This article is part of our DFS NBA series.
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Based on how likely or unlikely a player is to hit a prop, you will receive a certain amount of points. Rack up the most overall points and you come away with some extra cash in your pocket. If you have never played on the site, use promo code RotoWire when you sign up.
Let's take a look at Tuesday's five-game slate and highlight a few options to target, as well as some to possibly avoid.
Players to Target
Jayson Tatum, BOS at HOU: Over 22.5 Points: This has the potential to be a high-scoring game for the Celtics with the Rockets playing at the second-fastest pace in the league. The Rockets have also moved to an extremely small lineup after trading away Clint Capela, which should work in Tatum's favor. He's already scored at least 23 points in eight of his last nine games, so this line seems very reasonable. To top it off, the over is worth 105 points, making it even more appealing.
Zion Williamson, NO vs. POR: Over 27.5 Points + Rebounds: Williamson (ankle) sat out Saturday against the Pacers, but he's listed as probable for Tuesday's contest. He hasn't played since Thursday, so he'll certainly be fresh. While he was eased back into action after missing the start of the season, Williamson has averaged 29 minutes across his last six games. The added playing time helped him average 20.2 points and 7.8 rebounds during that stretch. The Blazers have the fifth-worst defensive rating and have allowed the most rebounds per game in the league, which puts Williamson in a favorable spot to hit the over. Like the Tatum prop, taking the over with Williamson is also worth 105 points.
Al Horford, PHI vs. LAC: Under 1.5 Blocks: It's been rough going for Horford lately. When Joel Embiid is healthy, Horford isn't going to be as involved, especially on offense. The veteran big man actually went scoreless across 30 minutes against the Bulls on Sunday. If there was a bright side to that performance, it's that Horford registered seven rebounds and two blocks. The two blocks were rare, though, considering he had logged one or no blocks in each of his previous seven games. Although taking the under is only worth 75 points, it's still a likely outcome worth targeting.
Players to Avoid
James Harden, HOU vs. BOS: 45.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists: This is a tough one. Harden is obviously one of the few players in the league who can threaten for a triple-double whenever he takes the floor. Not only that, but he's scored at least 40 points in two of his last five games. But the Celtics have the third-best defensive rating and can throw an extremely talented defender at him in Marcus Smart. This could easily go either way, so it might be best to avoid picking a side.
Damian Lillard, POR at NO: 32.5 Points: Lillard recently faced two tough defensive teams in the Jazz and Heat, but he still scored 42 and 33 points against them, respectively. He's trying to carry the Blazers into the playoff hunt, averaging a whopping 41.5 points over their last 10 games. Still, he's had troubles against Jrue Holiday and the Pelicans in the past. The last time they met, Lillard was held to 18 points on 6-for-21 shooting from the field. While I'd probably lean towards the taking the under, it might be best to avoid this one entirely based on how hot he has been.
Tobias Harris, PHI vs. LAC: 0.5 Steals: This seems like a trap. Harris plays a ton, resulting in him averaging 34 minutes a game. With that being said, he's only averaging 0.7 steals per contest. He's also failed to register a steal in six of his last eight games. Still, a player who spends that much time on the floor could easily luck into a steal, regardless of the opponent. This is just too risky either way.
