Wizards big-man Daniel Gafford is a player to look out for as Washington faces Minnesota.
The NBA gets ready to head into All-Star weekend with a three-game slate Thursday. The Bulls, after a loss to the Pacers on Wednesday, will have a quick turnaround when they host the Bucks. The Wizards will take on the Timberwolves, and the Suns will host the Clippers in an intriguing Western Conference matchup. Let’s dig into the matchups and highlight some players to target on Yahoo, as well as a few to possibly avoid.
Guards
Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. WAS ($38): It was reported Wednesday that the Timberwolves are hopeful to get Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) back at some point during their final 10-to-15 games of the season. That means Edwards will continue to shoulder the scoring load for a while longer. His usage rate checks in at 29.4%, which has helped him average 24.7 points and 2.7 3-pointers per game. Expect another impressive scoring performance against a Wizards team that has allowed an average of 116.6 points over their last seven games.
Mike Conley, MIN vs. WAS ($20): After logging just 26 minutes in his Timberwolves debut, Conley played 32 minutes in what was a closer game against the Mavericks on Monday. He came through with a steady stat line, producing 12 points, three rebounds, nine assists and a steal. While his scoring upside isn’t off the charts, he could rack up assists in bunches during this potentially high-scoring affair.
Guard to Avoid
Monte Morris, WAS at MIN ($17): When the Wizards are healthy, Morris usually sees his production take a hit. In the last two games, he scored 19.9 and 19.4 Yahoo points, respectively. Part of the problem was that he attempted a total of 11 shots over those two games. He is averaging just 8.3 shot attempts per game for the season, so expect him to continue to have limited upside.
Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at CHI ($57): Giannis is a nightmare matchup for most teams, but especially for the Bulls. In two games against them this season, he has averaged 40.5 points, 16.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists. That comes on the heels of him averaging 26.8 points, 13.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists over four games against them last season.
Josh Okogie, PHX vs, LAC ($14): The Suns’ depth is going to be challenged until Kevin Durant (knee) makes his return. They did just sign Terrence Ross, which gives them a dangerous 3-point shooter off the bench. They have also been giving more minutes to Okogie, who has responded by scoring at least 28.7 Yahoo points in three straight games. Given how well he is playing, there is no reason for the Suns to suddenly reduce his playing time.
Forward to Avoid
Eric Gordon, LAC at PHX ($19): Gordon went to a Clippers team that hopes to make a deep run in the playoffs. He made his debut with the team Tuesday, playing 22 minutes off the bench against the Warriors. With lots of talent around him, expect Gordon to continue to provide limited contributions in a reduced role.
Centers
Deandre Ayton, PHX vs. LAC ($34): Ayton has been locked in after he missed a three-game stretch due to injury. Over 10 games since, he has averaged 23.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks. His usage rate could take a hit when Durant returns, but for now, Ayton should remain locked into a prominent role.
Daniel Gafford, WAS at MIN ($15): Gafford found himself in foul trouble Tuesday against the Trail Blazers, which contributed to him only playing 15 minutes. That was a rare occurrence for him, given that he had averaged 29 minutes over his previous eight games. During that span, he provided 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.6 blocks. If he can stay out of foul trouble, he has enough upside to be worth considering in tournament play.
Center to Avoid
Mason Plumlee, LAC at PHX ($24): Plumlee came off the bench behind Ivica Zubac in his Clippers debut Tuesday. He logged just 17 minutes, producing eight points, five rebounds and three assists. He’ll likely be hard-pressed to play more than 20 minutes a game on a regular basis, making him too risky at this salary.
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Mike started covering fantasy sports in 2007, joining RotoWire in 2010. In 2018, he was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. In addition to RotoWire, Mike has written for Sportsline, Sports Illustrated, DK Live, RealTime Fantasy Sports, Lineup Lab and KFFL.com.
