray, DEN at SAC ($3,900): Murray's teammate Emmanuel Mudiay ($4,300) is also an interesting play but is inconsistent, while the newly acquired Buddy Hield ($3,600) is tempting as a tournament play, yet his playing time in his first game in Sacramento will be far from certain. Meanwhile, Murray eclipsed 20 fantasy points in seven of the 10 games prior to the All-Star break and has been receiving a steady dose of playing time off the bench, even with Mudiay's return. The Kings have also been vulnerable to guards all season, giving up the sixth-most fantasy points (43.8) on the season, and fifth-most (49.7) in the last five contests before the All-Star break.
Blake Griffin, LAC at GS ($9,100): DeMarcus Cousins ($11,000) always makes for a viable play, but it could be somewhat risky to deploy him at his five-figure price tag until his usage alongside Anthony Davis in New Orleans becomes much clearer. LeBron James ($10,300) is very appealing for those with the cash to spend, but Griffin checks in considerably cheaper than both and in what will be an up-tempo contest against the Warriors. Griffin scored over 50 fantasy points in six of the last 10 games before the All-Star break, and over 40 in another. While Chris Paul (thumb) will make his return Thursday, Griffin still sports a 29.8 percent usage rate with him on the floor this season, along with 1.22 fantasy points per minute.
Tobias Harris, DET vs. CHA ($4,800): Harris scored between 21.75 and 41.5 fantasy points in six of the last 10 games before the All-Star break, and has averaged 33.8 fantasy points over his three previous meetings against the Hornets this season. Charlotte also gave up the most fantasy points to power forwards (59.9) in the last five games before the All-Star break, along with the fifth-most rebounds (12.0) and third-most made three-pointers (1.8) to the position on the season.
Maurice Harkless POR at ORL ($4,500): Harkless has played well since Evan Turner's hand injury, and between 20.0 to 37.75 fantasy points in four of the last seven games before the All-Star break overall. The Magic also give up the sixth-most fantasy points (43.4) to small forwards on the season, and Harkless is averaging a solid 0.96 fantasy points per minute since Turner's injury, furthering his case as a cost-effective option.
Nikola Jokic, DEN at SAC ($10,500): Jokic was on fire before the All-Star break with Jusuf Nurkic sitting and then eventually getting traded to the Blazers, scoring between 50.0 and 67.25 fantasy points in the last four games of the first half. He boasted a robust 30 percent usage rate in the aforementioned four-game stretch, along with an outstanding 1.56 fantasy points per minute. Meanwhile, the Kings have given up the fourth-highest field goal percentage (56.4) to centers this season, and Jokic already went off for 37.0 fantasy points in just 28.2 minutes in his one previous meeting against Sacramento this season.
Willy Hernangomez, NY at CLE ($5,700): Hernangomez draws the start Thursday with Joakim Noah (hamstring) out, and he scored between 21.75 and 46.0 fantasy points in seven of the previous eight games before the All-Star break, while also compiling an excellent 1.13 fantasy points per minute without Noah on the court this season. The Cavs gave up 53.0 fantasy points to centers in the last five games before the All-Star break, and have surrendered the sixth-most rebounds (15.2) to the position on the season.
Willie Cauley-Stein, SAC vs. DEN ($3,600): With DeMarcus Cousins out of town, Cauley-Stein figures to be one of the primary beneficiaries. He's already sporting a 20.6 percent usage rate this season with Cousins off the floor, and should be in for extended run. He was already playing well before the All-Star break, scoring between 24.75 and 28.25 fantasy points in five of the last 10 games. The Nuggets had also notably given up the most fantasy points to centers over the last five games (62.3) before the All-Star break, and 46.9 fantasy points per game on the season to power forwards, the two spots in which he'll see the most action.
INJURY REPORT
For the latest news on injured players heading into the games, check out our Injury Updates page.
