This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Tuesday brings a light slate in the NBA consisting of only four games. We won't have as many viable options to choose from in DFS, but that doesn't mean that you can't finish the evening with a winning entry. Here are some players to consider targeting, as well as a few to potentially avoid.
GUARDS
Terry Rozier, CHA at WAS ($29): Rozier is having an excellent season in the scoring department, averaging 20.5 points per game. He's been even better since LaMelo Ball (wrist) went down, averaging 24.3 points across the last four games. Add in averages of 5.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists during that stretch and he's an appealing target against a Wizards team that has played at the fastest pace in the league.
Terance Mann, LAC vs. ORL ($11): Mann has played well lately, scoring at least 28.1 Yahoo points in four of his last five games. The key is that he logged at least 29 minutes in all four of those contests, which is a significant increase from his season average of 18 minutes per game. The Clippers will be playing a vastly inferior foe on the second night of a back-to-back set, so it would seem likely that they will rest a starter or two, which should leave Mann with an expanded role again.
Guard to Avoid
Shake Milton, PHI at DEN ($15): Milton has increased his scoring output recently, averaging 17.5 points across the last six games. However, with averages of just 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists during that stretch, he hasn't exactly provided stellar production for DFS. With Mann available at a salary that is four dollars cheaper, it might be best to roll with him instead of Milton if you're looking for someone on the low end of the salary scale.
FORWARDS
Tobias Harris, PHI at DEN ($39): Harris has increased his production across the board since Joel Embiid (knee) went down, averaging 24.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.4 steals across the last eight games. Not only has he averaged 18.0 shot attempts per game during that stretch, but he's converted 52.8 percent of his attempts. Until Embiid returns, Harris should continue to have an extremely high floor.
Chuma Okeke, ORL at LAC ($13): After blowing up the roster at the trade deadline, the Magic don't exactly have a ton of viable options at power forward. Enter Okeke, who has logged at least 30 minutes in back-to-back games. He scored at least 26.7 Yahoo points in both of those contests, aided by him shooting 7-for-12 from behind the arc. Expect him to play a lot in this game, which should leave him with the potential to provide value.
Forward to Avoid
Aaron Gordon, DEN vs. PHI ($21): Gordon had a quiet debut for the Nuggets on Sunday, scoring 19.9 Yahoo points across 21 minutes. His limited playing time was likely because of the lopsided score in the game, so expect him to play more in what should be a closer contest against the Sixers. However, playing alongside the likes of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. means he might not be relied upon as much as he was when he was on the Magic.
CENTERS
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. PHI ($56): Jokic is in a tier by himself most nights, but especially on a slate like this consisting of just four games. He won't have to deal with Embiid on the defensive end, which should make life a lot easier for him. With his ability to contribute in so many different areas, he could be someone to consider building your entire lineup around, especially in cash games.
Deandre Ayton, PHO vs. ATL ($23): As far as centers with cheaper salaries go, there aren't a ton of appealing ones. Ayton's salary doesn't come at a huge discount, but it also won't hinder your overall lineup build as much as Jokic's will. Ayton has been a steady source for production lately, scoring at least 30.8 Yahoo points in seven of his last nine games.
Center to Avoid
Khem Birch, ORL at LAC ($14): The good news for Birch is that he has started both games since the trade deadline. The bad news is that he played just 26 minutes against the Lakers on Sunday with Wendell Carter Jr. joining him and Mo Bamba at the position. All three players could eat into each other's minutes, which makes Birch a risky option.
