There are five NBA games on Thursday’s slate.
No team is playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Jonathan Kuminga is probable. Luka Doncic, Domantas Sabonis, Jake LaRavia, Yves Missi and Noah Clowney are questionable. Josh Giddey and Lonzo Ball are doubtful. LeBron James, Bilal Coulibaly, Kelly Olynyk, Brandin Podziemski and Jaxson Hayes are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, DET is -15 over WAS at home with a 232.5 total. MIL is -4 over LAL at home with a 228 total. CHI is -3 over BKN at home with a 227 total. ORL is -1 over NOP on the road with a 213.5 total. GSW is -6.5 over SAC at home with a 234 total.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers at Milwaukee Bucks ($12,000): I like many of the options at the position, but I can only write up one player, so….HalleLuka it is! Doncic is garnering a 36% usage rate over the last five games and has put up at least 50 FPTS in all, with three over 60 FPTS. LeBron James is still out, so Doncic is going to be the main offensive catalyst for the Lakers. He averages 1.49 FPTS per minute and is a threat to triple-double every night, just as he did on Monday. Doncic has one of the best floor/ceiling combos in the game. Back in December, he put up 94.25 FPTS. Doncic is questionable, so if he’s out, then I’d pivot to Austin Reaves, who would garner a massive usage rate.
Other Options: Cade Cunningham ($10,300), Stephen Curry ($9,700), Damian Lillard ($9,000), Austin Reaves ($7,500), Cam Thomas ($6,400)
Value
D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls ($5,100): I like most of the below-listed players to score somewhere in the 20 to 30 FPTS range. There are a couple who can access a ceiling higher than that, but Russell is the likeliest to put up a 50-burger. He put up 51.5 FPTS two games ago and has exceeded the threshold two other times this season, with a high of 60.25 FPTS. Chicago has been 10th in defensive rating over the last 10 games, but they are also playing at the second-fastest pace.
Other Options: Tre Jones ($5,000), Cole Anthony ($4,900), Ziaire Williams ($4,800), Jose Alvarado ($4,700), Gabe Vincent ($4,500), Kevin Huerter ($4,300), Taurean Prince ($4,200)
Forward
Stud
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings ($7,900): Clicking on Butler is always risky because he often defers to teammates. That could happen again on Thursday, which would likely put him in the 20 to 30 FPTS range. That said, he can also go for 50 FPTS, which he did on Monday. In the two prior games, he went for 43.75 and 42.5 FPTS. Butler is happy and engaged currently, so I will continue to ride the wave.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,700), Paolo Banchero ($9,000), Coby White ($7,300), Cam Thomas ($6,400), Cameron Johnson ($6,100)
Value
Kevin Huerter, Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets ($4,300): It took a minute for Huerter and the Bulls to get acclimated with each other, but things look good now. Over the last seven games, Huerter has put up over 20 FPTS in all with a high of 36.5 FPTS. He’s received 34 and 30 minutes over the last two games and should see over 30 minutes again, especially with Josh Giddey out. Huerter is known as as shooter, but he does have some playmaking chops and has been racking up steals. The Bulls are playing fast, so there should be plenty of opportunities to rack up fantasy goodies.
Other Options: Tobias Harris ($5,900), Kyshawn George ($5,700), Moses Moody ($4,900), Ziaire Williams ($4,800), Karlo Matkovic ($4,200), Jordan Goodwin ($3,600)
Center
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers ($11,700): I’m a teenie bit worried about the prospects for Giannis because the Lakers have been protecting the paint extremely well lately. So, maybe Giannis doesn’t have a ceiling game, but he’s still going to get his because the Lakers are devoid of shot blockers and… well, Giannis is Giannis. He will likely put up 50 FPTS. Is that good for the price? Debatable, but it is a relatively small slate and I’m not crazy about the other higher-priced options. Comes down to roster construction.
Other Options: Jonas Valanciunas ($7,900) if Sabonis is out, Jalen Duren ($6,900), Draymond Green ($6,400)
Value
Karlo Matkovic, New Orleans Pelicans vs. Orlando Magic ($4,200): Matkovic has put up at least 23 FPTS in each of the last four games, with a high of 34.25 FPTS. He flashed during Summer League and is doing the same with the opportunities presented to him. With Yves Missi questionable, there’s a chance Matkovic could see an uptick in playing time.
Other Options: Brook Lopez ($5,400), Nic Claxton ($5,200), Richaun Holmes ($5,000)
