DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Thursday 2/6/20

With five games to choose from on tonight's NBA slate, let's take a look at how to utilize the DFS possibilities.

Here are some of the top plays and sleepers on DraftKings. As always, good luck.

Point Guard

Elfrid Payton ($7,300) -- On Monday, Payton finally notched his triple-double that he's been chasing and coming so close to these past few games. He totaled 59.25 fantasy points and has been one of the hottest fantasy guards over the last few weeks. In the past five games, he's averaged 41.75 fantasy points per game and 34.18 over his last 10. On the season, he's up to 28.2 fantasy points per game and increased his fantasy points per minute to 1.26 in the last five contests. He'll be matched up with Markelle Fultz ($6,100), who has a DvP (defense versus position) rank of 19 tonight.

Damian Lillard ($10,000) -- Lillard came back down to Earth in the loss to the Denver Nuggets, scoring 21 points and dishing out 9 assists for 39.5 fantasy points. Still an impressive game, but nowhere close to his 71.15 fantasy points per game average he had over the prior five games. The Portland Trail Blazers host the San Antonio Spurs tonight in a battle of two teams on the outside looking in. The Spurs struggle with point guards, allowing 48.68 fantasy points per game (18th) to the position. Besides Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,100), Lillard is averaging the most fantasy points per minute (1.93) over the last five games and is projected to record 48.2 fantasy points in 36.86 minutes tonight.

Shooting Guard

Eric Gordon ($5,300) -- Gordon recorded 24 fantasy points on Tuesday despite going 0 for 12 from three-point land and 6 for 22 from the field (27.3%). The Houston Rockets are reloading and acquired a few pieces to build around their two stars. Gordon's one of the many guards available tonight that are playing above their season fantasy averages in recent games. On the season, Gordon is at 23.43 fantasy points per game and 0.77 fantasy points per minute, but in the last five games, he's significantly increased those numbers to 32.2 fantasy points and 0.98 per minute. He's played 30 minutes or more in seven straight games, and I think he's a lock for another 30-point plus fantasy night.

Zach LaVine ($8,400) -- The Chicago Bulls are down to LaVine and Tomas Satoransky ($5,400) as the lone starters not injured from the beginning of the season. LaVine has had it rough, being snubbed from the All-Star Game, and having to score 24.9 points per night just to be in contention to win. Chicago will need him versus the New Orleans Pelicans tonight, and he's projected to have a great game. numberFire's model pegs him with 31.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 36.09 minutes, and it's hard to disagree with. LaVine's averaging 45.65 fantasy points over his last five games, and the Pelicans allow the sixth-most fantasy points per game to shooting guards (43.50). Expect him to put the team on his back once again as their only hope.

Small Forward

Danuel House Jr. ($6,000) -- House has been an asset for the Rockets, and it's shown by his recent play. He's been one of the best finds in fantasy over the last five games as he's averaging 57.33% more fantasy points over his last five games (34.55) than his season average (21.96). In his last game, he recorded 45.75 fantasy points on 22 points and 9 rebounds, missing his second straight double-double by one board. The Rockets are going to need help without Clint Capela moving forward, and House is one of the leading candidates to replace his 13.8 rebounds per game (4th). House has averaged 35.6 minutes over his last five games and is now up to 0.96 fantasy points per minute.

Kyle Kuzma ($5,000) -- Kuzma's name has been floated around in trade rumors, but the chances he's moved are slim to none. He's the longest-tenured Los Angeles Laker, and he's coming off an impressive double-double and 40.5-fantasy point performance versus the Spurs. Kuzma has a ceiling factor of 30.04 and could take advantage of the Rockets' weak perimeter defense. Houston allows the ninth-most fantasy points per game (41.63) to small forwards, and the fifth-most rebounds (8.61). Kuzma recorded 12 rebounds in his last game and 15 versus Portland on Friday, making him a candidate for his second straight double-double. With Capela traded away from the Rockets, I anticipate Kuzma and company to win the rebounding battle -- which should lead to a decent fantasy night.

Power Forward

Aaron Gordon ($6,300) -- Gordon has posted three straight double-doubles for the Orlando Magic and is averaging 37.4 fantasy points over his last five games. As he preps for another run in the dunk contest, he's getting hot at the right time. He's scored double-digits in his last five games and totaled double-digit rebounds in three of five. He's also averaged three assists over those contests, and the New York Knicks allow the seventh-most assists per game to power forwards (3.95). I like Gordon to have a solid all-around game -- numberFire's model agrees, projecting Gordon to record 15.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in Madison Square Garden.

Zion Williamson ($7,700) -- Williamson has scored 20 points in three straight games and recorded at least 35 fantasy points in all three. He's made a huge impact on the team, and their offense has averaged 118.1 points per game since his debut. This may be his easiest matchup of the season, and -- pending a blowout -- we could see Williamson have a huge performance. The New Orleans Pelicans' opponent, the Chicago Bulls, are terrible against power forwards. Chicago has allowed the most points (25.0), assists (4.11), and fantasy points per game (53.75) to the position. Zion has averaged 19.6 points, 8 rebounds, and 33.9 fantasy points since debuting for the Pelicans -- against this defense, he should go over all those totals tonight.

Center

Joel Embiid ($9,100) -- Embiid has a thing for nationally-televised games, and he gets that tonight versus the Milwaukee Bucks. He's coming off a 50-point fantasy night versus the Miami Heat and had a huge game in his last meeting with Milwaukee. Embiid recorded 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists in Philly's win against the Bucks on Christmas, and has a four-game streak of 30 points or more versus Milwaukee. Of all available players, Embiid averages the third-most fantasy points per minute (1.59), trailing only Giannis and James Harden ($12,400). He's also leading all centers with the highest usage rate (30.91%). I'm expecting him and Giannis to have huge nights in Milwaukee.

Dwight Howard ($4,800) -- Howard could reap most of the benefits of the Capela trade tonight versus Houston, especially considering he once played for the Rockets. He scored 6 points and 10 rebounds versus Houston in the first meeting, and this time around, I think those numbers are going to increase. Houston allows the seventh-most fantasy points per game to centers (55.06), including the fifth-most real-life points (22.53). He's averaging 1.08 fantasy points per minute, and numberFire projects him to record 19.3 fantasy points in 18.64 minutes. He's only gone over 20 minutes in two of his last five games, but I think he does so again tonight and posts a solid fantasy performance in L.A.