There are five NBA games on Thursday’s slate.
DAL, GSW, HOU, LAC, MIA, MIN, NOP, OKC, SAC and UTA are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, all the teams are playing the second leg of a back-to-back, so injury reports haven’t been submitted. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, HOU is -1 over GSW at home with the total at 220.5. MIA is -1.5 over DAL on the road with the total at 221.5. OKC is -4.5 over MIN on the road with the total at 219.5. LAC is -7.5 over UTA on the road with the total at 225.5. The SAC/NOP game is not up yet.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans ($7,700): Since De’Aaron Fox was traded to San Antonio, Monk has seen an uptick in usage rate of 2% and garnered more offensive responsibility. He’s put up at least 32 FPTS in four of the last five games with two of those over 40 FPTS. He’s still a professional getter of buckets, but what’s really elevated the floor for fantasy have been the assists. Monk has dished out 8 and 7 over the last two contests. The matchup against the Pelicans has been fantasy nirvana recently, as New Orleans has played at the third-fastest pace and been dead-last in defensive rating over the last 10 games.
Other Options: Kyrie Irving ($9,300), James Harden ($9,200), Trey Murphy III ($8,200), Norman Powell (o$7,400)
Value
Max Christie, Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat ($5,200): Christie is a low-usage, 3-and-D player, but he’s been able to chip in a little something something across the board while being a threat offensively, whether it be on catch-and-shoot Js or attacking closeouts. Since arriving in Dallas four games ago, Christie hasn’t started any but he’s averaged 32.2 minutes with 17 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks and 2.8 treys. That’s translated to over 30 FPTS in every contest.
Other Options: Keon Ellis ($4,400)
Forward
Stud
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks ($8,100): It was looking like a mediocre fantasy campaign for Adebayo, but over the last nine games, he’s returned to form. That time frame just happened to coincide with Jimmy Butler being out. Anyways, he’s put up at least 30 FPTS in all of those contests with two over 50 and a high of 69.5 FPTS. Now he faces a Dallas team that has been ravaged by injuries to their frontcourt.
Other Options: Trey Murphy III ($8,200), Jimmy Butler ($8,000), Norman Powell ($7,400), DeMar DeRozan ($7,000), John Collins ($6,900)
Value
Naji Marshall, Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat ($5,500): Marshall has put up at least 22 FPTS in each of the last five games despite playing in the mid-to-high 20 minutes. With all the injuries for Dallas, there’s a good chance Marshall receives over 30 minutes in this one. On the season, he’s averaging 0.87 FPTS per minute.
Other Options: Keegan Murray ($5,300), Max Christie ($5,200), Aaron Wiggins ($5,000), Karlo Matkovic ($4,600)
Center
Stud
Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves ($6,700): The recent production for Hartenstein hasn’t been great, as he’s finished in the 20 FPTS range in three of the last five games. The Thunder have been blowing out teams, so he’s exceeded 30 minutes only once, and Hartenstein finished with 40.5 FPTS in that one. The other reason is that Chet Holmgren returned for two of those games. Well, Holmgren is out for this one and there’s a good chance that the Timberwolves keep this game competitive. The last time Hartenstein faced Minnesota, he put up 41 FPTS.
Other Options: Domantas Sabonis ($9,500), Bam Adebayo ($8,100), Ivica Zubac ($7,600), Walker Kessler ($7,000), John Collins ($6,900), Kel’el Ware ($6,100)
Value
Kylor Kelley, Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat ($4,300): I’m not crazy about the price but the Mavericks will be without Dereck Lively, Daniel Gafford, Dwight Powell and possibly P. J. Washington, so it’s highly likely he gets the start or at least plays a significant amount of minutes. In his last start, Kelley contributed 12 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 34 minutes, good for 30.25 FPTS.
Other Options: Yves Missi ($5,200), Karlo Matkovic ($4,600)
