There are six NBA games on Thursday’s slate.
BOS is playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Tyrese Haliburton, Paul George, Josh Giddey, Bennedict Mathurin, Kevin Huerter, Patrick Williams, Cole Anthony, Justin Edwards and Lonzo Ball are questionable. Nikola Vucevic is doubtful. Tyrese Maxey, Fred VanVleet and Ayo Dosunmu are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there are two double-digit favorites: BOS -13 over PHI and GSW -10 over BKN. There are two games within 3 points: IND -2 over ATL and LAL -2.5 over NYK. There is one game with a total over 230: IND/ATL (246.5). There is one game below 220: CHI/ORL (218.5).
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks ($8,800): It’s tough not to click on Doncic against the Knicks, but Haliburton has been so good lately and gets one of the juiciest matchups for fantasy: the Atlanta Hawks. Over the past 10 games, Atlanta has been 1st in pace and 24th in defensive rating. Haliburton has put up at least 45 FPTS in each of the last seven games, with four over 50 and a high of 67.76 FPTS. There’s a good chance Haliburton matches or even exceeds the production of Doncic at $2,400 cheaper. UPDATE: Haliburton is now listed as questionable due to a hip issue.
Other Options: Luka Doncic ($11,200), Trae Young ($9,800), Stephen Curry ($9,300), Jalen Green ($7,300), Dyson Daniels ($6,800), Kelly Oubre Jr. ($6,200), Quentin Grimes ($6,100)
Value
Jared Butler, Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics ($3,500): There is a little risk with Butler since Nick Nurse could play Jeff Dowtin more, something he had done recently. That said, Butler did receive 25 minutes on Tuesday and put up 19.25 FPTS. He’s probably not going to start, but with Tyrese Maxey out, Butler should play in the mid-to-high 20s. He’s averaging a respectable 1.12 FPTS per minute.
Other Options: Brandin Podziemski ($5,800), Caris LeVert ($5,300), Aaron Nesmith ($4,800)
Forward
Stud
Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic vs. Chicago Bulls ($8,900): Banchero and Franz Wagner are 1A and 1B on offense for Orlando, but Banchero was Batman while Wagner was Robin to begin the season. When Banchero got injured, Wagner donned the Batman suit and thrived, but then Wagner succumbed to the same injury that took down Banchero. Someone needs to change that suit! When Wagner returned to action, it took a bit for things to get re-established, but it looks like Banchero is back to being 1A with Wagner 1B. Over the last three games, Banchero has games with 73.5 and 59.5 FPTS. Now he faces a Bulls team that is 6th in pace and 26th in defensive rating over the last 10 games.
Other Options: LeBron James ($10,500), Jayson Tatum ($10,100), Franz Wagner ($8,600), Kelly Oubre Jr. ($6,200)
Value
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans ($5,500): Eason isn’t a high-usage player, but he contributes a little something across the board. Houston is managing his minutes, as he’s exceeded 30 minutes only twice in the last five games. That said, he’s put up at least 22 FPTS in all of those contests, with two over 40 FPTS. And it’s that upside that has me intrigued, as he’s the likeliest to hit that ceiling of the players in this price range.
Other Options: Caris LeVert ($5,300), Guerschon Yabusele ($5,100), Aaron Nesmith ($4,800), Mouhamed Gueye ($4,000) if he starts
Center
Stud
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans ($9,400): Outside of one game, Sengun put up at least 44 FPTS in four of the last five games, with two over 50 FPTS. Sengun has such a high floor because he’s an offensive threat, does yeoman’s work on the glass and is an excellent distributor. He even chips in some defensive stats from time to time. The matchup is a good one, as the Pelicans have boosted the FPPM (fantasy points per minute) to centers by 7.61%, the sixth-most in the NBA.
Other Options: Zach Collins ($6,500) if Vucevic is out, Onyeka Okongwu ($6,400), Myles Turner ($6,300)
Value
Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks ($4,800): I’m not crazy about the value at center on this slate, so Hayes it is. What a ringing endorsement! Hayes is only playing around 25 minutes a night and could very well end up in the teens for FPTS. He is coming off a 32.5 FPTS game on Tuesday and I’m thinking he can get busy against a porous Knicks defense. Hayes is building chemistry with Doncic as a lob threat and he’s been doing some work on the glass.
Other Options: Draymond Green ($6,000), Andre Drummond ($5,200), Guerschon Yabusele ($5,100)
