We’re so back.
Yes, the NBA technically returned last night at 10:00 p.m. ET in Los Angeles with a single game between the Lakers and the Hornets, but things truly get back to normal on Thursday thanks to a nine-game featured NBA slate.
Here are three players you need to be getting into your DraftKings lineups this evening.
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C Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Charlotte Hornets, $12,500
Look, it’s going to be expensive to get Nikola Jokic in your lineups. I get that. In fact, if Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,500; calf) is unable to play through a questionable tag, Jokic will almost be $2,000 more expensive that any other active asset on this slate. Yet he’s proven himself to be worth the hefty price tag time and time again. Jokic has exceeded 60 FPTS in seven of his last eight starts, with the lone exception coming on February 8 against the Suns. The former MVP still registered 26 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and 54.25 FPTS that night — and he did so in just 28.6 minutes. That’s the main fear on Thursday: Will this game stay competitive enough to get Jokic to his usual allotment of minutes? I’ll take the risk. The potential of this matchup is simply too juicy. So far this season, no team is surrendering more FPTS per contest to opposing centers than the Hornets.
PF Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers vs. Memphis Grizzlies, $7,800
You’re going to want to get some exposure to this game. For context, this tilt between the Pacers and the Grizzlies currently has a 249.5-point total on the DraftKings Sportsbook. That isn’t just the highest of this slate, it’s one of the highest I’ve seen all season long. It’s not difficult to figure out why, either. Memphis comes into Thursday ranking first in the NBA in pace (104.5), while Indiana sits sixth (100.7). This is going to be a track meet and that’s an environment where Pascal Siakam usually thrives. The All-Star has long been one of the league’s best transition threats and he’ll get to showcase that skill set this evening. Siakam is also in the midst of a pretty nice stretch. Dating back to January 16, a span of 12 games for the Pacers, Siakam has clearly established himself as the team’s No. 1 offensive option. In that time frame, Siakam leads all Indiana starters in both usage rate (25.1%) and FPTS generated per minute (1.28). It doesn’t hurt that the Grizzlies are allowing the most FPTS per contest to opposing power forwards in 2024-25, as well.
C Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers, $5,600
It’s been over a week since the Trail Blazers announced that Deandre Ayton would miss at least a month with a left calf strain. It’s also been over a week since Donovan Clingan stepped into Portland’s starting lineup and unleashed a stat line that consisted of 17 points, 20 rebounds and 52.0 FPTS in 31.0 minutes of action. It’s my job to make sure people don’t forget. It was just the second time this season that the rookie exceeded 30 minutes of playing time, yet if that was a sign of things to come, it seems like the sky is the limit. In 11 starts in 2024-25, Clingan is averaging 7.7 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. But again, that’s in only 22.9 minutes. If his role on Thursday against the Lakers is anything like it was last Wednesday, Clingan’s upside is obvious, especially with Los Angeles lacking big man depth after the botched Mark Williams trade.
