Here’s a quick word problem for you: If every team in the NBA played on Wednesday and 10 teams then play on Thursday, how many teams are on the second leg of a back-to-back set this evening?
The answer is all 10. It’s going to be another wacky slate.
Let’s go through everything you’ll need to know to put together a few lineups on DraftKings.
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Key Injury News
IN: Stephen Curry, Chet Holmgren, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Ben Simmons
QUESTIONABLE: Anthony Edwards, Kyrie Irving, Bam Adebayo, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, Klay Thompson
OUT: Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson, Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Clarkson, Terry Rozier, Tari Eason, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, Alex Caruso
Click here for the slate’s full injury report
Matchup Analysis
Best Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- Oklahoma City Thunder at MIN (108.1)
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. OKC (110.0)
- Los Angeles Clippers at UTA (111.9)
Worst Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- New Orleans Pelicans vs. SAC (125.3)
- Dallas Mavericks vs. MIA (121.3)
- Utah Jazz vs. LAC (120.7)
Fastest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- New Orleans Pelicans vs. SAC (102.1)
- Utah Jazz vs. LAC (101.0)
- Golden State Warriors at HOU (100.5)
Slowest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- Miami Heat at DAL (96.6)
- Houston Rockets vs. GSW (96.7)
- Dallas Mavericks vs. MIA (98.5)
Highest Game Total
- Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans (233.5)
- Los Angeles Clippers at Utah Jazz (225)
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves (225)
Top DFS Pick
PG James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers at Utah Jazz, $9,200
Kawhi Leonard (rest) isn’t going to play on the second night of the Clippers’ back-to-back. What else would you expect from the man literally invented load management. It’s what he does. As you might imagine, Harden carries a pretty large portion of Los Angeles’ offense when Leonard is off the court, as the former MVP owns a 31.9% usage rate in the oft-seen scenario this season. Harden also averages 1.35 FPTS per minute with his teammate in street clothes. That level of success should continue on Thursday, as the Clippers will be opposed by a Jazz squad that haven’t be able to stop anyone throughout 2024-25. Utah comes into this tilt in possession of the third-worst defensive rating in the NBA (118.4). Specific to Harden, the Jazz are surrendering the most FPTS per game to opposing points guards. Woof.
Top Value Pick
PG Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans vs. Sacramento Kings, $5,000
Surprise, surprise. Zion Williamson (conditioning) has been ruled out on the second night of a back-to-back. That should gives secondary pieces in the Pelicans’ rotation an opportunity to shine. Pieces like Alvarado. The veteran guard has started the last three games for New Orleans and he was masterful in this same matchup less than 24 hours ago, registering 18 points, nine assists and a season-high 42.75 FPTS. Alvarado isn’t known for being a big-time scorer and he’ll likely trail far behind both Trey Murphy III ($8,200) and CJ McCollum ($7,900) when it comes to usage this evening, but Williamson being sidelined does create a massive void. Williamson sports a huge 35.8% usage rate that easily leads the team. That means everyone, including Alvarado, will need to pick up the slack in a contest that owns this slate’s highest implied total. Also keep an eye on Bruce Brown ($4,400). The veteran debuted for the Pelicans on Wednesday and led all reserves with 26.0 minutes of work. He might even start in place of Williamson.
