Christmas might be over, but there’s still plenty of reason for cheer with nine NBA games coming down the chimney on Thursday night. With big names such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Trae Young, and Giannis Antetokounmpo taking the floor, narrowing down a select group to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is a difficult task. Here are the three forwards at the top of tonight’s board:
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $222K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. BKN ($11,300)
Just when you thought he couldn’t get any better, Giannis Antetokounmpo has taken his game to another level this season. The Greek Freak is responsible for some eye-popping numbers, averaging a league-leading 32.7 points to go along with 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists through 24 outings. Following an NBA Cup victory earlier this month, the two-time MVP is making a strong push to add to his trophy case by the end of the year.
Thursday’s opponent, the Nets, have been surprisingly stingy, giving up the eighth-fewest DK fantasy points against opposing power forwards. However, there’s nobody like Giannis; the future Hall of Famer has generated 29.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists over his previous five meetings with Brooklyn. Given the lack of high-quality forwards available tonight, Antetokounmpo is someone worth paying up for.
2. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks vs. CHI ($9,000)
There are plenty of names worth considering behind Antetokounmpo, but Jalen Johnson stands out. The 23-year-old has progressed rapidly since entering the league in 2021, emerging as a true Robin to Trae Young’s Batman. This season, he’s posted 19.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists on 49.9% shooting over 28 games. The Duke product has been just as good on the other end of the floor, producing 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks.
Those numbers, while excellent, aren’t enough on their own to move Johnson into second on this list. Tonight, Atlanta hosts a Bulls team giving up the second-most points to opposing teams (121.1) and the fifth-most DK fantasy points to opposing power forwards. Look for the Hawks to lean on their 6’9″ forward, a true matchup nightmare going up against a woeful Chicago defense.
3. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors at MEM ($9,100)
It’s been a rough few months for Scottie Barnes, who’s played in just 17 games due to multiple injuries suffered this season. Still, the former Rookie of the Year has been stellar when he does play, putting up 19.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists on 44.6% shooting from the field. On a rebuilding Raptors squad that lacks much scoring punch outside of RJ Barrett, Barnes’ fantasy floor is higher than other similarly-priced forwards.
The Grizzlies, equipped with former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr., appear to be a tough matchup. However, Memphis has given up the sixth-most DK fantasy points to opposing power forwards. Barnes doesn’t have Antetokounmpo’s volume or an extremely generous matchup like Johnson, but there’s plenty to like about the 23-year-old heading into Thursday night.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $222K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) 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.
