This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The All-Star break is finally over. The NBA makes its return Thursday with seven games on the schedule. The Nets and Celtics will face off in Brooklyn, which means Kyrie Irving will be ineligible to play again. That could be changing in the near future, though, with the mayor of New York City saying Wednesday that he'd like to phase out the vaccine mandate "in the coming weeks." The Bulls will take the floor in Chicago when they host the Hawks, and they will receive a significant boost with Zach LaVine returning from his knee injury. The same good news can't be said for the Suns, who will play the Thunder without Chris Paul (thumb), who is slated to miss the next six to eight weeks. Let's dig into the matchups and highlight some players to consider for your Yahoo lineups, as well as a few to possibly avoid.
GUARDS
Trae Young, ATL at CHI ($40): The Bulls have really struggled on the defensive end with Lonzo Ball (knee) and Alex Caruso (wrist) out. Rookie Ayo Dosunmu has filled in admirably, but the Bulls' have seen their defensive rating fall to the 11th-worst mark in the league. Ball and Caruso were also sidelined the last two times these teams met, which helped Young score 41.7 and 39.1 Yahoo points, respectively.
Rajon Rondo, CLE at DET ($14): The backcourt situation for the Cavaliers will be ugly for this game with Darius Garland (back) and Caris LeVert (foot) having already been ruled out. That should lead to added playing time for Rondo, who has thrived in expanded roles lately. February 6 against the Pacers, he produced 15 points, five rebounds and 12 assists over 32 minutes with Garland out and LeVert having not yet joined the team. He logged 33 minutes February 11 against the Pacers with Garland out again, which helped him produce 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Guard to Avoid
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC vs. PHO ($37): The Thunders' star guard has been out for nearly a month with an ankle injury, and with them tanking, there was some concern about when, or if, we'd see Gilgeous-Alexander again this season. However, he's been cleared to make his return for this game, which is a tough matchup considering the Suns have the third-best defensive rating. Add in the possibility that his minutes are somewhat limited, and Gilgeous-Alexander is a risky option.
FORWARDS
DeMar DeRozan, CHI vs. ATL ($46): With injuries mounting, DeRozan has put the Bulls on his back. He's scored at least 31 points in eight straight games, which propelled him to at least 43.0 Yahoo points in each game. Despite LaVine set to return, the Bulls will still need to rely heavily on DeRozan if they are going to earn a victory. That should leave him with a high floor given his efficiency and ability to also contribute with rebounds and assists.
Justise Winslow, POR vs. GS ($19): This is not a great matchup for Winslow given that the Warriors are one of the best defensive teams in the league. However, with how few viable options the Blazers have right now, Winslow should continue to be one of their more productive players. He's scored at least 30.9 Yahoo points in five straight games, so despite this tough matchup, his salary makes him at least worth considering.
Forward to Avoid
Jerami Grant, DET vs. CLE ($25): Grant has not played well since his extended absence because of a thumb injury. Across nine games since his return, he's only averaged 16.1 points per game, while shooting 42.2 percent from the field. To make matters worse, he only averaged 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists during that stretch. A matchup against a Cavaliers team that has the fourth-best defensive rating likely isn't going to help him break out of his funk.
CENTERS
Nikola Jokic, DEN at SAC ($56): At this salary, rolling with Jokic will certainly do a number on your budget. However, he could be worth it against a Kings team that has played at the ninth-fastest pace and has the second-worst defensive rating. He dominated in their last meeting, posting 33 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks across 34 minutes.
Trendon Watford, POR vs. GS ($10): The Blazers' front line is a mess. Not only did they dismantle their roster at the trade deadline, but they announced Wednesday that Jusuf Nurkic (foot) is going to miss at least the next four weeks. Given that they are in tanking mode, we might not see Nurkic again this season. With him out, Watford and Drew Eubanks could see the bulk of the minutes at center. Watford has shown flashes of promise when given an opportunity, including 10 days ago when he posted nine points, 10 rebounds, five assists and one steal across 23 minutes against the Bucks.
Center to Avoid
Domantas Sabonis, SAC vs, DEN ($39): Sabonis doesn't make this section because he's struggled since joining the Kings. He's been his usual productive self, averaging 17.3 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists over four games. However, this isn't the easiest of matchups against the Nuggets, who have allowed the fewest rebounds per game in the league, while playing at the 10th-slowest pace. There are a lot of exciting center options for this slate, with Jokic and Deandre Ayton ($25) both looking at far more favorable matchups. As a result, this might be one of the few nights to consider fading Sabonis.
