There are five NBA games on Thursday’s slate.
No team is playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Anthony Edwards, PJ Washington, Dwight Powell, Wendell Moore Jr., Cole Anthony and Trayce Jackson-Davis are questionable. Kelly Olynyk is out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, GSW is -5.5 over ORL on the road with the total at 210.5. DEN is -3 over MIL on the road with the total at 241.5. DAL is -10 over CHA at home with the total at 223.5. PHO is -7.5 over NOP at home with the total at 236. LAL is -4.5 over MIN at home with the total at 224.5.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns ($7,900): Over the last 11 games, Murphy has put up at least 40 FPTS in nine of those contests, with three over 50 FPTS. Another 50-burger could be percolating on the grill because the Suns have been dead last in defensive rating over the last 10 games. Phoenix has also been 8th in three-point frequency allowed and 10th in three-point percentage. Murphy is 16th in three-point attempts per game on the season. But he also grabs rebounds, dishes out dimes and racks up defensive stats. I think he could score in a similar vicinity as the higher-priced options.
Other Options: Luka Doncic ($11,000), Kyrie Irving ($9,200), Damian Lillard ($9,000), Devin Booker ($8,800), Jamal Murray ($7,700), Bradley Beal ($6,800), Brandin Podziemski ($6,200)
Value
Damion Baugh, Charlotte Hornets at Dallas Mavericks ($4,100): Baugh signed a two-way contract on February 12th. He has played in four of the six games since, averaging 10.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.5 treys in 28.4 minutes. That’s been good for at least 20 FPTS in every game. There’s a risk that he doesn’t play, but he’s also shown that he can provide the fantasy goodies in a variety of ways. In the last two games, Baugh shot 2-of-13 and 1-of-8, yet still put up over 20 FPTS.
Other Options: Jose Alvarado ($5,700), Christian Braun ($5,600), Klay Thompson ($5,400), Max Christie ($5,100), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($4,800), Moses Moody ($4,700), Terrence Shannon Jr. ($3,900), AJ Green ($3,600)
Forward
Stud
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers ($7,900): Since Julius Randle has been out for a stretch of 11 games, Reid has put up at least 40 FPTS in nine of those contests, with a high of 60 FPTS. And they haven’t been cheapies, either. Minnesota has played the Thunder, the best defensive team in the league, in three of the last four games. That 60-burger was against the Thunder. Reid is a matchup nightmare because he can shoot from downtown, attack closeouts and punish smaller defenders in the paint.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,700), LeBron James ($9,900), Kevin Durant ($9,000), Zion Williamson ($8,700), Franz Wagner ($8,400), Paolo Banchero ($8,200), Trey Murphy III ($7,900), Jimmy Butler ($7,600), PJ Washington ($7,200), Jayden McDaniels ($6,900), Bradley Beal ($6,800), Draymond Green ($6,100)
Value
Bol Bol, Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans ($4,900): It’s America’s favorite game: Whack a Bol! Bol started two games and received over 30 minutes earlier in the month, putting up 52.5 and 26 FPTS. He then played 10, 13 and seven minutes in the next three games. Shrug. On Wednesday, he was reinserted into the starting lineup and put up 39 FPTS in 32 minutes. No one knows if Bol will play or not, but if he does, he’s going to rack up fantasy goodies. Bol averages 1.11 FPTS per minute and does so in a variety of ways. New Orleans is 5th in pace and 22nd in defensive rating over the last 10 games. The one caveat is the matchup against Zion Williamson, who could punk him off the court.
Other Options: Rui Hachimura ($5,700), Christian Braun ($5,600), Klay Thompson ($5,400), Aaron Gordon ($5,300), Max Christie ($5,100), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($4,800), Moses Moody ($4,700), Karlo Matkovic ($4,000), Terrence Shannon Jr. ($3,900)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at Milwaukee Bucks ($12,300): Jokic is always expensive. So is a Ferrari. Stop complaining because Jokic has the highest floor/ceiling combo in the game. He’s failed to hit 50 FPTS only six times this season. He’s gone over 80 FPTS 11 times, with four of those over 90!
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,700), Kevin Durant ($9,000), Naz Reid ($7,900), PJ Washington ($7,200), Draymond Green ($6,100)
Value
Jusuf Nurkic, Charlotte Hornets at Dallas Mavericks ($4,200): Since arriving in Charlotte, Nurkic has put up at least 20 FPTS in all five games, despite playing fewer than 20 minutes. Over the last three games, he’s gone over 30 FPTS in all. On Tuesday, he received 27 minutes, the first time over 20 and finished with 34.25 FPTS. Dallas is light at center, so Nurkic should continue doing his thing.
Other Options: Brook Lopez ($5,600), Aaron Gordon ($5,300), Karlo Matkovic ($4,000)
