After a long All-Star break, the NBA is back. Several superstars are set to take the floor on Thursday, including Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum and Nikola Jokic. With 18 teams in action, narrowing down who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats isn’t easy. Here are the three forwards at the top of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings:
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1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. LAC ($11,500)
A calf injury has kept Giannis Antetokounmpo out of action for Milwaukee’s last six games. There’s a decent chance that string of absences ends on Thursday. Bobby Portis’ suspension has made the team’s front court far more vulnerable going forward. That makes the Bucks even more dependent on their face of the franchise. Antetokounmpo has been terrific this season, averaging 60.4 fantasy points per game; that number trails only Nikola Jokic.
Assuming the two-time MVP plays tonight, he’ll have a tough matchup against the Clippers. This season, Los Angeles has allowed 107.8 points per game to opponents, fifth-fewest in the NBA. Still, when these two teams last met in January, Antetokounmpo notched 36 points and 13 rebounds (55.25 FPTS). Even with a massive price tag, The Greek Freak is an easy first pick for Thursday’s fantasy basketball rankings.
*Antetokounmpo (calf) is questionable for tonight’s game vs. the Clippers.
2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers at POR ($10,200)
The Lakers suffered an embarrassing 100-97 defeat to the Hornets last night. If there’s a silver lining for Los Angeles, LeBron James was fantastic once again, recording 59.75 fantasy points. The 40-year-old wonder has shown no signs of slowing down this season. Through 49 games, he’s posted 24.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 9.0 assists (50.9 FPTS).
With Anthony Davis gone, LeBron has taken on an even greater workload down low, often serving as a small-ball big for LA. That role could serve The King well on Thursday against a Trail Blazers team missing starting center Deandre Ayton (calf). The last time LBJ faced Portland, he dropped 38 points and eight assists over 36 minutes. A similar stat line tonight from the future Hall of Famer wouldn’t be shocking. Despite the five-digit price tag, James is still one of the most reliable players in fantasy basketball.
3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics at PHI ($10,000)
There isn’t a ton of ‘flash’ to his game, but Jayson Tatum gets the job done. The eighth-year pro is a true jack of all trades, without a significant weakness in any area. This season, the Duke alum has averaged 27.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game (50.0 FPTS). The forward ended the first half strong, recording at least 32 points in each of his last three appearances.
In a primetime clash on Thursday, Tatum will hope to continue his success against the 76ers. The six-time All-Star produced 35 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists when these two teams last met on February 2nd (66.75 FPTS). Assuming Joel Embiid plays (never a guarantee), scoring on Philadelphia might not be as easy tonight. However, that isn’t enough of a factor to keep the forward off of this list. As a slightly cheaper alternative to Giannis and LeBron, consider Boston’s young superstar in your fantasy lineups.
