This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Sunday's NBA slate beginning at 3:30 p.m. EDT features Game 4s of the Rockets-Jazz and Warriors-Pelicans series. In both cases, the home team trails 2-1 in the series. Read on to see which players are primed to perform here and which should be avoided.
GUARD
Donovan Mitchell, UTA vs. HOU ($33): Mitchell was quiet in Game 3, scoring just 12.7 fantasy points. The rookie sensation has earned the benefit of the doubt, however, by topping 40.0 in six of his previous eight playoff appearances and scoring 37.2 in one of the other two. It's unlikely that he goes cold in consecutive home contests, so roll Mitchell out with confidence despite Friday's hiccup.
Rajon Rondo, NO vs. GS ($32): Playoff Rondo has shown up in a big way this postseason, scoring no fewer than 35.5 fantasy points through seven contests. He's been even better against the Warriors than he was in a first-round sweep of Portland, dissecting Golden State for an average of 47.3 fantasy points through three games this series. Between his ability to fill up the stat sheet across the board and the ball being in his hands on most possessions, Rondo has established both a high floor and a high ceiling, making him a terrific choice regardless of lineup strategy.
Guard to Avoid:
Klay Thompson, GS at NO ($24): Thompson's capable of going off in any particular game, but his reliance on getting buckets to provide fantasy value makes him a much riskier pick than versatile contributors like Rondo. The sharpshooter has contributed fewer than 25.0 fantasy points in half of his last six games, and playing on the road here slightly lowers Thompson's outlook as well.
FORWARD
Kevon Looney, GS at NO ($10): Looney's size has played a key role in Golden State's attempts to slow down Pelicans big man Anthony Davis, which is why the UCLA product has earned at least 22 minutes of playing time in each game this series after averaging a mere 13:47 during the regular season. He's capitalized on that increased playing time with an average of 18.9 fantasy points per contest, which is valuable production for a player priced at the minimum $10. Looney won't win you contests by himself, but plugging him in allows owners to stack the rest of their lineup with expensive stars while still getting a solid contribution from the forward spot.
Nikola Mirotic, NO vs. GS ($31): They say role players perform best at home, and that's certainly been the case for Mirotic, even if he's debatably overqualified to be called a role player. Through three contests at Smoothie King Center these playoffs, Mirotic is averaging 42.5 fantasy points. Expect the Montenegrin forward to keep rolling with Golden State focused on taking away Davis and the guard duo of Rondo and Jrue Holiday.
Forward to Avoid:
Kevin Durant, GS at NO ($48): With Stephen Curry back in the fold, Durant doesn't have to carry the Golden State offense as much anymore. Even before scoring a postseason-low 35.1 fantasy points during Curry's first start Friday, Durant had only topped 50.0 fantasy points twice in the previous seven games. On a team with plenty of other players capable of putting up big numbers, Durant just hasn't shown the explosive upside owners should be looking for in this price range.
CENTER
Clint Capela, HOU at UTA ($34): Capela's been a beast over the past five games, pouring in 44.6 fantasy points per game. He hasn't dipped below 30 minutes of playing time in that stretch after averaging only 27:29 in the regular season, and his ability to match up with Rudy Gobert should keep Capela's minutes up in Game 4. There aren't exactly many centers to choose from, but luckily Capela makes the choice at the position an easy one.
Rudy Gobert, UTA vs. HOU ($29): If Capela's slightly out of your price range, Gobert's a solid alternative. None of the $10 alternatives at the center position carry much if any value at all, so Gobert's the cheapest option available without essentially punting a spot.
Center to Avoid:
JaVale McGee, GS at NO ($10): Coach Steve Kerr experimented with starting McGee in Game 3, but that was a massive failure, as the team had a minus-10 point differential in McGee's 9:10 of playing time. Don't repeat Kerr's mistake in Game 4 and stay away from McGee, even if he gets another start.
