On tap for Thursday is a five-game slate. Just like with NFL DFS, stacking games for NBA DFS is a strategy that can really pay off. Embracing correlation with multiple players from the same game can be the key to climbing the leaderboard in GPPs.
Below, I have featured two of my favorite games to stack on Thursday night.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Bucks are hosting the Lakers tonight, who will be without LeBron James (groin) for the second game in a row. This game carries a total of 224.5 points and Milwaukee is favored by 6.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Starting with the hosting Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,700) should dominate against the shorthanded Lakers. On top of James, Rui Hachimura (knee) and Jaxson Hayes (knee) are both out for Los Angeles, leaving them very thin in their frontcourt. Antetokounmpo is the NBA’s top paint scorer this season, and he should dominate against this Lakers team that will probably start the defensively inept Alex Len ($3,100) for the second game in a row. Antetokounmpo is leading the NBA with a 36.5% usage rate this season, and he is scoring 1.7 FPTS per minute. Furthermore, on his home floor this season, Antetokounmpo is generating 60.9 FPTS per game. Also, Brook Lopez ($5,400) has merit with the Lakers likely to have major issues up front. The veteran fresh off a 35.75 FPTS outing vs. the Pacers and Lopez never comes with much ownership in GPPs.
Luka Doncic ($12,000, ankle) is questionable for the Lakers, but he has played through questionable tags regularly this season, most recently in his last start on Monday. Doncic should suit up again tonight and is the No.1 option on the slate. With James, Hachimura and Hayes inactive Monday vs. the Nets, Doncic posted a triple-double of 62.5 FPTS across 41 minutes. With those three players off the court, Doncic is generating a godly 2.0 FPTS per minute, which is attributed to his usage and assist rates jumping 9.2 and 15.6 percentage points, respectively. Austin Reaves ($7,500) is also a great target. The wing nearly tallied a triple-double of his own Monday and finished with 44.5 FPTS. On the lower end, both Gabe Vincent ($4,500) and Jordan Goodwin ($3,600) are terrific value plays. Vincent started Monday and poured in a season-high 33 FPTS across 31 minutes vs. the Nets. Goodwin also had his best showing in a Lakers uniform, posting 30.5 FPTS across 24 minutes off the bench. Of the two, Goodwin is the better value at a cheaper salary. With James, Hachimura, and Hayes off the court this season, Goodwin has been excellent with 1.4 FPTS per minute.
Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets
This clash between the Bulls and Nets carries a 230-point total and a tight two-point spread on DraftKings Sportsbook, and both clubs present many appealing DFS plays.
The Bulls are the top source of value on the slate with Josh Giddey (ankle) and Lonzo Ball (wrist) doubtful, and Ayo Dosunmu (shoulder) out for the season. Coby White ($7,500) should take over as the team’s top option, and he is way underpriced for this situation, especially against the Nets, who rank 25th in defensive rating since the All-Star break. White has made two starts with Giddey, Ball and Dosunmu inactive this season, and White has produced 45.1 FPTS per game in those contests. With Giddey, Ball, and Dosunmu off the floor this season, White supplies 1.2 FPTS per minute with a 27.8% usage rate. On the cheaper side, Tre Jones ($4,800), Matas Buzelis ($4,800), and Kevin Huerter ($4,300) all are awesome bargain plays. Jones should see all the minutes he can handle and is a safe bet for over 30 FPTS, while Buzelis and Huerter both should exceed five-times value with expanded workloads in this prime spot against the struggling Nets.
Brooklyn isn’t decimated by injuries like Chicago, but Noah Clowney (ankle) being out should slightly tighten their rotation and many of the Nets’ key pieces are underpriced for their potential against this Bulls team that ranks second in pace this season. Cam Thomas ($6,400) is the top option, as the high usage guard is in strong form, scoring at least 34 FPTS in three of his past four starts, and he scored 41 FPTS vs. the Bulls earlier this season. Cameron Johnson ($6,100) also comes into this game scoring at least 37 FPTS in three games in a row, while shooting 47.1% from beyond the arc during this timeframe. In his one matchup with the Bulls this season, Johnson posted 32 FPTS. Additionally, D’Angelo Russell ($5,100), Nic Claxton ($5,200), and Ziaire Williams ($4,800) are all viable targets that could surpass five-times value in this up-tempo spot and shouldn’t be overly popular.
