This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
The NBA serves up a seven-game slate Saturday night that has one marquee matchup and a game with some injury-related intrigue. The Rockets and Celtics face off in what is arguably a showdown between the best team from each conference, while the Spurs walk into a matchup with the fast-paced Lakers potentially missing their starting frontcourt.
The Cavaliers are also in action against an improved Denver squad, and the fact they're not the story of the night is a testament to their slide this season. With plenty of options across the salary spectrum, let's dive into each position and highlight a viable selection at each price level:
GUARDS
Kyrie Irving, BOS vs. HOU ($8,500): Irving tallied 40.5 fantasy points in his one prior meeting against the Rockets this season, and he's scored 50.0 and 60.25 fantasy points, respectively, in two of the last three contests. Houston has also been more vulnerable to ones as of late, allowing 52.7 fantasy points to the position over the last 10, an appreciable bump from their 47.6 season figure. Irving's tear since the All-Star break includes a 30.1 percent usage rate, 1.67 fantasy points per minute and a 56.8 percent success rate -- including 57.1 percent from distance. Meanwhile, the Rockets are allowing the fifth-highest percentage of scoring from three-pointers on the road (31.1), another point in Irving's favor in a contest that should be competitive for all four quarters.
Goran Dragic, MIA vs. DET ($7,500): The Pistons have had no answers for Dragic this season, as he's averaged 46.4 fantasy points against them over three games on the strength of 25.0 points (on 50.0 percent shooting), 8.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds. Detroit has been vulnerable to the point guard position overall with Ish Smith manning the role, as they come into Saturday allowing 49.3 fantasy points to ones on the season, including the fifth most (65.9) over the last 10. They're also surrendering the third-most assists (12.3) and second-most made threes (4.2) to ones over the latter span, while Dragic comes into Saturday having scored 35.5 to 55.75 fantasy points in three of his past four contests.
Reggie Bullock, DET at MIA ($4,500): Bullock has been outperforming his current price on a regular basis lately, as he's scored 24.25 to 31.75 fantasy points in four of the last five contests, a stretch during which he's significantly boosted his involvement on offense. The 26-year-old has put up 13.2 shot attempts over that span, a considerable bump over his 7.7 season figure. The Heat make for inviting targets, considering they've allowed 58.3 fantasy points per contest to two-guards on the season, including 73.8 over the last five. Given his modest price and 45.0 percent success rate against the Heat in three games this season – including 50.0 percent from three-point range – he offers more than enough upside and offers flexibility elsewhere.
FORWARDS
Paul George, OKC at POR ($8,700): George has had little trouble with the Trail Blazers this season, averaging 36.9 fantasy points across 36.1 minutes in two games, while also shooting 46.2 percent, including 50.0 percent from three-point range. The All-Star is also averaging 40.7 fantasy points over 31 road tilts and draws an appealing matchup against a Portland squad that's been much more vulnerable to small forwards of late. Outside of an outlier against the Warriors last Saturday, George has been red-hot, scoring 41.75 to 62.25 fantasy points in the nine other games over the last 10 while sporting a 30.1 percent usage rate and averaging 1.26 fantasy points per minute.
Will Barton, DEN at CLE ($7,300): Paul Millsap's return to the starting five Friday knocked Barton back to the second unit, but he still saw 33 minutes and parlayed them into 36.50 fantasy points against the Grizzlies. He's provided over 5x or better return on his current price on multiple occasions recently, scoring 36.0 to 49.75 fantasy points in six of his last seven contests overall. Moreover, he significantly outperformed starting small forward Wilson Chandler versus Memphis, leaving open the possibility that the two could switch places in the lineup for a matchup against a Cavs squad that's allowed the third-most fantasy points (52.7) to threes on the season, along with the third-highest offensive efficiency rating (22.4). Cleveland is also allowing the fourth-highest percentage of scoring from three-pointers (32.0), while Barton is shooting an impressive 43.6 percent from distance over the last 10 games.
Davis Bertans, SA vs. LAL ($4,400): LaMarcus Aldridge is listed as doubtful for Saturday's contest with his ankle sprain, which projects to open up a starting opportunity for Bertans. He scored 20.25 fantasy points over 17 minutes against the Pelicans after Aldridge's in-game injury Wednesday, and he's proven capable of offering solid returns on multiple occasions in extended opportunity this season. The Lakers present as an appealing matchup, considering they allow the second-highest offensive efficiency rating to power forwards (27.2) and the most fantasy points on the season (64.2) to the position. They're also yielding league-worst or bottom-five figures versus fours in various other categories, and the fact they play at the fastest pace in the NBA on the road (105.4 possessions per game) certainly helps Bertans' cause as a value play as well.
CENTERS
Andre Drummond, DET at MIA ($9,200): Drummond has enjoyed his fair share of success against Hassan Whiteside and the Heat in the past, and this season has been no exception. Drummond has averaged 49.9 fantasy points against Miami across two games, and he's actually been a better performer on the road as well. The dominant big man is averaging a robust 47.0 fantasy points per contest in 28 games away from Little Caesars Arena, along with more than two additional points per game (16.3, compared to 13.9) and a markedly better shooting percentage (55.9 percent, compared to 50.7 percent). Meanwhile, the Heat has been more vulnerable to centers of late, allowing the third-most points (35.0) and ninth-most rebounds (19.0) over the last five games. Given those numbers and the fact he's been a double-double machine this season, Drummond is worth the investment if you're paying up for a big man.
Jusuf Nurkic, POR vs. OKC ($6,500): Nurkic's track record against the Thunder this season includes averages of 40.3 fantasy points, 22.5 points and 8.0 rebounds across two games, and he's averaged a solid 33.8 overall in his last four contests. The game should bring a nice boost in pace for the Trail Blazers as well, as OKC is generating the fifth-most possessions (104.8) over the last three contests. Nurkic sports a healthy 26.7 percent usage rate and average of 1.35 fantasy points per minute in that aforementioned four-game sample, and he should be in for plenty of minutes Saturday while trying to counter Steven Adams down low.
Greg Monroe, BOS vs. HOU ($3,800): Monroe sports an appealing price for a player who's eclipsed 20 fantasy points in three of his past four games, a span during which he's averaged over six shot attempts per contest despite playing under 20 minutes in all of them. He's had the Rockets' number this season as well, as he's averaged 29.9 fantasy points and 14.0 points (on 72.2 percent shooting) in two prior contests against them while with the Suns. While he's not seeing extended playing time in Boston, he's typically firing away and hauling in rebounds whenever he's on the floor, making him a viable tournament option at his discounted price.
