Thursday’s featured NBA slate is a modest one, with just five games on top for fans to enjoy. The nationally-televised contests are great, though; the Cleveland Cavaliers will host the only team that has beaten them twice, and the second-seeded Houston Rockets will try to extend their winning streak to five against the third-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.
Let’s go through all five matchups on DraftKings’ featured DFS slate and run you through some stats and news you need to know as you fill out your lineups in the hour before the first tip.
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Lakers at Wizards
Both teams will be relying on their backup big men, as Anthony Davis ($10,500) will be out of action for the Lakers after suffering an abdominal strain during Tuesday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and Alex Sarr ($5,600) will sit for the Wizards. For Los Angeles, let’s keep it simple; the offense is going to run through LeBron James ($10,500), who dropped 31 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists (53.0 FPTS) in Tuesday’s loss, most of which came after Davis left the game after less than 10 minutes played. In fact, James has recorded more than 50 fantasy points in all five games that Davis has either missed or left early due to injury, and Washington has conceded the most fantasy points to opposing small forwards. Bronny James ($3,000) might get real minutes for the second game in a row, but don’t expect too much from the 20-year-old, whose G-League success has yet to translate to the NBA level.
Hawks at Cavaliers
With Jalen Johnson ($3,000) out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, I’m high on first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher ($4,100) against a Cleveland defense that allows the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards and is playing its second game in as many nights. In the six games that Risacher has played without Johnson this season, he has scored double-digit points four times. I’m also backing Donovan Mitchell ($8,400) to score at least 30 points for the seventh time in his past 10 games, so he’s an option against an Atlanta defense that has allowed the sixth-most points to opposing shooting guards. Even though Darius Garland ($7,600) is set to play after sitting yesterday, backup point guard Ty Jerome ($4,400) has carved out a real role in Kenny Atkinson’s rotation and should continue to be a top budget option.
Timberwolves at Jazz
Utah is starting its most healthy roster in ages, with Jordan Clarkson ($5,700) set to enjoy his second game back after a three-week absence due to plantar fasciitis. Unfortunately for the Jazz, none of their top guys are great defenders and they have lost seven games in a row to fall 1.5 games behind the New Orleans Pelicans in the West’s cellar. Anthony Edwards ($9,500) should cook a Utah defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($3,400) is an excellent budget option who dropped a season-high 23 points and four rebounds (31.0 FPTS) in Minnesota’s win last night.
Rockets at Grizzlies
There are two critical players with questionable designations for tonight’s contest: Rockets center Alperen Şengün ($9,000), who has a calf injury, and Memphis point guard Ja Morant ($8,900), who has been dealing with shoulder soreness. Şengün has yet to miss a game this season, so it’s unclear what kinds of lineups Ime Udoka would throw out if he’s unable to suit up, but for the Grizzlies, Scotty Pippen Jr. ($3,800) might have good value if Morant doesn’t play. The 24-year-old has struggled as of late, but for the season, he’s averaging 9.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists (23.6 FPTS) in just 21.3 minutes per game. In addition to Pippen, Morant’s co-star, Jaren Jackson Jr. ($7,800) would take on a greater share of the offensive load if he’s sidelined, although Jackson might have a difficult time against Houston’s fifth-ranked defense.
Magic at Trail Blazers
Orlando is badly slumping, having lost eight of its last 10 games despite welcoming Franz Wagner ($7,800) back from injury a few games ago. Wagner has played well, but it hasn’t quite been enough to stop the Magic’s skid. Orlando fans can surely expect Paolo Banchero ($8,600) to shoot better than one-for-14 against Portland’s 23rd-ranked defense, as he did in an embarrassing blowout loss to the Trail Blazers last Thursday in Wagner’s injury return. Jalen Suggs ($7,700) is also questionable with a quad injury, and if he misses time, Cole Anthony ($6,100) might have good value. For Portland, my favorite DFS play is Toumani Camara ($5,500), who dropped a season-high 24 points (42.25 FPTS) on Sunday in a narrow loss to the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
