There are four games on Thursday’s slate.
ORL played on Wednesday. None of the teams play on Friday.
As for injuries, Scottie Barnes, Mike Conley and Donte DiVincenzo are questionable. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, CHA is -1 at home over DET with the total at 219. MIN is -7 on the road over TOR with the total at 225.5. SA is -5 at home over UTA with the total at 222. LAL is -5 at home over ORL with the total at 218. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets ($9,700) – I’m not crazy about the price, but it’s a small slate and raw points matter. Cunningham has progressed in his fourth season, and the acquisitions by the front office to space the floor have assisted. Cunningham has three triple-doubles on the season and has dished out double-digit dimes in eight games. Over the last four games, he’s put up 50.5, 65, 40 and 71.25 FPTS.
Other Options – Anthony Edwards ($9,600), LaMelo Ball ($9,500), Brandon Miller ($6,900), Jaden Ivey ($6,700)
Value
Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz ($4,900) – Over the last seven games, Castle has garnered a respectable 20.9% usage rate and averaged 30 minutes per contest. He’s gone over 20 FPTS in all of those games with two over 30. Utah is 29th in defensive efficiency and is without their shot blocker in Walker Kessler, and Castle loves to attack the rim.
Other Options – Collin Sexton ($5,400), Malik Beasley ($5,200), Dalton Knecht ($5,100), Julian Champagnie ($4,600), Anthony Black ($4,400), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($4,100), Rob Dillingham ($3,000) if Conley and DiVincenzo are out.
Forward
Stud
Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers ($9,100) – Prior to Paolo Banchero’s injury, Franz never had a usage rate of at least 30%. Since Banchero went down, the usage rate has been over 30% in all but one game, and it’s been as high as 38%! Over the last seven games, Franz has put up at least 40 FPTS in all with three over 50 and a high of 63.75. The Lakers are 22nd in defensive efficiency.
Other Options – LeBron James ($10,100), John Collins ($7,200), Lauri Markkanen ($7,100), Brandon Miller ($6,900)
Value
Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets ($5,200) – I think many will click on Dalton Knecht, who is $100 cheaper, has gone for over 40 FPTS in each of the last two games and was on SportsCenter all day and night after draining nine treys on Tuesday. There’s a chance that Knecht disappoints at what will likely be high ownership. Beasley has gone for over 30 FPTS in four of the last five games with a high of 49. He’s also playing over 30 minutes and hucking up double-digit treys.
Other Options – Naz Reid ($5,300), Keldon Johnson ($5,300), Dalton Knecht ($5,100), Grant Williams ($5,000), Julian Champagnie ($4,600), Jaden McDaniels ($4,600), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($4,100)
Center
Stud
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets ($6,400) – If Nikola Jokic or Anthony Davis are on the slate, it’s usually an auto-click on their names. But that’s how much I like Duren, who is also much, much cheaper. The Hornets are hurting at center and Duren should feast. The range of outcomes is wide with Duren, but he did go for 52.5 FPTS last game and I think there’s a chance he replicates the feat.
Other Options – Anthony Davis ($11,100), Julius Randle ($8,300), John Collins ($7,200)
Value
Charles Bassey, San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz ($4,000) – Victor Wembanyama is out while Zach Collins is questionable. At a minimum, Bassey should play around 20 minutes, but if Collins is ruled out, Bassey could approach 30. On the season, Bassey is averaging a respectable 1.13 FPTS per minute. He put up 27.5 and 18 FPTS in the last two games while playing 21 and 22 minutes.
Other Options – Zach Collins ($6,000), Naz Reid ($5,300), Grant Williams ($5,000), Moussa Diabate ($4,000)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [100K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
