We’ve reached the midpoint of the NBA season, with all teams having played between 37 and 42 games, so some trends are clear. Tonight, there’s a five-game NBA slate that includes plenty of quality options for DFS players. Here are the top three forwards to consider tonight:
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
1. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns vs. Washington Wizards ($9,200)
Although Durant is eligible at both power forward and center, I like his availability at forward more today, since there’s a surprisingly deep rotation of quality centers available for a small slate. Plus, according to Basketball Reference’s Position Estimate, he’s played 73% of his time at the four, so it seems more honest to have him at power forward. Although he’s been in a bit of a slump from deep in his last six games, his consistency is as remarkable as ever; he’s dropped at least 23 points and 38.0 FPTS in each of those contests.
On Thursday, Durant will face the historically woeful Wizards, who are back to their losing ways, with a pitiful negative-13.9 net rating in their last 10 games. Washington allows the most points, most rebounds, fourth-most assists, fourth-most steals, and eighth-most blocks to opposing players, and Durant is one of the league’s most well-rounded players, being one of three players to average at least 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, 0.5 steals, and one block per game this season. Overall, Washington has allowed the 14th-most FPTS to opposing power forwards.
2. Norman Powell, LA Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers ($7,300)
I’ve already gushed repeatedly about Powell’s 2024-25, which would have him at the top of my hypothetical Most Improved Player ballot. Seriously, a player who’s averaging 23.7 points while shooting 44.7% from beyond the arc on the fifth seed in the West — basically without Kawhi Leonard — should be an All-Star, right? It remains to be seen whether Powell will actually get his deserved recognition, but I’m pretty sure that, especially with Leonard sidelined tonight, he’s going to have a huge game against the Trail Blazers, who allow the ninth-most points to opposing small forwards.
In 28 games without Leonard this season, Powell has averaged 23.8 points per game, and Portland allows the seventh-most points to opposing players. Sure, Powell doesn’t make a huge impact in other facets of the game besides scoring, but 20 points is still a pretty good floor. He had just 18 points and three steals (28.25 FPTS) last night, but he only played 22 minutes as the Clippers blew out the Brooklyn Nets by…59 points. Barring another massive LA blowout that relegates Powell to the bench early, Portland doesn’t have the personnel to stop him.
3. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ($8,000)
I picked J-Dub to go under 20.5 points in the Thunder’s previous matchup against the Cavaliers, and quickly paid the price when he dropped 25 points, five rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and a block (52.25 FPTS). I’m not going to make the same mistake again against a Cleveland team whose defense against opposing power forwards — it allows the sixth-most fantasy points to the position — is just about its only weakness. Frankly, Oklahoma City is so deep that its pecking order beyond Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t necessarily clear-cut on any given night, but Williams, who put up 45.0 FPTS in the Thunder’s most recent game, is a relatively safe bet.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
II am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user 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 skills 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.
