Thursday is a huge day in the NBA, with the trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET followed by a full night of action on a seven-game DFS fantasy basketball slate. There will be players on the move and teams with adjusted rotations, but 14 teams will take the floor Thursday night. Of those teams, the Cavs, Pistons, Warriors, and Spurs are all playing for the second night in a row, while the Nuggets, Lakers, and Bucks are each on the front half of their back-to-backs with another game scheduled for Friday.
In addition to the potential roster moves, teams are also navigating some important injury situations for this seven-game slate. Be sure to refresh the NBA Models for the latest adjustments as a result of breaking news throughout what is sure to be a very busy Thursday.
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
Thursday’s slate features a great point guard matchup between Jalen Brunson and Luka Doncic. Doncic has the highest median and ceiling projection of all players on the slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He always comes with a huge price tag but also an extremely high ceiling. He has been absolutely dominating slates recently, even after the return of Kyrie Irving to help shoulder the workload.
Despite his elevated salary, Luka has out-produced salary-based expectations in eight of his last nine games. On the season, he is averaging 1.73 DraftKings points and 1.61 FanDuel points per minute with a 36.8% usage rate, but over the last nine games, those numbers have increased to 1.81 DraftKings points and 1.70 FanDuel points per minute with a 37.0% usage rate.
While the matchup with the defensively-oriented Knicks isn’t a great one, Luka always seems to shine on the center stage of Madison Square Garden. His ceiling is just too high to pass him over without considering building around him, even though his salary will leave you shopping for bargain options in a few places to help compensate.
Value
On the other side of that headline matchup, Jalen Brunson will be facing his former team when Luka and the Mavs stop in New York. Brunson has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of any point guard on FanDuel and ranks in the top eight at the position on DraftKings. On FanDuel, he has a 77% Bargain Rating and matches 12 Pro Trends, tying him for the most on the slate with three other superstars. On DraftKings, he’s also tied for the most Pro Trends matched with 11.
Brunson has been impressive since taking over an even larger role in New York after the trade that sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto. Since then, he has produced an impressive 1.33 DraftKings points and 1.27 FanDuel points per minute while logging over 36 minutes per game with a 32.7% usage rate. Brunson has scored at least 27 points in each of his last seven games and 11 of his last 12.
He brings the added juice of facing his former team and comes at significant savings compared to Luka. Even though he’s still expensive, he is a good value to consider, especially on FanDuel.
Fast Break
Thursday’s slate does have some less expensive point guards also worth a look. Mike Conley has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all point guards on DraftKings and the third-highest of all point guards on FanDuel as he and the Timberwolves visit the Bucks in a potential NBA Finals preview.
Alex Caruso is another veteran point guard with good projections. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He should keep getting more work with Zach LaVine (foot) done for the season, and even though he doesn’t usually score a ton of points, his non-scoring numbers are consistently good enough to make him a solid and reliable mid-salary fantasy option.
For a bargain play, Keyonte George is a great option on DraftKings, where he has a $3,900 salary and 96% Bargain Rating. The Jazz rookie has exceeded salary-based expectations in six straight games on DraftKings and in three of his last five on FanDuel, where his salary is up to $5,300. George has scored double-digit points in six straight games while averaging 1.11 DraftKings points and 1.01 FanDuel points per minute in 22.2 minutes per game.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
After multiple injuries and setbacks, Bradley Beal finally seems to be setting in with the Suns and brings a very high ceiling from his salary, which is still under $8,000 on both DraftKings and FanDuel and offers a bit of a break from the other elite options. Beal has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards on FanDuel and the third-highest at the position on DraftKings.
Beal followed up his massive 43-point return to Washington with a double-double of 29 points and 10 boards on Tuesday against the Bucks. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of his last five on DraftKings, and his salary will likely continue to climb as he finds his rhythm with his new team and returns to his elite level of production.
On Thursday, Beal and the Suns have the second-highest implied team total on the board as they host the Jazz in an up-tempo Western Conference matchup in the desert.
Value
While his numbers aren’t as elite as they were at other stretches of his career, Klay Thompson has been productive enough lately to be a good mid-range value play, especially after his salary dropped sharply on both DraftKings and FanDuel before his most recent game. After the dip, Klay has the sixth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at shooting guard on both DraftKings and FanDuel on this slate.
Thompson has hit multiple three-pointers in six of his last seven games and had his best shooting game in a while on Wednesday by going 6-of-12 from the field with 18 points against the 76ers. He has averaged 18.0 points per game and 3.5 made three-pointers per game in his 15 games in 2024. In those games, he averaged 0.97 DraftKings points and 0.90 FanDuel points per minute in 31.9 minutes per game.
Thursday’s matchup with the Pacers has the highest over/under of any game on the board, and the Warriors have the third-highest implied team total. Thompson still is getting enough minutes and usage to be a solid mid-range play and brings quite a bit of upside if he can build on Wednesday’s shooting performance.
Fast Break
Don’t overlook Donovan Mitchell, who continues to be a great fantasy option as he leads the Cavs. Mitchell has the highest median projection of all shooting guards on both DraftKings and FanDuel, along with the third-highest ceiling projection. He torched the Nets for 45 points and 12 rebounds when the two teams met in Paris, and he’ll look to put up more big numbers in the rematch in Brooklyn on Thursday.
On the other side of that Eastern Conference matchup, Cam Thomas has exceeded salary-based expectations in nine of his last 10 games on FanDuel. Over those 10 contests, he has produced 1.14 DraftKings points and 1.14 FanDuel points per minute in 32.5 minutes per game with a 31% usage rate.
If you have to go cheap at shooting guard, Miles McBride has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position of the options under $5,000, while Torrey Craig stands out in that price range on FanDuel. Craig is also a great bargain play on DraftKings, where he is eligible only at power forward.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
With Julius Randle (shoulder) sidelined for the Knicks, Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo have carried the offense. DiVincenzo has the highest median and ceiling projection at small forward on DraftKings and ranks in the top four in both categories on FanDuel. He gets a bit of a boost on DraftKings due to his three-pointer production, and he also costs just a little bit less. DiVincenzo has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate on FanDuel and the third-highest on the whole slate on DraftKings.
DiVincenzo has emerged in a more prominent role over his last five games, scoring at least 20 points in each contest with two games over 30 points. He had a 25.9% usage rate in those five games and produced 1.19 DraftKings points and 1.17 FanDuel points per minute while playing a team-high 39.8 minutes per game.
With 26.7% projected usage in 38.0 projected minutes against the Mavs on Thursday, DiVincenzo is once again a strong option to consider building around at either shooting guard or small forward.
Value
While DiVincenzo is one of the best values on the slate, he can’t quite challenge DeMar DeRozan for value since DeRozan has the best Projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel. DeRozan has had to carry a big part of the Bulls’ offense all season and is expected to do so again on Thursday when they visit the short-handed Grizzlies.
DeRozan has picked up his production lately, exceeding salary-based expectations in seven of his last nine contests. During that span, he produced 1.08 DraftKings points and 1.10 FanDuel points per minute while playing a massive 39.3 minutes per game.
With such a heavy workload and multiple potential categories of production against Memphis, DeRozans is a strong small forward to build around on FanDuel, and on DraftKings, he can slide to either forward spot.
Fast Break
The Magic’s two forwards, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, continue to bring high ceilings as they take on the Spurs. Orlando has the biggest Pace Differential on the slate, and Banchero has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward on FanDuel and the third-highest at power forward on DraftKings. Banchero had 25 points, nine boards and seven assists when the two teams met at the end of January.
With so few options in the Grizzlies’ offense, Vince Williams Jr. stands out as a mid-range play with good upside. He has scored at least 15 points in six of his last seven games and usually chips in strong non-scoring numbers as well. Over the last month, he produced 0.96 DraftKings points and 0.97 FanDuel points per minute while logging 32.7 minutes per game.
Kris Dunn is a point guard and small forward on DraftKings and a shooting guard on FanDuel, but wherever he fits on your roster, he has been delivering good value over the past few weeks. The 29-year-old has started each of the last 24 games for the Jazz but hasn’t scored more than 10 points since before Christmas. However, he is still a bargain play to consider due to his non-scoring production. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards under $6,000 on FanDuel and the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all point guards and all small forwards on DraftKings.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The Bucks have dropped four of their last five games, but Giannis Antetkounmpo continues to pour in exceptional stats on a nightly basis. He has the second-highest ceiling, median, and floor projections on the slate, behind only Luka. He’ll need another big game as the Bucks host the Timberwolves, with both teams looking to make a statement.
Giannis has 30+ points in three straight games, highlighted by a 48-point double-double against Doncic and the Mavs last Saturday. He has at least a double-double in 10 of his last 11 games, with three triple-doubles during that stretch as well. In his last nine games, Giannis has averaged 1.75 DraftKings points and 1.69 FanDuel points per minute with a 33.3% usage rate in 36.5 minutes per game.
On Thursday, Giannis has a 33.9% usage projection in his 37 projected minutes. If he’s near those numbers, he should be one of the top overall producers on the slate.
Value
With Kelly Olynyk traded to Toronto, John Collins should get even more work in the frontcourt for the Jazz, and he has already been posting good numbers over the past few weeks. Collins has exceeded salary-based expectations in eight straight games on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
During those eight games, Collins has outproduced both Lauri Markkanen and Collins Sexton with a team-high 1.25 DraftKings points and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute. It’s not just a small sample size, either, since he’s logging 28.1 minutes per game. He has at least nine rebounds in seven of those eight games, falling one board short of a double-double three times and posting three double-doubles. With a little more work on the glass after the departure of Olynyk, he’ll be a very strong mid-range value vs. the Suns on Thursday.
Fast Break
Kevin Durant has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all power forwards on FanDuel, behind only Banchero, and the second-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections, behind only Giannis. If you can’t quite get together the salary to pay up for Giannis, Durant is a very solid alternative with a high ceiling against Collins and the Jazz.
Facing off in Indianapolis, Jonathan Kuminga and Pascal Siakam have both been heating up lately and are good options even though their salary has caught up to their recent production. Kuminga has exceeded salary-based expectations in 10 of his last 11 games while producing 1.23 DraftKings points and 1.21 FanDuel points per minute in 32.5 minutes per game.
If you’re looking to go really cheap, take a look at Jonathan Isaac of the Magic, who has typically been getting good minutes off the bench. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of power forwards under $5,000 on FanDuel and under $4,000 on DraftKings.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
In a favorable matchup against the injury-depleted Grizzlies, Nikola Vucevic is a strong stud to build around at center. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all centers on DraftKings and the second-highest at the position on FanDuel.
Vooch comes into the matchup off of three straight games with at least 22 points, and he exceeded salary-based expectations in each of those contests. Over the last month, he has produced 1.22 DraftKings points and 1.19 FanDuel points per minute while playing 34.7 minutes per game.
The Bulls continue to hold a spot in the play-in tournament despite the loss of Zach LaVine, so they’ll continue to rely on Vucevic, DeRozan, and Coby White to carry the offense for as long as possible. Vucevic should dominate in Thursday’s matchup in Memphis.
Value
On DraftKings, Wendell Carter Jr. has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at center, behind only Vucevic. He comes with an 89% Bargain Rating on DraftKings but still has a top-five Projected Plus/Minus at the position on FanDuel. WCJ should bring value at his mid-range salary due to his favorable matchup against the Spurs.
Carter has rounded into form with at least 14 points in three of his last four games, highlighted by a strong 18-point, 12-rebound game against the Timberwolves to start the month. Since returning from injury 12 games ago, he has produced a solid 1.02 DraftKings points and 1.00 FanDuel points per minute in 27.9 minutes per game.
Fast Break
It’s hard to pass up Victor Wembanyama at the top of the center salary structure since the rookie continues to post huge fantasy games on a nightly basis. This is the second game of the Spurs’ back-to-back, though, so his minutes may be managed. When he has been on the floor, he continues to post insanely impressive numbers, averaging 1.83 DraftKings points and 1.81 FanDuel points per minute over the last month.
Nic Claxton only had nine points on Tuesday, falling just short of another double-double. He did rack up five blocks in that game, though, giving him 19 blocks over his last five games. He’s especially valuable on FanDuel due to those block numbers, and he has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position as he takes on the Cavs’ twin towers of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
If you decide to go cheap at center, Moritz Wagner of the Magic has the best Projected Plus/Minus of the options under $5,000 on FanDuel. On DraftKings, Naz Reid, Isaac, and Mo Wagner rank in the top three in that price range at the position.
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