There are four NBA games on Thursday’s main slate. Orlando is playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
Keep track of all the injury news at DK Network.
This article was written on Wednesday night. Any changes will be updated.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic ($9,900): Like him or hate him, Ball is — I apologize for this in advance — a baller. He’s a triple-double threat and gets buckets with the best of them, although efficiency isn’t a strong suit. In this format, though, efficiency schmeciency. Last outing, he put up 45 FPTS in only 28 minutes. In the prior two games, he went for 84.8 and 61 FPTS. Charlotte is fourth in pace but Orlando is surprisingly eighth, which has crimped their defense, as it’s 16th after being second last season. Orlando is also playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
Other Options: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,800), Stephen Curry ($9,000), Stephon Castle ($7,000), Desmond Bane ($6,700), Collin Sexton ($6,100)
Value
Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Wasington Wizards ($5,000): Mitchell balled out in Summer League and through five regular season games has shown that it wasn’t a fluke. He’s put up at least 23 FPTS in every contest with two over 37 FPTS. He’s played fewer than 30 minutes in each of the last three games, but that could change in this one as blowout risk over the Wizards is well within the range of outcomes. The floor is high but there’s a chance at a ceiling game if things break right.
Other Options: Ryan Rollins ($5,500), Dylan Harper ($5,400), Kon Knueppel ($5,100), Cole Anthony ($4,800), Cason Wallace ($4,800), Julian Champagnie ($4,500), Anthony Black ($4,300), Pelle Larsson ($4,000) if he starts
Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Golden State Warriors ($12,100): Giannis is playing like an angry juggernaut, smashing through every defense en route to a flurry of fantasy goodies. He’s put up at least 60 FPTS in every contest with a high of 80 FPTS. He’s expensive for sure, but he, Wembanyama and Ball are likely to put up the most raw FPTS.
Other Options: Paolo Banchero ($8,800), Jimmy Butler ($7,600), Franz Wagner ($7,500), Andrew Wiggins ($6,400)
Value
Aaron Wiggins, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Washington Wizards ($5,500): Wiggins got the start for Chet Holmgren last game and played 34 minutes, finishing with 43 FPTS. Holmgren has already been ruled out, so Wiggins will likely get another start. Washington is fifth in pace and 26th in defensive rating, so the environment should be a fantasy-friendly one.
Other Options: Jaime Jaquez Jr. ($5,400), Kon Knueppel ($5,100), Julian Champagnie ($4,500), Pelle Larsson ($4,000)
Center
Stud
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat ($11,700): Wembanyama put up “only” 52.2 FPTS last game. Scrub! In the other three, he finished with 74.5, 67.2 and 70.2 FPTS. He hasn’t put up the 100 FPTS game like Nikola Jokic yet, but it’s coming… very soon. This will be an interesting matchup because Miami is playing at the fastest pace in the league and is fourth in defensive rating. Bam Adebayo is a good defender, but at this point, defenders may be just annoying flies buzzing around Wembanyama’s head.
Other Options: Isaiah Hartenstein ($6,700)
Value
Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic at Charlotte Hornets ($5,300): The ceiling isn’t high with Carter Jr., but the floor is nice. He’s played at least 30 minutes in every game and contributed at least 23 FPTS in all. Last game, he went for 32.5 FPTS. Both of these teams are playing fast, so there should be plenty of opportunites for fantasy goodies.
Other Options: Ryan Kalkbrenner ($4,500), Moussa Diabate ($4,200)
