There are five NBA games on Thursday’s slate.
CHI, IND, LAL, NYK and SAC are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges are probable. Moussa Diabate and Gary Payton II are questionable. Cameron Johnson and RJ Barrett are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, NYK is -9 over CHA on the road with the total at 225.5. IND is -9 over BKN at home with the total at 231.5. GSW is -13.5 over TOR at home with the total at 227.5. SAC is -6.5 over CHI with the total at 236.5. MIL is -1.5 over LAL on the road with the total at 227.5.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks ($9,100): With LeBron James injured, Reaves has stepped up big time. Over the last five games, he’s put up over 40 FPTS in all with a high of 76 FPTS. The usage rate has been in the 30% range, about 5% higher than the season average. He’s been the number one player for fantasy on a per-game basis! This kind of production isn’t unprecedented, though, as he balled out at the end of his rookie season and posted a triple-double. His high school teammates called him “Hillbilly Kobe” for a reason. Reaves faced the Bucks four games ago and put up 43 FPTS.
Other Options: Luka Doncic ($12,700), LaMelo Ball ($9,500), Damian Lillard ($8,500), Josh Giddey ($8,500), Mikal Bridges ($6,200)
Value
D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets at Indiana Pacers ($5,800): I’m not crazy about the value at this position, as everyone is fairly priced. Russell has a wide range of outcomes and won’t play 30 minutes. That said, he has the highest upside and could go for 50-FPTS if things break right. He’s going to dish out dimes and has had games recently when the usage rate was over 30%. It all comes down to whether he’s aggressive and the shots are falling.
Other Options: Miles McBride ($5,800), Brandin Podziemski ($5,700), Kevin Huerter ($5,500), Aaron Nesmith ($5,300), Ziaire Williams ($4,700), AJ Lawson ($4,700)
Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks at Los Angeles Lakers ($11,700): I do like some of the cheaper options at the position, and think they could score in a similar range as Giannis. But there’s risk, so it will probably come down to roster construction and projected ownership. For example, Giddey is returning from an ankle injury, and this will be the second leg of a back-to-back, but he had gone for over 50 FPTS in eight of the last nine games, with three over 60 FPTS. Giannis has such a high floor/ceiling combo that I’ll play it safe for now. He’s gone for over 50 FPTS in 12 of the last 13 games, with four over 60 FPTS. On the season, he has a high of 97.5 FPTS, a ceiling only Luka Doncic can match. Giannis’ floor is the ceiling for everyone else at the position.
Other Options: Miles Bridges ($9,000), Josh Giddey ($8,500), DeMar DeRozan ($8,200), Draymond Green ($6,300), Mikal Bridges ($6,200)
Value
Aaron Nesmith, Indiana Pacers vs. Brooklyn Nets ($5,300): Nesmith has been ticking like a Swiss watch recently, as he’s put up around 20 FPTS in 12 of the last 13 games. On Saturday, he exhibited some upside, scoring 30 points, good for 43 FPTS. This is the second leg of a back-to-back for Indiana, and players have been sitting out recently. The floor is a comfortable 20 FPTS with a sprinkle of upside if the situation presents itself.
Other Options: Keegan Murray ($6,000), Kevin Huerter ($5,500), Ziaire Williams ($4,700), DaQuan Jeffries ($4,400), Colin Castleton ($4,300), Trey Lyles ($3,700)
Center
Stud
Jonas Valanciunas, Sacramento Kings vs. Chicago Bulls ($7,700): Domantas Sabonis returned from injury two games ago. Now he’s out again after suffering eye and hamstring injuries. <insert Abe Simpson walk in, walk out GIF> It is once again Valanciunas’ time to shine. In the prior stint filling in for Sabonis, Valanciunas put up over 30 FPTS in six straight, with four of those over 40 FPTS.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,700), Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,700), Draymond Green ($6,300)
Value
Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks ($5,000): Since returning from injury, Hayes has played 28 and 29 minutes, finishing with 32.25 and 35 FPTS. Playing alongside Luka Doncic has been a boom offensively because of all the oops he’s flushing. That seems to have energized Hayes on the defensive end, as he’s racked up two blocks and three steals.
Other Options: Brook Lopez ($5,500), Colin Castleton ($4,300), Quinten Post ($3,800), Trey Lyles ($3,700)
