There are 11 NBA games on Thursday’s main slate. No teams are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
This article was written on Wednesday night. Any changes will be updated. Keep track of all the injury news at DK Network.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers at Utah Jazz ($12,000)
Doncic is garnering a massive 38% usage rate this season. He’s notched two triple-doubles and put up over 60 FPTS 12 times, topping 70 FPTS six times and 80 FPTS twice. Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton are out for this one. With those two off the court this season, Doncic has seen his usage rate swell by a staggering eight percentage points to a massive 46%. This matchup should be a fantasy-friendly one as Utah is fourth in pace and 29th in defensive rating. Cooper Flagg just had a career night against the Jazz, dropping 42 points, seven rebounds, and six assists on Monday night.
Other Options: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,500), Cade Cunningham ($10,300), Stephen Curry ($9,400), Devin Booker ($8,700), Jalen Brunson ($8,600), Jamal Murray ($8,500), Kevin Durant ($8,400), Kevin Porter Jr. ($8,200), Brandon Ingram ($8,200), Keyonte George ($7,900), Stephon Castle ($7,600), Cooper Flagg ($7,500), Kon Knueppel ($7,100), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($7,100), Andrew Nembhard ($6,900)
Value
Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets vs. Orlando Magic ($4,000)
Brown is only averaging 0.63 FPTS per minute, but he could see a substantial increase in playing time. On the season, Brown is averaging 23.7 minutes per game, but he could get over 30 minutes on Thursday. The Nuggets have been decimated by injuries on the wing. Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun have been out for a while. Both Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. are questionable for Thursday. Brown has put up around 25 FPTS in each of his last two games in roughly 27 minutes of action.
Other Options: Anthony Black ($5,900), Davion Mitchell ($5,600), Naji Marshall ($5,500), Bub Carrington ($5,300), Marcus Smart ($5,100), Reed Sheppard ($5,100), Ryan Nembhard ($4,800), Dylan Harper ($4,700), Jamal Shead ($4,700), Kris Dunn ($4,700), Jordan Clarkson ($4,500), T.J. McConnell ($4,400), Bogdan Bogdanovic ($4,400), Vit Krejci ($3,900), Brice Sensabaugh ($3,800), Jaden Ivey ($3,400), Jordan Miller ($3,400)
Forward
Stud
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks at Charlotte Hornets ($10,000)
Johnson won’t stop providing fantasy goodies, so we will not stop clicking on his name. With Trae Young sidelined, Johnson has hoisted much of the offensive responsibility onto his shoulders. He has recorded four consecutive triple-doubles and tallied six on the season, second behind only Nikola Jokic. Johnson has put up over 50 FPTS in each of his last seven games, with four of those over 70 FPTS. He seems poised to keep the momentum rolling against Charlotte, which ranks 23rd in defensive rating.
Other Options: Alperen Sengun ($9,600), Scottie Barnes ($9,000), LeBron James ($9,000), Jimmy Butler ($8,700), Michael Porter Jr. ($8,600), Kawhi Leonard ($8,600), Kevin Durant ($8,400), Lauri Markkanen ($8,100), Miles Bridges ($8,100), Brandon Miller ($7,400), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($7,100), P.J. Washington ($7,000), Mikal Bridges ($6,700), Jabari Smith Jr. ($6,300)
Value
Asa Newell, Atlanta Hawks at Charlotte Hornets ($3,100)
Newell is only priced at $100 above the minimum, but he’s put up 14.2, 19.8, 17.8, and 17 FPTS over the last four games in roughly 15 minutes per contest. His role has increased with Kristaps Porzingis’ sidelining, and he should continue seeing playing time in the teens. The 6-foot-10 rookie played his college ball at Georgia and was on that Montverde Academy High School team with Cooper Flagg and Derik Queen. Newell is a springy athlete who can space the floor on offense. He’s shooting 52% on an average of 1.5 attempts from downtown this season.
Other Options: Jay Huff ($5,800), Devin Vassell ($5,600), Noah Clowney ($5,500), Bobby Portis ($5,400), Tobias Harris ($5,000), Harrison Barnes ($4,900), Justin Champagnie ($4,700), Julian Champagnie ($4,500), Jordan Clarkson ($4,500), Danny Wolf ($4,400), Vit Krejci ($3,900), Brice Sensabaugh ($3,800), Jarred Vanderbilt ($3,100)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Orlando Magic ($12,800)
There are many good options at the top of the price range on this slate, but there looks to be plenty of value. I’ve written it before, and I may sound like a broken record — but Nikola Jokic is the greatest fantasy player of our generation. The floor ceiling is the highest in the game, and some may argue that he’s not priced high enough. If I can fit him in, I always try to because he leads the league with 12 triple-doubles and is a threat to go for 80 FPTS on any given night.
Other Options: Alperen Sengun ($9,600), Alex Sarr ($8,100), Bam Adebayo ($8,000), Onyeka Okongwu ($7,700), Jalen Duren ($7,500), Derik Queen ($7,400), Nic Claxton ($6,700), Mark Williams ($6,100)
Value
Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers at Utah Jazz ($3,500)
Deandre Ayton has been ruled out, so Hayes appears in line to make his third start of the season. In the previous two, Hayes received 33 and 30 minutes and finished with 21 and 26.8 FPTS, respectively. Utah is fourth in pace, and Hayes loves to get out in transition. He should also flush plenty of lobs from both Luka Doncic and LeBron James in this one.
Other Options: Jay Huff ($5,800), Bobby Portis ($5,400), Wendell Carter Jr. ($5,300), Quentin Post ($5,300), Danny Wolf ($4,400), Moussa Diabate ($4,000), Dwight Powell ($3,300), Ariel Hukporti ($3,100) if Mitchell Robinson is out, Asa Newell ($3,100)
