On Thursday, the NBA has eight games scheduled, and the first six make up the main slate on DraftKings, while the first seven are the main slate on FanDuel. Of the 12 teams in the first six games, six are playing for the second night in a row. The Bulls, Cavs, Pacers, Clippers, Magic, and Jazz are on the second night of a back-to-back, while the Wizards are the only team on the slate that plays again on Friday.
With so many teams on back-to-backs and the strain of the regular season grind starting to take its toll, there are several key players whose status is uncertain. As always at this time of year, it’s important to be sure to refresh the NBA Models for the latest updates and keep an eye on the news hub leading up to game time for all the latest info.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
As the Thunder host his former team, the Clippers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the highest median and ceiling projection on the entire slate on FanDuel and the second-highest on DraftKings behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Thunder catch the Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back, which should help the matchup work in their favor.
SGA has been outstanding this season, averaging 1.58 DraftKings points and 1.60 FanDuel points per minute. He has a robust 32.6% usage rate but has been very efficient and effective while running the Thunder offense.
He has exceeded salary-based expectations on FanDuel in six of his last seven games and four of his last six on DraftKings. He has at least 25 points in six straight contests and has averaged 1.63 DraftKings points and 1.71 FanDuel points per minute over that span while playing 35.0 minutes per game. Since he’s carrying so much of the workload and should be especially motivated against the Clippers, SGA is a great stud to build around on Thursday’s slate.
Value
The only point guard with a higher Projected Plus/Minus than Gilgeous-Alexander on DraftKings is Coby White of the Bulls, who has picked up more work lately while Zach LaVine (foot) has been sidelined. White has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard on FanDuel, as well, and the third-highest on the whole slate.
On the season, White has a 21.3% usage rate, but that has risen to 23.3% over his last 10 games. In those 10 contests, White has produced 1.17 DraftKings points and 1.10 FanDuel points per minute and played a team-high 392 minutes. He has made the most of that added usage and workload, exceeding salary-based expectations in nine of those 10 games on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
The Bulls are in a great spot on Thursday’s slate, taking on the Spurs, who have been an awesome matchup all season, especially for opposing point guards. No team in the NBA gives up more DraftKings points per game to opposing point guards, so White should be poised to bounce back from his quieter night on Thursday with a big game against San Antonio.
Fast Break
After serving his suspension, Ja Morant made quite the splash in his return with 34 points, eight assists and the game-winning shot on Tuesday. He played 35 minutes and had 42.3% usage, so he looks ready to jump right back in as a top producer. The Grizzlies have the highest implied team total on the board in their pace-up spot against the Pacers, according to our Vegas Dashboard.
Damian Lillard has been crushing it lately for the Bucks and playing big minutes. His salary has dipped $700 over the past two games on DraftKings despite huge performances against the Rockets (39 points, 11 assists) and Spurs (40 points). He has averaged 1.32 DraftKings points and 1.28 FanDuel points over his last 10 games and is another strong stud play to consider.
The best cheap guard on FanDuel is Mike Conley, who is in the game that isn’t on the DraftKings slate. The top Projected Plus/Minus from a point guard under $6,000 on DraftKings comes from Jeremy Sochan, followed closely by his Spurs teammate Malaki Branham.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
The Pistons have dropped an ugly 24 straight games, but if there was ever a situation set up for them to snap the streak, this looks like it could be it. They’ll take on the short-handed Jazz, who are playing for the second night in a row while they haven’t played since Monday. In Monday’s game, they played well and hung right with the Hawks, thanks to a huge game from Cade Cunningham, who finished with 43 points and seven assists.
Cunningham has struggled with inefficiency and poor shooting this season, but he has been playing better lately. He has the highest median and ceiling projection at shooting guard on DraftKings and matches eight Pro Trends on DraftKings, which is more than any other player at the position. On FanDuel, he matches eight Pro Trends as well, which ties him for second behind James Harden, who has extra shooting guard eligibility on FanDuel.
The Jazz have been a great matchup for guards, especially with both Jordan Clarkson (hamstring) and Keyonte George (foot) still sidelined, so Cunningham should be able to have another big game and maybe even help the Pistons snap their losing streak.
Value
The top two shooting guards in Projected Plus/Minus are both on the other side of that Jazz-Pistons matchup, which has the third-highest over/under on the slate. Collin Sexton has the top Projected Plus/Minus at the position as he continues to carry the load, but his teammate Talen Horton-Tucker is also trending up and costs a little less on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
THT has exceeded salary-based expectations in each of his last five games while helping the Jazz to fill in for injuries in their backcourt. He has averaged 1.26 DraftKings points and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute over that span, a better production rate than Sexton with almost the exact same usage rate. On the season, his usage is just 23.9%, but over his last five games, it has jumped to 28.6%.
Since he’s projected for 25.9% usage in 28.7 minutes against the Pistons, Horton-Tucker is one of the best values on the board at any position, while Sexton still makes a lot of sense as well.
Fast Break
If Donovan Mitchell can play Thursday after being sidelined Wednesday by an illness, he’ll be a top option at shooting guard. He has been carrying the load for Cleveland while they’re without Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee). He has played over 39 minutes in three straight games and has averaged 1.26 DraftKings points and 1.22 FanDuel points per minute in those three contests.
For the Clippers, Paul George (illness) also missed Wednesday’s game with an illness, leaving James Harden and Kawhi Leonard to carry more of the load against the Mavs. Harden will be a good shooting guard option again on Thursday on FanDuel if PG13 is out again. If George can return, he’ll be a good option as he returns to OKC with a possible revenge narrative.
For now, anyway, it looks like Vince Williams Jr. will continue to start for the Grizzlies even with Morant back in the mix. The second-year player has started four straight games and has been very productive as a value play. He is a shooting guard on FanDuel, where he has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position, and a small forward on DraftKings, where he has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus. Even though his usage isn’t extremely high, he has been making the most of his minutes and is a nice value way to get exposure to the Grizzlies and their high implied team total.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
After beating the Lakers on Wednesday, the Bulls and DeMar DeRozan host his former team, the Spurs. DeRozan had 27 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in another well-balanced night of production against Los Angeles, and he should be set up for more success as long as he gets his usual workload.
DeRozan has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He also has extra power forward eligibility on DraftKings, where he also has the highest Projected Plus/Minus. On FanDuel, he has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on the whole slate.
Without LaVine, DeRozan has been carrying more work for the Bulls and has a team-high 27.0% usage rate over his last 10 games. He has put up 1.16 DraftKings points and 1.15 FanDuel points per minute over that span. In this favorable matchup, he should be in a smash spot on Thursday.
Value
For the Spurs, Jeremy Sochan has unique eligibility, fitting at small forward and point guard on DraftKings and power forward and point guard on FanDuel. Sochan has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of point guards under $6,500 on DraftKings and is in that bracket on FanDuel. He also has good Projected Plus/Minus at his forward spots on both sites.
The 20-year-old has had his ups and downs in his second year in the league while adjusting to starting at point guard. He has produced 1.01 DraftKings points and 0.85 FanDuel points per minute on the season and looked sharp on Tuesday with nine points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. With the return of Victor Wembanyama, his workload might be a little lighter in this game, but he still has multi-category upside vs. the Bulls.
Fast Break
On FanDuel, the inclusion of the Lakers-Timberwolves on the slate brings both LeBron James and Anthony Edwards into the discussion as high-ceiling, pay-up options at small forward. Kawhi Leonard is also in that spot on both DraftKings and FanDuel after continuing his scoring binge with 30 points against the Mavericks on Wednesday. If George sits again, there will be extra work for Kawhi, making him a great play once again.
The Magic visit Milwaukee, and Franz Wagner has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward on FanDuel, where he has a 96% Bargain Rating. Wagner has exceeded salary-based expectations on FanDuel in eight of his last 10 games while averaging 1.13 DraftKings points and 1.12 FanDuel points per minute.
Depending on who exactly is available for the Pelicans, Trey Murphy III may have to carry more of the offense load. New Orleans listed multiple players as questionable due to illness, including Herbert Jones and Zion Williamson. Murphy has shown a high ceiling in the past when he gets extra usage and has produced 0.99 DraftKings points and 0.96 FanDuel points per minute in his eight games since making his season debut late due to off-season knee surgery. He scored double-digit points in six straight games, highlighted by a 27-point performance, before only having seven points on Tuesday.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Whenever the Bucks are on the slate, Giannis Antetkounmpo deserves consideration, especially at home in what should be a competitive game against Orlando. He has the highest median and ceiling projection on the entire slate on DraftKings and the second-highest on FanDuel, behind just SGA. Giannis has a 93% Bargain Rating on DraftKings and matches 12 Pro Trends on FanDuel, second on the slate behind only DeRozan.
Antetkounmpo has produced 1.65 DraftKings points and 1.61 FanDuel points per minute on the season and has been slightly better than those averages over the last month. He is coming off a triple-double of 11 points, 14 rebounds and a season-high 16 assists against the Spurs on Tuesday. He has five double-doubles in his last six games, including a 64-point outburst against the Pacers.
Giannis is officially questionable with a right midfoot sprain, and if he’s out, there will be tons of usage available for Bobby Portis, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton, who all would become great values if Antetokounmpo is unable to play through the injury. If he does play, though, Giannis is a good pay-up option with a high ceiling as usual.
Value
If the Pistons are going to shake their losing streak, Bojan Bogdanovic is another key piece that will need to step up. On DraftKings, he has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus on the slate at small forward and the third-highest at power forward. On FanDuel, he has a 70% Bargain Rating and ranks in the top five in Projected Plus/Minus at each position as well.
Bogdanovic has scored at least 24 points in three of his last four games and has averaged 0.98 DraftKings points and 0.94 FanDuel points per minute since his debut eight games ago.
The matchup is a good one for Detroit, and Bogdanovic and Cunningham both project to be good values as they chase that elusive “W.”
Fast Break
In Morant’s return, Jaren Jackson Jr. had 24 points and six rebounds to exceed salary-based expectations for the sixth time in his last eight games on FanDuel, where he brings the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at power forward. He also has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position on DraftKings. In those eight games, he has produced 1.26 DraftKings points and 1.28 FanDuel points per minute, and he is in a great spot against the Pacers.
Paolo Banchero has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at power forward on FanDuel and the sixth-highest on DraftKings. He had a huge game with 36 points and 10 boards on Sunday but came back to earth with 10 points, eight boards and eight assists on Wednesday. He’s boom-or-bust but brings a very high ceiling as he goes head-to-head with Giannis.
While Portis will be the best value play if Giannis is out or limited, one of the highest Projected Plus/Minus under $6,000 without knowing his status comes from Naji Marshall. Marshall has shown a very high ceiling and popped for a couple of big games over the last week. His role is a little shaky, though, until we know exactly who the Pelicans will have available. Marshall has plenty of upside, so consider him if things shake out in his favor as injury updates become available.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
After missing Tuesday’s game with right ankle soreness, Victor Wembayama is probable vs. the Bulls. He has logged 28.1% usage in his rookie season and produced 1.48 DraftKings points and 1.50 FanDuel points per minute. The impressive rookie has the highest Projected Plus/Minus and most Pts/Sal on the entire slate on DraftKings. He has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at power forward and the fourth-highest at center on FanDuel.
Wemby has the highest ceiling projection of all centers on FanDuel, even higher than Anthony Davis (who isn’t on the DraftKings slate). On DraftKings, he ranks just behind Giannis for median and ceiling projections at center.
Over the last month, the phenom has been trending even higher and has produced 1.65 DraftKings points and 1.68 FanDuel points per minute over his last nine games. As long as he’s back to 100%, he should be ready to shine as the Spurs visit Chicago.
Value
The highest Projeted Plus/Minus at center on FanDuel comes from Myles Turner, who had 18 points in 25 minutes while easing back into the rotation after missing Monday’s game with bilateral hamstring soreness. He has been playing lighter minutes lately but still putting up strong per-minute numbers.
On the season, he is averaging 1.23 DraftKings points and 1.28 FanDuel points per minute. He and Jackson will be a lot of fun to watch down low in this up-tempo matchup, and both have the potential for big games. Turner is a better buy on FanDuel, where he has a 90% Bargain Rating, than on DraftKings, where he’s a little pricier.
Fast Break
On the other side of the Bulls-Spurs matchup, Nikola Vucevic has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all centers on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He had 13 points and 10 boards in 31 minutes against the Lakers and has posted a double-double in seven of his last eight games. During that span, he has averaged 1.31 DraftKings points and 1.26 FanDuel points per minute. Taking on the Spurs has been a great matchup for centers, and he’s a strong play Thursday.
Wemby isn’t the only impressive rookie big man this season. Chet Holmgren has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at center on DraftKings and the fifth-highest on FanDuel. In his seven games in December, he has produced 1.32 DraftKings points and 1.43 FanDuel points per minute. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in eight of his last 11 games on FanDuel.
If you have to go cheap at center, Bismack Biyombo has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of the options under $6,000 on FanDuel. Andre Drummond stands out in that slot on DraftKings, and Tristan Thompson can also work as a punt play for the Cavs.
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