This is the first full week back from the All-Star break, and the races for the playoffs and for the lottery are on. We have our only five-game slate of the year this week, as well as one team who only plays twice. At this point in the season, except for the matchups that are obviously very good or very bad, I am more worried about rest than matchups. With that in mind, let’s dive into the week ahead for all 30 NBA teams.
Atlanta Hawks (LAL, IND, GS, PHO): The Hawks can be ignored for fantasy most weeks, but not this week. They get a day off between each home game this week, and they only play one team who ranks better than 21st in points allowed this season. Combined with the news the Hawks will finally buy out Ersan Ilyasova, this team could provide a lot of fantasy points this week.
Boston Celtics (MEM, CHA, @HOU): Boston’s opponents rank 16th or better in points allowed per game this season, which is bad news for a team that ranks 22nd in points scored this season. Even Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are droppable, though I wouldn’t be in a hurry to do so.
Brooklyn Nets (CHI, @CLE, @SAC, @LAC): If I didn’t know any better I would think Brooklyn is tanking, considering they are still holding Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert out. As we have been saying all month, Allen Crabbe and DeMarre Carroll are only fantasy relevant for as long as Hollis-Jefferson and LeVert are out.
Charlotte Hornets (CHI, @BOS, @PHI, @TOR): The All-Star break will probably feel like a distant memory by the time this week is over. Wednesday’s game against Boston will be Charlotte’s fifth in seven days, and they follow that up with two road games against good defensive teams. Even with the tough schedule, you still have to play Kemba Walker, Dwight Howard and Nicolas Batum.
Chicago Bulls(@BKN, @CHA, DAL): The Bulls have held Justin Holiday and Robin Lopez out for each of their last two games, and David Nwaba averaged 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in 33.5 minutes over those two games. Nwaba is playable for fantasy whenever Holiday is out, but Bobby Portis will probably come back down to earth a bit with Lopez back clogging the middle.
Cleveland Cavaliers (BKN, PHI, DEN): For all of the talk about LeBron James getting energized by Cleveland’s deadline deals, J.R. Smith might be the Cavs’ most improved player. Smith is averaging 13.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals in February. He can be useful for deep leagues, though I would still rather own Jordan Clarkson.
Dallas Mavericks (IND, OKC, @CHI, NOR): Dallas is another bad team with a good schedule, thanks to a day off between each game. Dennis Smith is 7-for-27 from the field in two games since the All-Star break, but I find it more troubling he failed to record a single assist Saturday at Utah. He still probably needs to be owned, but I really thought he would be more consistent by now. I have a feeling I won’t own him much next year.
Denver Nuggets (LAC, @MEM, @CLE): It is a tiny sample, but the Cavs are fourth in the NBA in defensive rating in the four games since they added Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson and George Hill. Add in a game against a Memphis team that ranks fifth in points allowed per game, and this schedule looks pretty bad. That being said, it might be a good time to add Paul Millsap.
Detroit Pistons (@TOR, MIL, @ORL, @MIA): The last two games are back-to-back, but at least the travel should be easy from Orlando to Miami. Reggie Jackson was cleared for light running and shooting last week, but until he starts practicing, he still doesn’t need to be owned for fantasy.
Golden State Warriors (@NY, @WAS, @ATL): With just three games on the schedule and no back-to09-backs, it should be business as usual for the Warriors this week. David West continues to play well in limited action, and if he is ever forced into more playing time, he could be a fantasy contributor.
Houston Rockets (@UTA, @LAC, BOS): Houston plays at Denver Sunday and at Utah Monday, and that could be an ugly game offensively. The schedule isn’t exactly great after that, but at least the Rockets get two days off before they host the Celtics.
Indiana Pacers (@DAL, @ATL, @MIL, @WAS): It was reported Wednesday Darren Collison would be out at least a week, and while it probably isn’t worth it to have him taking up a spot on your bench, he does need to be owned as soon as he returns. He had at least 10 points and four assists in seven consecutive games before going down with this knee injury.
Los Angeles Clippers (@DEN, HOU, NY, BKN): This is why the Clippers can’t have nice things. Less than a week after the All-Star break they have already lost Danilo Gallinari and Avery Bradley to injury. Austin Rivers maintains some fantasy relevance with Bradley out, while Gallinari’s injury could lead to more shots for Tobias Harris.
Los Angeles Lakers (@ATL, @MIA, @SA): Lonzo Ball played just 17 minutes Friday in his return form a knee injury, and considering Isaiah Thomas is only averaging 21.8 minutes per game with the Lakers, it is possible neither point guard is any good for fantasy while the other is healthy. Fantasy players should hold onto Lonzo until he plays a few more games, but IT is droppable.
Memphis Grizzlies (@BOS, PHO, DEN, @ORL): Memphis finally rested Marc Gasol Saturday night, which is a sign he could sit one of the back-to-back games against Denver and Orlando. I still think Memphis could shut down Gasol at some point, and I would try to trade him if I still can. JaMychal Green had a double-double with Gasol out, and he is playable whenever Gasol sits.
Miami Heat (PHI, LAL, DET): All three games are at home with at least one day off in between, so this is as good a time as any to play guys like Josh Richardson, Tyler Johnson and James Johnson.
Milwaukee Bucks (WAS, @DET, IND, PHI): Milwaukee will lose an hour going to Detroit to play their fourth game in six days, though the schedule gets easier after that. Even so, it might be a good idea to leave Jabari Parker on waivers for one more week.
Minnesota Timberwolves (@SAC, @POR, @UTA): Jimmy Butler suffered a knee injury Friday, and Andrew Wiggins and Nemanja Bjelica should see a huge boost in fantasy value for as long as Butler is out. Bjelica played 37 minutes in the last game Butler missed, and he is averaging 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals in 33.5 minutes per game as a starter this season.
New Orleans Pelicans (PHO, @SA, @DAL): The Pelicans have three days off before they face Dallas. That probably will not go well for the Mavs. Rajon Rondo is averaging 10.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game in February, and he remains a must-own for anyone chasing assists.
New York Knicks (GS, @LAC, @SAC): Emmanuel Mudiay got his first start for the Knicks Thursday night, and while he and rookie Frank Knilikina didn’t do a whole lot with their newfound playing time, it was nice to see them and Trey Burke get all of the backcourt minutes, with Jarret Jack getting a DNP-CD. All three are worth keeping an eye on down the stretch.
Oklahoma City Thunder (ORL, @DAL, @PHO, @POR): Since Andre Roberson’s injury, the Thunder have a 108.8 defensive rating. It is time to stop considering them a bad matchup for opposing fantasy players. This should be a great schedule for the Thunder, but considering they have played well against contenders and poorly against bad teams, I’m not so sure.
Orlando Magic (@OKC, TOR, DET, MEM): Mario Hezonja is averaging 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in two games with Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic back. This is more like what we can expect from him going forward. You can hold onto him this week since Orlando plays four games, but he will probably be droppable next week.
Philadelphia 76ers (@MIA, @CLE, CHA, @MIL): All of these are just average matchups, unless you believe in Cleveland’s numbers since the trade deadline. J.J. Reddick has at least 14 points and two assists in seven consecutive games, and that kind of consistency is hard to find.
Phoenix Suns (@NOR, @MEM, OKC, @ATL): Alex Len had back-to-back double-doubles over the weekend, and while I have been burned by him before, he should continue to get minutes so long as he is playing well and Tyson Chandler is out. That being said, Dragan Bender is always a threat to cut into Len’s minutes.
Portland Trailblazers (SAC, MIN, OKC): Jusuf Nurkic is averaging 14.5 points and 10.0 rebounds since the All-Star Break, and I am hopeful he can play more consistently down the stretch. If he doesn’t, Portland is in danger of missing the playoffs.
San Antonio Spurs (NO, LAL): Gregg Popovich said Wednesday he would be “surprised” if Kawhi Leonard returns this season. Leonard could still return at some point, but fantasy players should stop waiting for him. They should, however, try to trade for LaMarcus Aldridge, who has been great with Leonard out.
Sacramento Kings (MIN, @POR, BKN, UTA, NY): The Kings are the only team all season to play five games in one week. The Kings you actually want to use are young, and no King is averaging more than 27.4 minutes per game this season, so I am less worried about fatigue for Sacramento than I would be for just about any other team. Bogdan Bogdanovic should be owned in most leagues anyway, but De’Aaron Fox, Willie Cauley-Stein and Buddy Hields are all ownable this week as well.
Toronto Raptors (DET, @ORL, @WAS, CHA): Toronto has a day off between each game, and considering how deep they are, I’m not at all worried about fatigue for them this week. Every one of Toronto’s opponents plays a traditional center, so we could see a few more minutes for Jonas Valanciunas than he has been getting. Plan accordingly.
Utah Jazz (HOU, MIN, @SAC): Jae Crowder has at least 11 points in all five games with Utah, and he is averaging 28.4 minutes in those games. The Jazz have a lot of talented forwards, but I am interested to see if Crowder earns more playing time the longer he is with this team. I’m not adding him yet, but he is not far away.
Washington Wizards (@MIL, GS, TOR, IND): Tomas Satoransky is shooting 47 percent on threes this season, which is a big reason why Washington is playing well without John Wall. He will inevitably come back down to earth, but you may be able to sell high before then.