There are six NBA games on Thursday’s slate. CHA is 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 $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets at Washington Wizards ($9,800)
There’s a big fat Q next to Murray’s name, but he’s officially probable so it’s likely that he plays. On the season, Murray has a 27.6% usage rate. In the 13 games since Nikola Jokic has been out, that number has spiked to 30.94%. Over that span, he’s gone over 50 FPTS eight times with four of those over 60 FPTS. Now he gets to face a Wizards team that is seventh in pace and 29th in defensive rating.
Other Options: Anthony Edwards ($9,500), Keyonte George ($8,300), De’Aaron Fox ($7,200), Naji Marshall ($6,900), Stephon Castle ($6,800), Coby White ($6,700), Kon Knueppel ($6,600), Donte DiVincenzo ($6,500), Kyshawn George ($6,400)
Value
Max Christie, Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors ($5,200)
Christie doesn’t do much outside of hitting treys and grabbing rebounds. He will provide a few dimes a game, though. That said, he’s been on quite the heater recently, shooting 9-of-13 and 7-of-13 from the field over the last two games. That translated to 26 and 22 points, 40 and 36 FPTS. The normal expectation is somewhere around 20 FPTS, but he has scored double-digit points in nine straight and popped off for 41.2 FPTS seven games ago as well, so the floor/ceiling combo isn’t bad.
Other Options: Julian Champagnie ($5,700), Ayo Dosunmu ($5,600), Bub Carrington ($5,400), Brandin Podziemski ($5,300), Jalen Pickett ($5,300), Kevin Huerter ($4,800), Tre Johnson ($4,500)
Forward
Stud
Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Chicago Bulls ($6,400)
McDaniels entered the league as a lengthy, stout defender, and he still maintains that prowess. The offensive bag has gotten deeper, though. It’s just that he’s not been asked to dig into it on a consistent basis. Over the last seven games, McDaniels has attempted at least 14 shots four times. Over the last nine games, he’s put up at least 30 FPTS seven times with a high of 40.8 FPTS. The beauty with McDaniels is that he contributes in the defensive categories on a consistent basis. The chef’s kiss with McDaniels is the recent playmaking, as he’s dished out six, five, four and five dimes in the last four games. The matchup should be a fantasy-friendly one as Chicago is fourth in pace and 23rd in defensive rating.
Other Options: Alperen Sengun ($9,400), Julius Randle ($8,500), Peyton Watson ($7,600), Brandon Miller ($7,000), Naji Marshall ($6,900), Jalen Smith ($6,300), Naz Reid ($6,200)
Value
Julian Champagnie, San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz ($5,700)
I’m not enamored with the value at forward on this slate and the price isn’t great for Champagnie, but here we are. A ringing endorsement! The range of outcomes is wide for Champagnie, as it wouldn’t surprise me if he finished in the teens or over 40 FPTS. He doesn’t contribute much in the defensive stats and won’t dish out many dimes, but he can shoot and is very good on the glass. On the season, he’s put up over 30 FPTS 12 times with five of those over 40 FPTS and a high of 50.5 FPTS. The matchup is a good one as Utah is third in pace, dead-last in defensive rating and allows the most three-point attempts, the most three-point makes and the third-highest percentage from beyond the arc.
Other Options: Ace Bailey ($5,400), Kevin Huerter ($4,800), Jonathan Kuminga ($4,500)
Center
Stud
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz ($9,700)
I haven’t clicked on Wemby’s name in a while because he’s been mired in the mid-to-high 20s for playing time. Over the last three games, though, he finally cracked the 30-minute barrier, hitting the mark twice. Last game he only went for 30.5 FPTS against a tough Houston team, but in the other one, Wemby put up 59.5 FPTS against these same Jazz in only 26 minutes. Utah plays fast, eschews defense and there’s a chance Wemby plays over 30 minutes in what should be a fantasy-friendly environment.
Other Options: Alperen Sengun ($9,400), Nikola Vucevic ($7,800), Jusuf Nurkic ($7,700), Rudy Gobert ($6,300), Jalen Smith ($6,300), Naz Reid ($6,200)
Value
Moussa Cisse, Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors ($4,400)
With both Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford out, Dwight Powell has been starting at center for Dallas, but it’s been Cisse that has made more of a fantasy impact. Despite playing only 20, 17 and 23 minutes off the bench, Cisse delivered 36.2, 21 and 36.2 FPTS. He’s been a force on the glass and blocked seven shots over that span. Gafford is questionable and could play in this one. If he plays, that could push Cisse out of the rotation. Cisse is also questionable with an illness, so make sure he’s active.
Other Options: Luke Kornet ($4,000)
