This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The NBA starts off the week with a full slate of nine games packed with big matchups and value plays. The Magic and Pelicans have both been full of fantasy friendly players this season, and they go heads up on Monday. Same story in Houston, where the process meets Seven Seconds or Less. Two star-studded backcourts go heads up with the Raptors in Portland, while the Warriors and Clippers continue their rivalry even with Chris Paul no longer in town. These match-ups, and a lot more, make up what should be a full night of action. Let's explore.
GUARDS
James Harden, HOU vs PHI ($11,000): Harden has had to re-assume many of his duties from last season, and outside of attenuated performances against a stout Grizzlies defense, this has resulted in output from him similar to last year's near-fantasy-MVP pace. He faced the same 76ers defense five days ago, and lit them up for 27 points, 13 assists, three boards and four combined blocks/steals.
Jrue Holiday, NO vs ORL ($7,500): Holiday started off the season poorly, but has found his stride over his last four games. He is coming off his best game of the season, in which he scored 29 points with seven assists and four rebounds even in a game when both Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins were playing as well.
Danny Green, SA at BOS ($5,100): Green had an awful game in a blowout loss to the Magic last week. However, outside of that game, he has averaged 14 points with 6.3 boards, 3.7 combined blocks/steals in his other three most recent outings.
FORWARDS
Anthony Davis, NO vs ORL ($11,700): If Davis gets through the game, he's a monster. That's the big if. In the last five Pelicans games, he averaged 30.7 points, 15.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists 4.7 combined blocks steals in three of them. In the other two he played five minutes in one before leaving hurt, and missed the other because of the injury. Do you feel lucky?
Aaron Gordon, ORL at NO ($7,600): Gordon is averaging 24.7 points, 9.7 boards, 2.7 assists and 1.7 combined blocks/steals in the three games since he has returned from injury. He's a bit undersized to face the giant Pelicans frontline, but he's quick and vertically explosive enough to still make plays.
Joe Ingles, UTA at DAL ($5,400): Ingles was sick last week but played through it against the Clippers, resulting in an awful performance in limited minutes. Outside of that game, all season he has performed similarly to his last two outings, in which he has averaged 12 points, 5.5 boards, two assists and three steals. He is solid and consistent.
CENTERS
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at MIA ($9,800): Towns has been metronome consistent but slightly underachieving his potential all season, until his last game. In his last outing, he exploded beyond "just" a 20/10 big man to drop 33 points, 19 boards and four blocks on the Thunder. Towns demonstrably has the potential to play at or near that level for very extended periods, even if his floor is "just" 20/10.
Al Horford, BOS vs SA ($6,800): Horford remains one of the quietest but most productive big men in the NBA, and is playing well. In his last five games, he has averaged 16.4 points, 9.2 boards, 3.8 assists and 1.8 combined blocks/steals to be strong value at his price tag.
Enes Kanter, NY vs DEN ($5,600): Kanter continues to be the most productive center, and second most productive player on the Knicks roster. He is averaging a solid double-double for the season, and is coming off a game of 18 points, 12 boards and two combined blocks/steals against the Cavaliers.
