This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid: Memphis Grizzlies, at DEN - The Jazz are actually a better defense than the Grizzlies, but they are also facing a better offense in the Wizards. The Grizzlies have allowed the fewest fantasy points to centers, the fourth fewest to forwards, and the seventh fewest to guards this season.
Offense to Use: Los Angeles Clippers, vs CHA - The Hornets have allowed the eighth most fantasy points to guards and the eighth most to forwards over the past ten games. They have been stronger against centers over that time period (seventh fewest fantasy points to centers, last ten games) but on the season they have allowed the eighth most fantasy points to centers as well. All told, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and even DeAndre' Jordan have good matchups Sunday.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Celtics, Bucks, Raptors
Second game: Hornets, Pelicans
DeMar DeRozan, TOR vs POR ($8800): DeRozan has more responsibility in games that Kyle Lowry doesn't play, and on Friday he took advantage of that to the tune of 43 points, five boards and five assists against the Celtics. Lowry is expected to sit again Sunday, and DeRozan has a strong matchup against an average Trail Blazers perimeter defense that has allowed the 15th most fantasy points to shooting guards over the last ten games.
Cory Joseph, TOR vs POR ($4500): Joseph got the start Friday night in place of Kyle Lowry, and Lowry has been announced as out "indefinitely" with a wrist injury. Joseph has one outstanding and one reasonable game in his two starts this season, averaging 22 points, five assists, 2.5 boards and 1.5 steals. That level of potential production dwarfs his price tag, even against a decent Trail Blazers defense that has allowed the seventh most fantasy points to point guards this season.
Anthony Davis, NO at OKC ($9500): Davis was expected to take a bit of a step back offensively with DeMarcus Cousins now on the team. Instead, he has averaged 27.5 field goal attempts in two games with Cousins in town. At some point, it would seem like Cousins should get the chance to shoot, but for now it appears that it is business as usual for Davis. On Sunday he faces a Thunder defense that has allowed the ninth most fantasy points to power forwards over the last five games.
Gordon Hayward, UTA at WAS ($7500): Hayward scored 29 points in his first game after the All-Star Break, and is averaging 25.8 points, 4.9 boards and 3.7 assists in his last nine overall. On Sunday, he faces a Wizards defense that has allowed the fifth most fantasy points to small forwards in the last ten games.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, CHA at LAC ($5200): Kidd-Gilchrist has averaged 8.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks over his last seven games, and has three straight double-doubles (with attendant bonus points). On Sunday, he faces a Clippers team that likes to play three guards at the same time and has allowed the sixth most fantasy points to small forwards this season.
Marc Gasol, MEM at DEN ($7900): Gasol had a lackluster performance in his first game after the break, but in the three games prior he flirted with a triple-double in each, averaging 17 points, 9.3 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. On Sunday, he faces a Nuggets team that has allowed the tenth most fantasy points to centers over the last ten games.
Rudy Gobert, UTA at WAS ($7100): Gobert has averaged 12.8 points, 14.3 boards and 2.2 blocked shots in his last six games, numbers similar to what he's put up all season. On Sunday, he faces a Wizards defense that has allowed the 13th most fantasy points to centers in its last five games.
Derrick Favors, UTA at WAS ($5100): Favors scored 19 points with seven boards, two blocks and two assists in 26 minutes against the Bucks on Friday. He has averaged 11.1 points, 7.0 boards and 2.5 combined steals/blocks in his last seven, and has a great matchup Sunday against a Wizards team that has allowed the most fantasy points to power forwards over the last 10 games.
