This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defenses to avoid: San Antonio Spurs vs. LAC:
This was a difficult call because the Clippers are a strong team, but the Spurs remain the best defense in the NBA, strong across the board. They are also undefeated at home this season, which makes them a favorite to play well on Tuesday. They rank seventh in limiting production to opposing point guards, second against shooting guards, first against small forwards, ninth against opposing power forwards and eighth against centers.
Offense to use:
Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets vs. each other. Despite several fantasy-friendly matchups on Tuesday, including the Kings at the Lakers and the Nuggets at the Magic, the 76ers against the Nets is the pick for the night. These are two poor defensive teams playing one another, each with several affordable and productive players. The 76ers are ranked 20th or worse against every position on the court on defense, while the Nets are 19th or worse against every position except small forward, where they are 14th.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Celtics, Clippers, Magic, Kings
Second game: Nuggets, Raptors
Daily Player Recommendations
Point Guard
Emmanuel Mudiay, DEN at ORL ($6,600): Mudiay has scored at least 30 fantasy points in six of his last seven games, and with at least 39.5 fantasy points in five of those games. He's coming off a 23 points, 10 assist effort against a strong Heat defense on Monday, and faces a Magic defense on Tuesday that is 28th against opposing point guards.
Other suggestions: Marcelo Huertas, LAL vs. SAC ($3,900), Rajon Rondo, SAC at LAL ($7,800)
Shooting Guard
Nik Stauskas, PHI at BKN ($3,300): Stauskas got the start for the 76ers on Saturday due to the team's extreme number of injuries, and he responded with 15 points, four assists and two boards in 26 minutes against a solid Pistons defense. The 76ers are still decimated by injuries, which could allow Stauskas to get another start at a near-minimum price tag against the weak Nets defense.
Other suggestions: Gary Harris, DEN at ORL ($5,100), Evan Fournier, ORL vs. DEN ($5,900)
Small Forward
Paul George, IND vs. BOS ($8,200): George has scored at least 45 fantasy points in six of his last 10 game sand has a Tuesday matchup against a Celtics defense that is 28th against opposing small forwards. Further helping George's cause, the Celtics will be without Jae Crowder (ankle) for Tuesday and beyond.
Other suggestions: Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. TOR ($9,200), James Johnson, TOR at MIL ($3,100)
Power forward
Thaddeus Young, BKN vs PHI ($7,000): Young is coming off back-to-back games in which he averaged 19.5 points, 9.5 boards, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals. One of those games was against the 76ers, his Tuesday opponent and former team, not to mention one of the weakest defensive squads in the NBA.
Other suggestions: Aaron Gordon, ORL vs. DEN ($6,800), Carl Landry, PHI at BKN ($3,700)
Center
Brook Lopez, BKN vs. PHI ($7,900): That Nets-76ers matchup just keeps on giving. Lopez is averaging 24.8 points, 4.8 boards, 3.0 blocks and 2.8 assists over his last four games and on Tuesday faces a 76ers defense that was already 29th against opposing centers and is now wracked with frontcourt injuries.
Other suggestions: Nikola Jokic, DEN at ORL ($6,300), Bismack Biyombo, TOR at MIL ($3,700)
Injury Report
Out
Jae Crowder, BOS (ankle)
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, BKN (ankle)
Danilo Gallinari, DEN (ankle)
Ty Lawson, IND (foot)
Blake Griffin, LAC (quad, hand)
Greivis Vasquez, MIL (ankle)
John Henson, MIL (back)
Robert Covington, PHI (head)
Jerami Grant, PHI (head)
Richaun Holmes, PHI (Achilles)
DeMarre Carroll, TOR (knee)
Game-time Decision
Kelly Olynyk, BOS (shoulder)
Wayne Ellington, BRK (illness)
Rodney Stuckey, IND (foot)
Paul Pierce, LAC (toe)
Brandon Bass, LAL (eye)
Elfrid Payton, ORL (elbow)
Brandon Jennings, ORL (Achilles)
Ersan Ilyasova, ORL (leg)
Nikola Vucevic, ORL (groin)
Ben McLemore, SAC (finger)
Jonathon Simmons, SAS (illness)
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR (hand)
