This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid:
San Antonio Spurs at Charlotte Hornets
The Spurs just held the league's top offense to 79 points -- no not at halftime -- 79 points in the entire game. San Antonio shut down Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, so I can't imagine trying to contain Charlotte will be very difficult. The Spurs should wipe out Kemba Walker from the game, forcing anyone else to beat them. Other than Walker, no one on the Hornets is a threat to score 30 points, so expect this game to be low-scoring as well.
Offense to Use:
Chicago Bulls vs. Sacramento Kings
The Bulls have won three of four and are starting to get their act together, which is bad news for a Kings team on the second game of a back-to-back. Sacramento could only manage 88 points in Sunday's win against the Knicks and now they'll have to travel to Chicago where the Bulls have won their past two games. Chicago's roster features a lot of players priced lower than usual, which can provide extra value.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Hornets, Grizzlies
Second game: Celtics, Bucks, Magic, 76ers, Kings
Daily Player Recommendations:
Point Guard
Ray McCallum, MEM at PHO ($3,200): McCallum jumped Briante Weber as the starting point guard and played 35 minutes in Saturday's win against the Clippers, scoring 25 fantasy points thanks to 14 points, three assists, two rebounds and two blocks. He should be in line for big minutes again Monday against the Suns, who are ranked last in fantasy points allowed to point guards this season. The soft matchup and low salary will likely make McCallum a better cash-game play with such a high ownership percentage.
Other suggestions: Derrick Rose, CHI vs. SAC ($5,800); Stephen Curry, GSW at MIN ($10,300)
Shooting Guard
Jimmy Butler, CHI vs. SAC ($7,700): Butler is still working his way back from injury, but a home date with arguably the league's worst defense should be enough for a vintage game. It shouldn't take longer than the first quarter for Butler to grind the Kings into the ground and get to the line as often as possible. Even through his struggles Butler has averaged 33.1 fantasy points per game over his last four, and all he really needs to find is his scoring touch to return to elite status.
Other suggestions: Monta Ellis, IND vs. PHI ($6,300); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET vs. MIL ($5,800)
Small Forward
Stanley Johnson, DET vs. MIL ($4,000): It went under the radar, but Johnson's line in Saturday's win against the Nets was pretty impressive. He finished with just 10 points, but grabbed seven rebounds with six assists and four steals for 36.25 FPts. Thing haven't gone well for the Bucks when they take on the Pistons and Johnson should be in line for another 30-minute game. Johnson is more of a tournament play as a cheap option to work around studs.
Other suggestions: Doug McDermott, CHI vs. SAC ($4,100); Kawhi Leonard, SA at CHA ($8,300)
Power Forward
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA at CHA ($7,500): Aldridge is a straight chalk play at power forward, but it will be hard not to roster him in cash games. He's averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game over the last five and has scored at least 20 points on 9-of-10. Since we're talking last 10 games, how about the Hornets, who have allowed 49.69 fantasy points per game to power forwards. Aldridge gives you the luxury of carrying a deeper lineup throughout so you can avoid being too top heavy.
Other suggestions: Jabari Parker, MIL at DET ($5,800); Draymond Green, GSW at MIN ($7,800)
Center
Tyson Chandler, PHO vs. MEM ($5,000): Chandler has been one of the hottest and valuable centers in fantasy basketball lately. He's posted a double-double in six of his last eight games and is averaging a bit more than five times his salary at 26.7 fantasy points per game in the past six. The Grizzlies are a lot easier to handle with Marc Gasol out of the lineup and will struggle to score, which leads to missed shots, which leads to more rebounds for Chandler.
Other suggestions: Andre Drummond, DET vs. MIL ($7,600); Marcin Gortat, WAS at ATL ($6,600)
Injury Report
Out
Jae Crowder, BOS (ankle)
Pau Gasol, CHI (knee)
Andre Iguodala, GS (ankle)
Mike Conley, MEM (foot)
P.J. Hairston, MEM (groin)
Robert Covington, PHI (concussion)
Game-Time Decision
Kenneth Faried, DEN (back)
Andrew Bogut, GS (toe)
Elfrid Payton, ORL (elbow)
Ben McLemore, SAC (finger)
