This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid: Miami Heat, at DET: The Pistons come into this game in the midst of a skid that includes losses to both the Knicks and the Nets. They have no established point guard, and the entire offense is built around the point guard position. They are also on the second half of a back-to-back. The Heat come into this game rested, bringing a defense that has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to guards, the seventh-fewest to forwards, and the third-fewest to centers in the last 10 games.
Offense to use: Golden State Warriors, at HOU: This category was difficult, because just about every game on Tuesday is full of great offensive match-ups. This looks like a day when a lot of fantasy points will be scored. The Warriors (and the Rockets, as well) get the nod, here, is because this shapes up to be a competitive game among contenders that each have something to prove. Plus, both teams play a similar free-wheeling offensive style that is very effective, and play at a high pace as well. Over the last 10 games, the Rockets have allowed the most fantasy points to forwards and the ninth-most to guards. They've been average against centers lately, but on the season they've given up the fourth-most fantasy points to centers as well.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Hawks, Hornets, Warriors, Pacers, Heat, Bucks, 76ers, Wizards
Second game: Pistons
Stephen Curry, GS at HOU ($9,400): Curry has averaged 48.3 fantasy points in his last five games, with a min of 38 and a max of 68.3. Curry has slowly been assuming a larger role in the offense as he transitions from "with Kevin Durant mode" back into "Curry as offensive engine mode" from previous seasons. On Tuesday, he faces a Rockets defense that has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to point guards in the last 10 games.
Devin Booker, PHO at ATL ($7,400): Booker made all the headlines four days ago with his 96.5 fantasy point nuclear detonation against the Celtics. While that type of game is completely unpredictable, Booker is the top scoring option on a young team with nothing to play for this season, and he's clearly in a bit of a shooting zone right now. As such, he makes an enticing option on Tuesday against a Hawks defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to shooting guards in the last 10 games.
Sergio Rodriguez, PHI at BKN ($3,500): Rodriguez is still backing up T.J. McConnell, but they've really moved into an almost equal time share in recent games. He has scored between 24.8 and 29.5 fantasy points in four of his last six games, and has a good matchup on Tuesday against a Nets defense that has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to point guards in the last 10 games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at CHA ($9,700): Antetokounmpo turned in back-to-back 65+ fantasy point scoring efforts last week before coming back to earth a bit with only 36.5 fantasy points against the Bulls on Sunday. On Tuesday, he faces a Hornets defense that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to small forwards in the last 10 games.
T.J. Warren, PHO at ATL ($7,200): Warren returned from injury on Sunday without missing a beat, scoring 21 points with 10 rebounds, four steals and two assists in 39 minutes of action. In the last five games that he's played in, Warren has a min game of 22.3 fantasy points, a 34.5 fantasy point effort, and three games between 40.3 and 46 fantasy points. On Tuesday, he faces a Hawks defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to small forwards in the last 10 games.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, BKN vs PHI ($5,200): Hollis-Jefferson has been up-and-down all year long, often from game-to-game, but he seems to have found a level in the last week. He has notched three straight games between 32.8 and 34.3 fantasy points, averaging a points-rebounds double-double in that stretch. On Tuesday, he faces a 76ers defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to power forwards in the last 10 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at IND ($10,100): Towns just turned in his worst game in a very long time on Saturday, notching his lowest point total since facing the same Trail Blazers team on New Year's day. Before that game, he was essentially an automatic elite performance which makes him a great bounce-back candidate on Tuesday, against a Pacers defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to centers in the last 10 games.
James Johnson, MIA at DET ($6,600): Johnson is center-eligible in DraftKings, giving him added positional versatility. He has averaged 33.9 fantasy points in his last five games, with a min of 16.25 and a max of 49.25 in that stretch. On Tuesday, he faces a Pistons defense that just got torched by the entire Knicks frontcourt on Monday and that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to power forwards in the last 10 games.
Shawn Long, PHI at BKN ($4,200): Long is a newcomer to the 76ers and the NBA, but he has been getting spot minutes with Jahlil Okafor sidelined. He has produced 31.8 and 32.0 fantasy points in his last two games, and on Sunday faces a Nets defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to centers in the last 10 games.
