This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
There are four games on the NBA docket Sunday, but only two on the Main schedule that begins at 6:00 PM ET: the Rockets at the Pacers, and the Mavericks at the Thunder. There are also two games on the Early schedule, beginning at 3:30 PM ET: the Raptors at the Celtics, and the Heat at the Pistons. Since there are big contests for both sets of games, this article will include picks for both, with the picks from the early games designated as such.
Guard (premium)
James Harden, HOU at IND ($11,800): Harden has been going nuts this week, averaging a video game-like 43.0 points, 11.3 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 combined blocks/steals in his last three games. He even lit up the Grizzlies for 38 and eight on Saturday, and before that Memphis had been his personal kryptonite in the first two meetings of the season.
Guard (moderate)
Dennis Smith Jr., DAL at OKC ($5,900): Smith has popped in his last two games, averaging 21.5 points with 7.5 assists, 6.5 boards and 2.5 combined blocks/steals to really start to show his upside. He has a tough matchup against Russell Westbrook on Sunday, but he's also one of only a few reliable point guard options going and is excellent value if he can maintain his recent level.
Guard (affordable)
Terry Rozier, BOS vs TOR (Early, $5,100):Kyrie Irving will sit out Sunday's game with a concussion and "mild" facial fracture after catching an elbow from a teammate on Friday. His absence opens the door for Rozier, who has performed big in just about every game that he has been called upon this season, including the 33.4 fantasy point effort in 28 minutes that he produced on Friday after Irving's injury.
Forward (premium)
Carmelo Anthony, OKC vs DAL ($6,900): There are very few reliable power forward producers in the Main schedule on Sunday, with Anthony as perhaps the only one. He hasn't been a world beater, but he's a consistent threat to score 20 points and/or produce in the mid-30s of fantasy points, which makes him the most reliable option at the position in the Main contest.
Forward (moderate)
James Johnson, MIA at DET (Early, $6,400): Johnson struggled a bit in his last outing against an elite Jazz defense, but in the four games before that had averaged 16.3 points, 7.0 boards, 5.0 assists and 2.5 combined blocks steals. With his across-the-board contributions, he has a good chance to bounce back on Sunday.
Forward (affordable)
Bojan Bogdanovic, IND vs HOU ($4,700): Bogdanovic is a bit of a risky play, but he has produced at least 22 fantasy points in six of his last eight games, and is coming off a 22-point, seven-rebound effort in his last outing that was his best game in more than a week. On Sunday, his scoring will be needed against the high-powered Rockets offense.
Center (premium)
Andre Drummond, DET vs MIA (Early, $9,900): Drummond and Hassan Whiteside ($8,900) are facing off in a clash of the two best centers going on Sunday, which could actually limit the upside of either/both in the instance of foul trouble or just plain good defense. Nevertheless, the lack of options with only two games on the schedule makes them both strong plays on Sunday.
Center (moderate)
Clint Capela, HOU at IND ($6,900): Capela has played well all season, and has especially ramped it up in his last two games to the tune of 13.5 rebounds, 13.0 points, 2.0 assists and 4.5 combined blocks/steals against the Cavaliers and the Grizzlies. The Pacers are strong in the middle with Myles Turner, but Capela has the ability to get his against any given center this season.
Center (affordable)
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at BOS (Early, $5,200): Valanciunas got off to a great start to the season before having to battle injuries, but hasn't quite been the same player since he got back. However, he has ramped it up in his last two games to the tune of 14.0 points and 11.5 boards in 25.5 minutes per game. Al Horford is expected to return for the Celtics on Sunday, but they are still relatively weak in the middle which could work to Valanciunas' advantage.
