This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Get ready for a busy night in the NBA with nine games on the schedule. Among the marquee matchups are the Pacers hosting the Heat and the Mavericks taking on the Nuggets. We also have another opportunity to win some cash on Yahoo, so here are some players at each position to target, as well as a few to potentially avoid.
GUARDS
James Harden, HOU at ATL ($59): Harden put on a clinic in a win over the Sixers on Friday, scoring 44 points and recording a triple-double. He finished with 74.7 Yahoo points, which marks the second time across his last three contests that he has scored at least 74 Yahoo points. This is a great matchup against the Hawks with both teams playing inside the top-eight in the league in pace of play. The last time these two teams met, Harden torched them for 82.6 Yahoo points.
Kevin Huerter, ATL vs. HOU ($19): The Hawks have had a brutal stretch lately in which they have had to play the Magic, Celtics, Pacers and Nuggets over their last four games. Each of those teams rank inside the top-12 in the league in terms of defensive rating. With that being said, Huerter still scored at least 35.1 Yahoo points in each contest. He should continue to be one of the main scoring options on the team behind Trae Young and John Collins, potentially setting him up for another big night in what should be an up-tempo game.
Guard to Avoid
Kendrick Nunn, MIA at IND ($18): Even with Jimmy Butler (back) out against the Blazers on Sunday, Nunn only scored 25.9 Yahoo points. He hasn't surpassed 30 Yahoo points in any of his last eight games, which included a contest against these same Pacers in which he scored 27.8 Yahoo points. With Butler listed as probable and Justise Winslow (back) also possibly set to return for this matchup, expect Nunn to once again provide muted contributions.
FORWARDS
Brandon Ingram, NO vs. CHI ($40): The Pelicans narrowly missed pulling off another impressive win, losing to the Jazz by only two points Monday despite Jrue Holiday (elbow) being out. Ingram tried to put the team on his back, scoring 35 points to go along with eight rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block across 39 minutes. The Pelicans playing at the seventh-fastest pace also helps his cause, so expect him to once again carry a high floor into this contest, especially with Holiday already ruled out.
Michael Porter Jr., DEN at DAL ($10): The big news here is that the Nuggets will be without Will Barton (personal) for this contest. He's been one of the more productive players on the team, averaging 14.8 points and 7.0 rebounds across 33 minutes per game. There is a chance that Porter starts in his place, but at the very least, Porter should receive increased playing time. After scoring at least 27.7 Yahoo points in two of the last three games in which he has played at least 20 minutes, Porter might be worth the risk in tournament play.
Forward to Avoid
Draymond Green, GS vs. MIL ($24): Green is expected to make his return after sitting out Monday against the Kings with an ankle injury. With that being said, don't expect him to log a ton of minutes in a game that has blowout written all over it. He's not that cheap and has scored 25.6 Yahoo points or fewer in three of his last four games, making him an unappealing option.
CENTERS
Clint Capela, HOU at ATL ($33): Harden wasn't the only player on the Rockets who went off in their last game. Capela couldn't be stopped, posting 30 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block against the Sixers. He has five straight double-doubles and will be facing a Hawks team that has allowed the fifth-most Yahoo points per game to opposing centers, making him one of the safer options at the position for the evening.
Daniel Gafford, CHI at NO ($11): The Bulls suffered a tough blow in their last game against the Mavericks when Wendell Carter Jr. went down with an ankle injury. Gafford stepped up to log 25 minutes in that contest, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. He's expected to start in Carter's place against the Pelicans, leaving him with plenty of upside at near the minimum price.
Center to Avoid
Mitchell Robinson, NY at UTA ($21): Robinson hasn't had more than three fouls in any of his last four games, but he's still seeing limited playing time. As a result, he scored 25.4 Yahoo points or fewer three times during that stretch. Having to face Rudy Gobert and the Jazz is not an ideal matchup for him to have one of his more productive performances. I'd argue that Gafford has similar upside with Carter out, so it might be best to take the savings and roll with him instead of Robinson if you are fading Capela.
