Thursday delivers a six-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 $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
Toronto Raptors vs. Portland Trail Blazers
With the Raptors resting Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl tonight, Toronto is the best source of value on the slate. Scottie Barnes ($8,300, hand) is also questionable and his absence would strength the stock of all the Raptors’ players.
If this was earlier in the season and the Raptors still had something to play for, Barnes would be a great target with Quickley and Poeltl sitting. However, with the Raptors trying to lose to improve their lottery chances as the season comes to a close, Barnes has been limited and seen less than 30 minutes in five straight games, making him a player to avoid. RJ Barrett ($7,800) is in the same boat, as he has received less than 30 minutes in five of his last six.
Instead, Toronto’s younger core should see most of the work and are the players to focus on from the Raptors, with Jamal Shead ($4,500), Ja’Kobe Walter ($4,200) and Orlando Robinson ($4,3000) being the best options. The Raptors have played three games without Quickley and Poeltl since the All-Star break, and Shead, Walter and Robinson are averaging 32.3, 28.4 and 28.7 FPTS per game in those contests, respectively. Facing a Trail Blazers defense that ranks 26th in rating over their last five games, Shead, Walter and Robinson are some of the best values on the slate.
For the Trail Blazers, Deni Avdija ($8,600) is one of the best spends on the board. The forward erupted for 72.25 FPTS vs. the Hawks in his last start, which is the fourth time in his last seven starts that Advija has eclipsed 50 FPTS. The veteran is handling a 25.3% usage rate and leading Portland with 1.3 FPTS per minute since the All-Star break. Shaedon Sharpe ($7,100) is also viable and if Anfernee Simons ($6,500, questionable, forearm) joins Jerami Grant (doubtful, knee) on the sidelines, Sharpe will see a significant boost. In the two games the Trail Blazers have been without Simons and Grant this season, Sharpe has been awesome with 46.8 FPTS per game and a 26.9% usage rate. Also, if Simons is out, Dalano Banton ($4,300) will be a must-play, as he is averaging 39 FPTS in 28 minutes per game with a 22% usage rate with Simons and Grant inactive this season.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
The tanking 76ers continue to be a strong team to target for DFS. Quentin Grimes ($9,100) has been Philadelphia’s main player and is the top option. Since the All-Star break, Grimes is leading the 76ers with 40 FPTS per game and 28.6% usage rate. Also, Adem Bona ($5,200) and Lonnie Walker ($4,700) are both appealing options. Starting at center for the last three games, Bona is producing 33.8 FPTS in 29 minutes per game. For the season, the big man is generating 0.92 FPTS per minute.
Walker missed some games with a neck injury recently, but he is back to full strength and has started in the last two games. With this starting job, Walker has flourished, scoring 37.75 FPTS vs. the Raptors and 25.75 FPTS vs. the Knicks. During this span, the wing has led the team with 35 minutes per game and he has seen a 20% usage rate.
As for the Bucks, this 76ers defense they are facing ranks dead last in defensive rating since the All-Star break and Milwaukee carries the highest implied team total on the slate in this spot at 120.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Bucks continue to be without Damian Lillard (calf) and Bobby Portis (suspension), and Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,100) is the top play on the slate in this situation. Antetokounmpo is on the heels of a 69.25 FPTS outing vs. the Suns and he is amassing 57.8 FPTS per game with a mammoth 38% usage with Lillard and Portis inactive this season.
Brook Lopez ($6,000), Kyle Kuzma ($6,200) and Ryan Rollins ($4,700) are all strong options from the Bucks as well. Lopez and Kumza are both averaging over 30 FPTS per game with Lillard and Portis out this season, while Rollins is scoring 26 FPTS per game in this situation. Notably, in Tuesday’s win over the Suns, Rollins posted a season-high 42 FPTS across 30 minutes.
