This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
TEAM ANALYSIS
Defense To Avoid
New Orleans Pelicans, vs. Dallas Mavericks: The Pelicans have improved on defense as the season has gone on and are now ranked 16th in points allowed (105.6) while also forcing 13.4 turnovers per game. They've held two of their last four opponents under 100 points and accomplished the feat against the Mavs in two previous games this season, despite coming up short in both contests. Dallas is also dead last (97.4 points per game) in scoring in the month of March.
Offense To Use
Philadelphia 76ers, vs. Atlanta Hawks: It's a sign of how improved the Sixers are when they actually merit this designation, but the fact is that they're averaging a solid 105.4 points during March and are shooting 45.4 percent during that span as well. The Hawks are also committing a league-high 16.9 turnovers per game during that stretch and figure to once again be missing up to three starters in Paul Millsap, Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefolosha. Atlanta just snapped a seven-game losing streak on Tuesday but will be playing on their third game in four nights as well on Wednesday.
Teams on a Back-to-Back Set
First game of a back-to-back: Clippers
Second game of a back-to-back: Sixers, Hawks, Bucks, Hornets, Heat, Pacers, Warriors, Wizards
DraftKings.com DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
John Wall, WAS at LAC ($10,200): Russell Westbrook ($13,200) is in an excellent matchup and always viable, but anytime he's on the slate I like to offer up an alternative at the upper tier as well due to his typically astronomical price. Wall fits the bill despite a tough matchup against Chris Paul, as he's averaged 52.4 fantasy points over the last five and has been over 60 in his last two. He posted a solid 43.8 fantasy points in his one previous matchup against the Clippers this season and is averaging 47.9 fantasy points on the road this season.
Kemba Walker, CHA at TOR ($7,800): DeMar DeRozan ($8,700) is also an excellent choice in this same game if you've got a few extra hundred to spare, but Walker is averaging 55.5 fantasy points against the Raptors over three previous meetings this season. He's kicked it up a notch over his last three games as well, scoring between 39.25 and 53 fantasy points while sporting a 28.9 percent usage rate and averaging 1.25 DraftKings points per minute. Meanwhile, the Raptors defense has naturally suffered without Kyle Lowry and has surrendered 54.4 fantasy points over the last five, along with the third-highest field-goal percentage (45.1) on the season.
T.J. McConnell, PHI vs. ATL ($5,500): McConnell continues to fill up the stat sheet with regularity and draws an excellent matchup against a Hawks team that's given up the seventh-most fantasy points (53.9) to point guards over the last five games. They also rank in the bottom 10 in rebounds and assists allowed, while McConnell has eclipsed the 30-fantasy point mark in three of his last five games.
For those who need to conserve some cash, both Monta Ellis and Tony Allen present as nice tournament value plays at an affordable $4,600 as well.
Kawhi Leonard, SA vs. GS ($9,900): Leonard seems to already be in playoff mode, having scored 49.75 and 48.5 fantasy points, respectively, over the last two games. A matchup against the top-seeded Warriors figures to keep him engaged through four quarters and it bears noting that he amassed 54.8 fantasy points in his one previous meeting against Golden State this season. The Warriors have been very tough on small forwards in recent games (only 31.8 fantasy points allowed over the last five) but Leonard has repeatedly shown the ability to transcend matchups, particularly as the stakes get higher.
Robert Covington, PHI vs. ATL ($6,900): LaMarcus Aldridge ($7,100), who's also done well against Golden State this season, is another option at this price tier but Covington draws a matchup against a Hawks team that's behind only the Brooklyn Nets squad that he lit up for 48.25 fantasy points on Tuesday in terms of defending small forwards. Atlanta has given up 48.6 fantasy points per game to the position and also ranks in the either the bottom five or in the case of the three-pointers allowed, worst, across multiple other categories against threes. Covington has also eclipsed 50 fantasy points twice within the last 10 games and is averaging 1.03 DraftKings points per minute over that span, providing a glimpse at his upside.
Frank Kaminsky III, CHA vs. TOR ($5,100): P.J. Tucker ($4,800) is also intriguing in this game if he draws another start for DeMarre Carroll (back), but Kaminsky has been seeing plenty of minutes recently and producing with them, scoring between 22.25 and 30.5 fantasy points in six of his last seven games and boasting a 24 percent usage rate over that span. He's played no less than 24 minutes in any of his last 10 contests and is also averaging 31.9 fantasy points against the Raptors over three previous meetings this season.
Anthony Davis, NO vs. DAL ($10,800): There's a decent chance that DeMarcus Cousins will miss a third straight game with his sprained ankle, boosting Davis' considerable value even further. He's averaged 60.4 fantasy points against Dallas over three previous meetings and has scored between 56.75 and 75.25 fantasy points over the last three, including a tally of 63.5 with Cousins in the lineup against the Rockets on March 24. The Mavs have been tough defensively all season, but Davis obviously has the ability to overcome any matchup and has already proven so against Dallas on multiple occasions this season.
For those that can't afford Davis' five-figure price, Rudy Gobert ($8,600) is my favorite pivot at this price tier, even as his price has risen significantly due to his recent stretch of excellent play.
Zach Randolph, MEM vs. IND ($6,300): Randolph appears set to draw another start for Marc Gasol (foot) and if so, will do battle against a Pacers team that's surrendered the most fantasy points to centers over the last five games (65.6) and third-most (63.1) over the last 10. Randolph has scored 29.25 and 41.75 fantasy points, respectively, over his two starts for Gasol and is averaging 28.6 fantasy points per game at home over an average of 23.4 minutes this season.
For those looking for a cheaper alternative (or if Gasol returns Wednesday), Greg Monroe ($5,200) is certainly worthy of consideration against a Celtics squad he already lit up for 44.8 fantasy points once this season.
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR vs. CHA ($4,900): Valanciunas brings a ceiling north of 30 fantasy points (as demonstrated four time over the last 10 games) and he'll do battle against a Hornets squad he's already averaged 25.8 fantasy points against over three previous games this season. Charlotte has also given up the 10th-most fantasy points (51.5) to centers on the season and 10th-most (56.1) over the last five, as well. Valanciunas has also helped pick up the slack in Kyle Lowry's (wrist) absence, as he's boasting a 20.8 percent usage rate and averaging 1.05 DraftKings points per minute since Lowry's first missed game on Feb. 24.
INJURY REPORT
For the latest news on injured players heading into the games, check out our Injury Updates page.
