There are five NBA games on Thursday’s slate.
No team is playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Ben Sheppard, Isaiah Stewart, Jose Alvarado, Bruce Brown, Yves Missi, Pat Connaughton are questionable. Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Max Strus, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, D’Angelo Russell, Kelly Olynyk, and Jaylen Wells are out.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, There are two double-digit favorites: ATL -13.5 over BKN and MIL -15.5 over NOP. There is one game within 3 points: MIN -1 over MEM. There are two games with a total of at least 230: CLE/IND (230.5) and MIN/MEM (234). There is no game below 220.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $100K Fadeaway [$20K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves ($9,000): Morant is healthy and Morant is happy. Memphis is running more pick-and-roll action and Morant is thriving. He’s gone for at least 40 FPTS in 10 straight, with five of those over 50 FPTS and a high of 66 FPTS. And those games weren’t all cheapies either, as he balled out against the Warriors, Celtics, Lakers and Cavaliers.
Other Options: Cade Cunningham ($10,500), Trae Young ($9,900), Anthony Edwards ($9,500)
Value
Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks vs. New Orleans Pelicans ($4,800): KPJ has bounced around in his young career, already playing for four teams. From the outset, he was getting significant playing time, averaging 23.2 minutes in his rookie season, then playing over 30 minutes in the next three seasons. He had struggled to start his career, though. He missed one season, spent some time overseas and played for both the Clippers and the Bucks this season. Even after Damian Lillard went down with an injury, he was often below Ryan Rollins on the totem pole. Well, the cream has risen to the top because KPJ has been balling out. Over the last three games, he’s put up over 40 FPTS in all, with a high of 53 FPTS. Now he faces a Pelicans team that is 22nd in defensive rating over the last 10 games. I think most will click on Ty Jerome with Mitchell and Garland ruled out. Jerome is also $100 cheaper, so the ownership should be low for KPJ, but I think he can finish with more FPTS.
Other Options: Mikal Bridges ($5,700), Ty Jerome ($4,700), Caris LeVert ($4,500), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,500)
Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. New Orleans Pelicans ($12,700): I think Giannis has the highest floor/ceiling combo on the slate. Over the last four games, he’s been playing close to 40 minutes a night and has gone over 60 FPTS in all, including 74.75 and 94.25 FPTS games. As mentioned in the KPJ section, New Orleans has been bad at defense and they have no one to halt the train that will most definitely be rumbling down the paint time after time after time again.
Other Options: Ausar Thompson ($6,700)
Value
De’Andre Hunter, Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers ($4,300): I usually don’t like selecting one-dimensional scorers, but with the Cavaliers sitting Garland, Mitchell, Mobley and Strus, Hunter will likely enter the starting lineup, play over 30 minutes and see an uptick in usage rate. In the last four games, he’s put up over 20 FPTS in all with two over 30 FPTS.
Other Options: Bobby Portis ($5,700), Mikal Bridges ($5,700), Karlo Matkovic ($4,600), Caris LeVert ($4,500), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,500), Maxwell Lewis ($3,800)
Center
Stud
Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks at Brooklyn Nets ($8,400): Okongwu has put up at least 50 FPTS in three of the last four games, with a high of 62 FPTS. Brooklyn is 11th in pace while Atlanta is fifth over the last 10 games, so there should be plenty of opportunities for fantasy goodies. Brooklyn does not possess a banger in the middle, so Okongwu should be able to do his thing.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,700), Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,700), Jarrett Allen ($6,500)
Value
Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves ($5,400): Since Taylor Jenkins was fired, Memphis has utilized more pick-and-roll action. Edey is a ferocious screener, so he’s seen an increase in playing time: 32, 28, 29 and 31 minutes over the last four contests. We know Edey can score in the post, but that’s not what he’s been asked to do early in his career. He’s out there to set screens, be a rim protector and do work on the boards. Edey has grabbed 21, 13, 16 and 19 boards while racking up a total of seven blocks. That’s translated to over 40 FPTS in three of the last four games. There’s little chance Edey gets played off the floor with Gobert on the other side.
Other Options: Bobby Portis ($5,700), Karlo Matkovic ($4,600)
