There are seven NBA games on Thursday’s slate, following a lengthy hiatus from the All-Star break.
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 $350K Return From Break Special [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Atlanta Hawks ($9,600)
Maxey has put up at least 50 FPTS 28 times this season, including 13 performances over 60 and a high of 86.2. Joel Embiid was out for only eight of those games, but the 86.2-fantasy-point outburst was sans Embiid. With Embiid and Paul George sidelined this season, as they will be on Thursday, Maxey’s usage swells to a team-high 32.51%. Atlanta ranks sixth in pace and 21st in defensive rating over its last 15 games, so the environment should be fantasy-friendly.
Other Options: Cade Cunningham ($10,300), Donovan Mitchell ($9,500), James Harden ($9,000), Jalen Brunson ($8,900), Devin Booker ($8,300), Brandon Ingram ($8,200), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($7,400), Immanuel Quickley ($7,200), Josh Hart ($6,800), CJ McCollum ($6,600)
Value
Nolan Traore, Brooklyn Nets at Cleveland Cavaliers ($4,600)
Traore entered the starting lineup eight games ago. He wasn’t exactly lighting things up, but Traore has put up at least 35 FPTS in three of his last four contests, with a high of 40.2 FPTS. He scored 25.2 FPTS in the other, so still decent — especially since he only played 24 minutes in that one due to foul trouble. He’s played over 32 minutes in each of the three other starts, and minutes are half the battle.
Other Options: Jaden Ivey ($5,400), Collin Sexton ($5,200), Egor Demin ($4,900), Rob Dillingham ($3,800), Jose Alvarado ($3,700), Ja’Kobe Walter ($3,300)
Forward
Stud
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks at Philadelphia 76ers ($10,400)
Philadelphia is only 21st in pace over the last 15 games, but Joel Embiid played in 10 of those. With the offense flowing through Maxey, the 76ers should play much faster — especially since Atlanta ranks sixth in pace during that span. Both teams sit in the 20s for defensive rating, so points should come in bunches. Johnson thrives in up-and-down affairs with his athleticism, and his 10 triple-doubles this season are second only to Nikola Jokic. Johnson has racked up at least 59 FPTS in five straight games.
Other Options: Alperen Sengun ($9,200), Scottie Barnes ($9,100), Michael Porter Jr. ($8,600), Evan Mobley ($8,500), OG Anunoby ($6,900), Josh Hart ($6,800), Jabari Smith Jr. ($6,600), Matas Buzelis ($6,500)
Value
Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards ($5,200)
Ivica Zubac and Pascal Siakam are out, while Micah Potter is questionable — so the frontcourt is stretched mighty thin for this one. There’s a chance Huff sees at least 30 minutes in this one, something that’s happened in two of his last three games. Huff averages a respectable 1.0 FPTS per minute and will face a favorable matchup, as Washington ranks 10th in pace and 28th in defensive rating over its last 15 games.
Other Options: Jarace Walker ($5,900), Danny Wolf ($5,600), Tobias Harris ($5,500), Jaden Ivey ($5,400), Justin Champagnie ($5,200), Noah Clowney ($5,000), Will Riley ($4,400), Dominick Barlow ($4,000), Micah Potter ($3,900)
Center
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons ($8,000)
I really like Jarrett Allen at center as well, and he’s $900 cheaper, but this is a favorable matchup for Towns. Detroit will be without Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. Paul Reed is a good player, but he lacks the physicality of the other two — and physicality is exactly what one needs against KAT. Cleveland is favored by 16.5 points against Brooklyn, so Allen may not sniff 30 minutes. New York is a 4.5-point favorite at home, so this game should be a competitive affair, meaning Towns should garner a full workload on Thursday night.
Other Options: Victor Wembanyama ($10,500), Alperen Sengun ($9,200), Evan Mobley ($8,500), Jarrett Allen ($7,100), Onyeka Okongwu ($7,000)
Value
Paul Reed, Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks ($5,700)
Reed has started seven games this season. He’s put up at least 30 FPTS in four of them with a high of a whopping 63.8 FPTS. Reed averages a healthy 1.14 FPTS per minute, and he should see as much playing time as he can handle with Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart suspended.
Other Options: Day’Ron Sharpe ($5,900), Danny Wolf ($5,600), Jay Huff ($5,200), Andre Drummond ($4,300), Tristan Vukcevic ($4,300), Mitchell Robinson ($4,200), Dominick Barlow ($4,000), Micah Potter ($3,900), Adem Bona ($3,300)
