This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Monday night offers a solid eight-game slate that features five of the Western Conference teams that are still vying for four playoff spots. Moreover, teams like the Heat and Bucks that are still able to improve their overall positioning will also be in action, giving us plenty of options in terms of motivated players. As usual this time of year, there's also younger players on non-playoff teams with fresh legs that are eager to show what they can do with some extended opportunity. With so many factors to consider, let's dive right into what should be an intriguing night.
GUARD
Eric Bledsoe, MIL vs. ORL ($16,000): Bledsoe went off for 46.75 fantasy points against the Knicks on Saturday without Giannis Antetokounmpo (ankle) in the lineup, and there's a chance he plays Monday's game again without his talented teammate. The veteran point guard has averaged a solid 17.7 points (on 52.5 percent shooting), 6.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block across 30.7 minutes in three games against the Magic this season, as well, and Orlando comes in allowing 49.4 fantasy points per game to point guards over the last 10, along with the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating (26.7) to the position on the season. With Milwaukee still able to move up to the sixth seed and looking to prevent a fall down to the eighth spot, Bledsoe should remain heavily involved.
MarShon Brooks, MEM at MIN ($12,000): The Spurs' Dejounte Murray ($12,800) and Pelicans' Rajon Rondo ($12,600) are also tournament-worthy considerations among playoff-hopeful teams if you've got the extra few hundred to spare, but Brooks is highly appealing in his own right. The 2011 first-round pick reinvented his game overseas over the past several seasons and has returned with a silky smooth shot, one that's helped him drain 57.9 percent of his 15.2 shot attempts over the five games he's played in a Grizzlies uniform. Brooks has scored 31.25 to 46.00 fantasy points in those contests, and despite usually coming off the bench, he's seen over 20 minutes in all but one game. He should see plenty of the Timberwolves' reserve backcourt of Tyus Jones and Jamal Crawford on Monday, which has played a part in Minnesota allowing 53.6 fantasy points per game to shooting guards over the last 10, a stretch during which they've also allowed 4.0 made threes and a 47.0 percent success rate from the floor to the position.
Tyrone Wallace, LAC vs. NO ($8,400): The likes of the Magic's Mario Hezonja ($11,600), the Nets' Allen Crabbe ($10,700) and the Bulls' Sean Kilpatrick ($9,400) all make sense as well if you've got the extra cash to spare, but Wallace could make for a sneaky tournament play that will give you considerable flexibility elsewhere. Lou Williams is projected to miss Monday's game with an ankle sprain, which would result in a bump for Wallace over the already solid playing time he's been seeing. He has averaged 29.1 minutes over the last seven contests, eclipsing 20 fantasy points on four occasions during that span. The Pelicans make for potential facilitators of another strong performance, as they've allowed the most fantasy points per game to shooting guards (45.9) on the season, along with league-worst or bottom-five figures in multiple other categories against the position. New Orleans' league-high pace of play should also serve Wallace well by providing him with a few extra possessions with which to rack up a strong return on his very affordable price.
FORWARD/CENTER
Anthony Davis, NO at LAC ($20,500): With New Orleans still in must-win mode, there's no reason to look past Davis at the top tier, especially considering his recent production and the matchup. The Brow has scored 52.75 to 75.00 fantasy points in five of the last six, and he's averaging 30.3 points (on 54.0 percent shooting), 13.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.3 blocks and 2.3 steals across three games versus the Clippers this season. Los Angeles has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game (44.7) to centers over the last five, along with the ninth-highest offensive efficiency rating (31.2) to the position on the season. With a playoff spot in sight, Davis should be primed for another explosive outing that will make even his elevated price tag worthwhile.
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. SAC ($18,300): Karl-Anthony Towns ($19,300) is also a consideration given the Timberwolves' quest for a playoff spot, but he'll be in a tough positional matchup against the Grizzlies. Meanwhile, Aldridge's path to success is much clearer, considering he's already averaged 25.0 points (on 54.2 percent shooting), 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 block in three games against the Kings this season. Furthermore, Sacramento comes in allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to power forwards on the season (40.9), including 62.5 over the last five. Aldridge has been on a tear over the latter portion of the season as the team's unquestioned offensive leader, and he comes into Monday having scored no fewer than 45.75 fantasy points over the last five games.
Nikola Mirotic, NO at LAC ($11,600): There's no reason to move off Mirotic, especially with a price that continues to be extremely reasonable relative to his recent production. The floor-spacing big man has scored over 50 fantasy points in each of his last two games, and over 35 in two others over the last five overall. He's averaging an impressive 1.27 fantasy points per minute during that stretch, and he'll be poised to take advantage of a Clippers squad that's allowed 53.2 fantasy points per game to power forwards over the last 10 contests, 10th most during that span. Los Angeles also sits just outside the bottom 10 in percentage of scoring allowed from three-point range (29.4 percent), while Mirotic is draining 46.2 percent of his 7.8 tries from distance over the aforementioned five-game sample.
UTILITY
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. POR ($18,900): Jokic has scored 52.00 to 68.50 fantasy points over the last six games, a stretch during which he's sporting a whopping 29.5 percent usage rate and averaging 1.52 fantasy points per minute. The versatile big man is averaging 19.4 shot attempts over his last five as well, a significant uptick from his 13.3 season figure. That level of involvement should be the norm once again Monday as the Nuggets look to claw their way up to the eighth seed in the Western Conference at a minimum, and even a relatively tough matchup against former teammate Jusuf Nurkic down low shouldn't deter Jokic from another strong effort in a must-win game.
Jimmy Butler, MIN vs. MEM ($13,400): Butler encouragingly jumped right back into the starting five upon his return from a knee injury Friday, lighting up the Lakers for 29.50 fantasy points over 22 minutes. He should be in for a bump in his workload Monday after having the weekend to recover from his first game action since late February, and he'll be looking to help Minnesota hang on to its current eighth-place standing in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies will make for a tantalizing target, as they've allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game (44.0) to two-guards on the season, including 56.1 over the last five games. It's also worth noting that Butler compiled 30 points (on 52.4 percent shooting), five assists, two rebounds and four steals across 40 minutes in his one prior meeting with Memphis this season.
