This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid:
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors: There are easy matchups to avoid such as the Spurs at home against the Mavericks and the Heat at the Sixers, but the Clippers have held seven of eight opponents to under 100 points at Staples Center this season. The NBA's third-leading scorer, DeMar DeRozan, could have a tough time against Los Angeles, which is allowing the least points to opposing shooting guards in DraftKings. It also helps that Toronto will be playing the second of a back-to-back on the road.
Offense to Use:
Washington Wizards vs. Phoenix Suns: The Warriors are the obvious choice against the Pacers, but pretty much any team that faces the Suns ends up going off. Phoenix has allowed at least 120 points in five of its past seven games and Washington has scored 114 or more in its past two. Other than John Wall ($9,000), there isn't a player on the Wizards going for more than ($6,300), so there will be plenty of cheap options available to stack against the worst defense in the NBA.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: none
Second game: Pacers, Raptors
DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
James Harden, PG/SG, HOU at DET ($11,900): Another week, another Harden recommendation. He's just been way too good to fade and the matchup against a tough Detroit defense shouldn't scare you away. Harden's salary decreased from $12,400 to $11,700 for his game against the Jazz on Saturday, and only went up $200 Monday. Getting the best option on DraftKings at a premium is always appealing, even if his ownership percentage will likely be high. Harden has three straight double-doubles, a triple-double in three of his past six games, and has hit at least three 3-pointers in three of his last four contests. It doesn't get much better than that.
Isaiah Thomas, PG, BOS at MIN ($7,900): Thomas hasn't shot the ball well from the field (sub-45 percent in each of his past five games), but has still managed to score 43 or more fantasy points in three of those contests. The Timberwolves struggled to contain undersized scorer Kemba Walker (30 points on 12-of-19 shooting) in a 115-108 loss to the Hornets on Wednesday. Minnesota is allowing the fourth-most DraftKings points to opposing point guards this season and Thomas is a solid play, conveniently priced under $8,000.
Brandon Knight, PG/SG, PHO at WAS ($4,700): The Wizards are the better stack option, but Knight is a decent punt play at guard. Three games ago, Knight posted 32 points with four rebounds and four assists against the Nuggets (46 DraftKings points) and he's had at least 20 fantasy points in his past two games. Washington offers an easy matchup in a game that will have one of the higher over/unders Monday, making Knight especially viable in tournaments.
Kevin Durant, SF/PF, GS at IND ($9,600): If you're not looking to pay up for Harden, then Durant is your next-best option as an elite fantasy scorer. The Pacers will be without Paul George, so the Warriors could run away with the win early, but Durant won't need a ton of touches to hit his usual mark of around 30 points. Durant has at least 51.75 DraftKings points in each of his past four games and is clearly the more consistent option on the Warriors over Steph Curry, who has been streaky, by his standards, so far this season.
Nicolas Batum, SG/SF, CHA vs. MEM ($6,700): The Grizzlies have a solid defense, but Batum usually fills up the scoresheet with more than just points. An underrated option Monday, Batum has scored at least 41.5 DraftKings points in four of his past five games and has been on fire from downtown, shooting 10-for-19 from distance in his past three. Over his last five games, Batum has at least five rebounds and four assists in each game, to go with five blocks and seven steals.
James Johnson, SF/PF, MIA at PHI ($4,500): Johnson has slowly taken on an increased role in the Heat's rotation and it has, at times, translated into fantasy production. The Sixers, who don't have a great starting five to begin with, have an underwhelming bench, so Johnson should get a nice matchup against Philadelphia's second unit. Johnson was very efficient in his last game, scoring 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting for 28.75 DraftKings points against the Wizards. He could duplicate that line against the Sixers, who are allowing the sixth-most points to opposing power forwards.
Hassan Whiteside, MIA at PHI ($9,300): The highest-priced center on the market Monday is Whiteside, who has been money lately. He's on a six-game double-double streak in which he's had at least 14 rebounds in every contest. Whiteside has had more than 49.5 DraftKings points in five of his past six and his salary is starting to reach its peak. The Miami offense should look much better in Philadelphia and the Sixers are a poor rebounding team, which will increase Whiteside's chances of another double-double.
DeAndre Jordan, LAC vs. TOR ($6,400): If you'd rather use more of your salary to draft a high-priced guard or forward, Jordan is sort of a poor man's Hassan Whiteside. He's almost $3,000 cheaper and has the ability to put up huge rebounding numbers, albeit without much offensive upside. The Raptors will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back and are allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season. Jordan has at least nine rebounds in each of his past eight games and offers more of a contrarian play for tournaments.
Bismack Biyombo, ORL at MIL ($4,100): Biyombo is a safe, cheap play coming off the bench for the Magic. He's consistently playing 21-to-29 minutes per game and has been solid in his past five games, averaging 7.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting 56.5 percent from the field. Easy buckets won't be difficult to find against the Bucks, who have lost five of their past six games and don't have a center capable of matching up with Biyombo. Of the cheaper centers for Monday's slate, Biyombo is fairly consistent and has enough upside to make him worth playing in tournaments or cash games.
