This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
With the Bulls' COVID-19 outbreak continuing to get worse, the NBA was forced to act Monday. It has postponed the team's next two games, including Tuesday's scheduled matchup with the Pistons. As a result, we are looking at a three-game slate. There will be no shortage of star power, though, with the Warriors, Nets, Suns and Trail Blazers among the teams in action. Let's dive into the matchups and highlight some players to consider for Yahoo lineups, as well as a few to potentially avoid.
GUARD
Chris Paul, PHO at POR ($35): The Suns just played Monday, so this isn't exactly an ideal scenario for them. The Blazers have the third-worst defensive rating in the league, though, which means the Suns could still score in bunches. Devin Booker (hamstring) remains out, leaving the potential for more production from Paul. He's continued to play well with Booker sidelined, averaging 12.8 points, 10.0 assists and 1.6 steals in five games.
Anfernee Simons, POR vs. PHO ($12): The Blazers are in much better shape on the injury front than they were a week ago. Not only is Simons back after missing three consecutive games, but so is Damian Lillard. Although Simons returned to a bench role Sunday against the Timberwolves, he still scored 26 points on 20 shot attempts in 33 minutes. With CJ McCollum (chest) not coming back anytime soon, Simons should continue to see both added playing time, and shot attempts.
Guard to Avoid
Damian Lillard, POR vs. PHO ($35): The Blazers certainly didn't ease Lillard back, playing him 37 minutes against the Timberwolves. The problem was his shooting woes continued, with him finishing 5-for-17 from the field. His scoring average is down to 21.6 points per game, thanks to shooting only 39.2 percent from the field. With the Suns sporting the third-best defensive rating in the league, this isn't an ideal matchup for him to break out of his slump.
FORWARD
Kevin Durant, BKN vs. TOR ($52): With James Harden getting the day off for rest Sunday against the Pistons, it was the Durant show. He set season highs in both shot attempts (31) and free-throw attempts (15) on his way to a whopping 51 points. Harden will be back for this matchup, but with Kyrie Irving still out and the Nets playing at the ninth-fastest pace in the league, he is one of the most appealing options for this limited slate, regardless of position.
Larry Nance Jr., POR vs. PHO ($10): Despite their limited depth chart, the Blazers have only permitted Nance to average 21 minutes per game. With losses piling up, they decided to move him into the starting five Sunday. Foul trouble contributed to only a slight uptick in playing time (26 minutes), but he still managed to score 28.9 Yahoo points. At the minimum salary, he could be worth taking a chance on if he remains in the starting five.
Forward to Avoid
Norman Powell, POR vs. PHO ($19): It's no secret that Powell's job is to shoot. He does it well, averaging 17.3 points and 1.9 three-pointers per game. From a DFS perspective, though, his averages of 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists limit his upside. With the Suns one of the best defensive teams in the league, rolling with the scoring-dependent Powell is a risky proposition.
CENTER
Pascal Siakam, TOR at BKN ($33): Siakam has been a reliable source of production, scoring at least 31.4 Yahoo points in 11 consecutive games. While his scoring average for the season is down slightly at 18.9 points per game for the season, he averaged 20.7 points during the aforementioned stretch. He's one of the few healthy players on the Raptors who can provide size up front, and he's one of the focal points of their offense, leaving him as one of the safer options at center.
Kevon Looney, GS at NY ($10): Looney still isn't playing much for the Warriors, averaging just 18 minutes per game. That said, this will be the second game of a back-to-back set for the Warriors. That means Draymond Green could see reduced playing time. If you're looking to load up at the other positions in tournament play, then rolling with Looney at center isn't a crazy plan. Despite his limited playing time, he's still averaged 5.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
Center to Avoid
Mitchell Robinson, NY vs. GS ($16): Robinson has gone quiet, scoring 18.6 Yahoo points or fewer in each of the last three games. He didn't log more than 19 minutes in any of those games and averages only 23 minutes per game for the season. With Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson both healthy, Robinson could see his playing time limited in this matchup, as well.
