There are six NBA games on Thursday’s slate.
IND, LAL and WAS are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Anthony Davis, Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey, Nikola Vucevic, Cason Wallace, Brandon Williams, Ty Jerome, Lonzo Ball, Alec Burks, Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin are questionable. Cole Anthony is doubtful. Evan Mobley and PJ Washington are out.
Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there are four double-digit favorites: HOU -11.5 over UTA, CLE -13.5 over SAS, IND -11 over WAS and OKC -10 over MEM. There is one game within 3 points: MIA -1 over ATL. There are three games with a total of at least 230: SAS/CLE (237.5), IND/WAS (238) and MEM/OKC (242). There is one game below 220: DAL/ORL (219).
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards ($8,700): Haliburton has double-doubled with points and assists in each of the last 11 games. Over that span, he’s put up over 50 FPTS in six of those contests with two over 60 FPTS. Now he faces a Wizards team that is second in pace and 20th in defensive rating over the last 10 games. I think Haliburton matches or exceeds the fantasy production of Doncic and SGA at a significant discount.
Other Options: Luka Doncic ($12,000), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,900), Josh Giddey ($9,500), Coby White ($8,300), Dyson Daniels ($7,100)
Value
Anthony Black, Orlando Magic vs. Dallas Mavericks ($4,000): With Cole Anthony out, Black has seen an increase in playing time. Usually mired in the 20-minute range, Black has received 30, 30 and 26 minutes over the last three games. He’s put up 33.25, 37.25 and 29.5 FPTS over that span. Anthony is doubtful for Thursday, so Black should see around 30 minutes once again. The matchup is a fantastic one as well. Dallas is sixth in pace and 26th in defensive rating over the last 10 games.
Other Options: Carlton Carrington ($4,900), Ty Jerome ($4,500), AJ Johnson ($4,200), Davion Mitchell ($4,000)
Forward
Stud
Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic vs. Dallas Mavericks ($9,900): When the season began, Banchero was the alpha on offense for Orlando. Then he got injured and Franz Wagner stepped into that role and thrived. Banchero returned, and then Wagner succumbed to injury. Once both became healthy and were on the court together, it took some time to establish things. Well, things are definitely established now. Over the last seven games, Banchero has garnered a 34.2% usage rate and averaged 32 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals. He’s put up at least 40 FPTS in all those games with five over 50 and two over 60 FPTS. As mentioned in the Black section, Dallas plays fast and eschews defense. Anthony Davis has returned for Dallas, but he’s questionable for this one.
Other Options: LeBron James ($10,300), Evan Mobley ($8,600), Bam Adebayo ($8,300), Coby White ($8,300), Chet Holmgren ($7,500), Andrew Wiggins ($6,600)
Value
Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers ($4,500): Buzelis has certainly flashed at times this season. He’s also shown that he’s still a rookie. The range of outcomes is wide, but he could thrive in this one. The Lakers have been porous on defense recently and both Giddey and Vucevic could be out for this one. Buzelis just put up 38.5 FPTS against the Lakers two games ago.
Other Options:
Center
Stud
Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs ($6,800): Evan Mobley has been ruled out for this one, so I’m shopping at Jarrett. In the last two games that Mobley sat, Allen put up 41.5 and 55.75 FPTS. That’s pretty, pretty, pretty good. There is significant blowout risk in this one, but the depth chart is thin at center and I think Allen still thrives in the playing time that he does get.
Other Options: Bam Adebayo ($8,300), Nikola Vucevic ($7,800), Chet Holmgren ($7,500), Onyeka Okongwu ($7,400), Isaiah Hartenstein ($7,000), Myles Turner ($6,500)
Value
Jalen Smith, Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers ($3,000): Smith is the bare minimum and there’s a chance he’s leapfrogged Zach Collins on the depth chart. Smith received 15 minutes last game while Collins played only four. In the prior game, Collins received 18 minutes with Smith getting four, so there’s uncertainty. But oftentimes, uncertainty provides the greatest source of profit. Smith put up 30.75 FPTS in only 15 minutes last game. Now there’s a chance he gets over 20 minutes with Vucevic questionable.
Other Options: Kel’el Ware ($5,600), Kai Jones ($4,900), Tristan Vukcevic ($4,200)
