This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Sunday's five-game NBA slate begins at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Read on to see the players to target and those to avoid in this slate.
GUARD
Austin Rivers, LAC at MIN ($16): Rivers has done his best to make up for his role in Blake Griffin's injury, averaging 31.1 fantasy points per game in his last three, including the one in which Griffin got hurt. The coach's son has had the ball in his hands often, allowing Rivers to rack up robust totals in points and assists. With 17.0 PPG and 5.2 APG in his last five games, Rivers should have no problem blowing by his $16 valuation.
Elfrid Payton, ORL at NY ($27): Payton dominated the Knicks with 44.7 fantasy points in their first matchup and Knicks point guard Jarrett Jack hasn't gotten any younger since then. Meanwhile, Payton's been no stranger to strong fantasy performances with at least 42.3 fantasy points in three of his last six games. His strong upside relative to price and ability to contribute strong assists and steals totals when his shot isn't falling make Payton a strong choice in this matchup.
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Guard to Avoid:
James Harden, HOU at LAL ($58): Harden could see his playing time reduced if Houston gets up big against this inferior Lakers team, and his average of 55.1 fantasy points per game over the last five suggests he doesn't have any room for error in terms of playing time. The high-priced guard's downside relative to his lofty price tag makes him hard to trust, so think twice before using Harden despite his ability to effortlessly top 50.0 fantasy points per game.
FORWARD
Tim Hardaway Jr., NY vs. ORL ($29): Hardaway excelled the last time his team faced this opponent without Kristaps Porzingis, totaling 26 points and 11 rebounds en route to 40.7 fantasy points in Orlando on Nov. 8. Porzingis (ankle) likely will sit once again, so expect Hardaway to electrify Madison Square Garden with athletic finishes at the rim and deep three-pointers that seem like awful shots until they find the bottom of the net. Given how high Hardaway's scoring responsibilities get sans Porzingis and the wing's ability to distribute and rebound, he makes for a great play against an Orlando team that allows 110.9 points per game, third most in the league.
Josh Richardson, MIA vs. GS ($14): Richardson's seen his fantasy point total rise in three consecutive games, averaging 28.1 fantasy points per game. The score-first shooting guard should continue to take on a greater scoring load with Hassan Whiteside (knee) sidelined against a Warriors defense that allows 107.1 points per game. Richardson's low cost makes him a solid value play given how heavily he'll be relied upon to keep this one competitive.
Forward to Avoid:
Carmelo Anthony, OKC vs. SA ($29): Anthony's disappointed lately, coming up short of 20.0 fantasy points in two of his last three games while averaging just 21.6. A Spurs defense that allows the second-fewest points per game at just 98.4 won't make it easy for Oklahoma City's third option to live up to his price given how many shots Anthony cedes to Russell Westbrook and Paul George.
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CENTER
Enes Kanter, NY vs. ORL ($22): The emotional leader of this New York team stepped up after Porzingis went down early Wednesday against Miami, piling up 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Knicks to a much-needed victory. Kanter's ability to clean up the glass and score inside should make him a strong option regardless of Porzingis' status given Orlando's aforementioned struggles defensively. Paying $22 for a player who's averaged 37.8 fantasy points per game over his last three is normally a sound play, and this is certainly no exception.
Bam Adebayo, MIA vs. GS ($12): Adebayo has taken advantage of a recent increase in role, averaging 24.7 fantasy points in 22 minutes per game over his last three. The 20-year-old center's minuscule price makes him a low-risk, high-reward pick in Whiteside's absence. Don't let Golden State's potential dominance keep you from using Adebayo, as Miami's desire to develop him should keep his playing time up regardless of what's on the scoreboard.
CENTER TO AVOID
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. LAC ($41): The Clippers have allowed just 29.1 fantasy points per game to centers over their last five games, and Towns has shown an extremely low floor relative to his high price with fewer than 37.5 fantasy points in six of his last nine games while bottoming out at 21.5. Towns' upside just isn't high enough to justify the risk.
