Thursday’s NBA slate features nine games, with a nice mix of offensive and defensive talent. There are some important injury concerns tonight: Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Wiggins, Kristaps Porzingis, Malcolm Brogdon, Blake Griffin, Jeff Teague, Gary Harris, and Jae Crowder are all questionable tonight. Teams to prioritize on the strength of matchup, game total, or pace bump include: Charlotte, Cleveland, Sacramento, Minnesota, and Golden State. In this column, I generally set $6000 FD/$5000 DK as the bargain threshold, and I try to indicate when I think a position is particularly well-suited--or not--to using the cheap plays given the landscape of the particular slate. DraftKings’ pricing is notably sharper than FanDuel’s tonight, so I tried to provide a couple extra options to consider where it was feasible. Tonight’s slate tips at 7:00 pm EST.
Point Guard
Aaron Holiday, Indiana Pacers vs. Denver ($5100 FD, $5700 DK)
You know the drill. When Brogdon is out, play Holiday. He’s been excellent in a high-usage starting role, managing ample peripheral stats to reach value even when his shooting is a bit off.
Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte ($4200 FD, $4400 DK)
As noted above, the Cavs and Hornets are two of the best fantasy matchups overall (third and sixth, respectively). You could easily roster Colin Sexton here as well, but Garland has been getting consistent run and producing – at least 22 fantasy points in four of his last five games.
Shabazz Napier, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State ($5000 FD, $5900 DK)
Napier looks like a steal on FD, but is coming off two games of 37 and 40 fantasy points, so is probably worth the higher salary on DK as well. The matchup with the Warriors is a dream right now, as they rank fifth in fantasy points allowed to PGs.
Shooting Guard
Damion Lee, Golden State Warriors at Minnesota ($6000 FD)
Lee is much too expensive for this space on DK, but is still holding firm at the threshold on FD. With Minnesota dealing with injuries and illnesses, much like the Warriors themselves, Lee should once again have a productive night. He has two double-doubles in his last four games, and against a less experienced Minnesota team, look for another multi-steal game from Lee too. Ky Bowman ($3900 FD, $4200 DK) should also be considered (PG eligible) if you need additional savings at guard.
Bruce Brown, Detroit Pistons at LA Clippers ($4600 FD, $4900 DK)
Brown might not be one of the most exciting plays of the slate, but he should be a solid option as the Pistons are once again shorthanded. He’s been able to contribute in multiple categories in over 30 MPG, and has an interesting two-steal streak that goes back four games.
Lou Williams, LA Clippers vs. Detroit ($5300 FD)
Williams is priced out on DraftKings, but I couldn’t not mention him for his low FanDuel salary tonight. As noted, Detroit is without several key starters, and since returning from a short absence earlier in December, he’s been his typical self with quality scoring numbers as well as a bunch of assists, rebounds, steals and even the occasional block.
Small Forward
Jarrett Culver, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State ($4300 FD, $5000 DK)
It’ll be easy to go overboard on the cheap Timberwolves in what should be a fast and high scoring game. Culver is one of my favorites, however, given his versatility and the consistent weakness of the Warriors wing defense without their key starters. Culver has played over 33 minutes in the last two games, and filled the stat sheet in every single category for an average of 35 fantasy points per game. If you need to save more, Kalen Martin ($3600 FD, $4100 DK) is another option providing Wiggins, Treveon Graham and Towns remain out.
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings vs. Memphis ($4400 FD, $5000 DK)
Barnes loves to frustrate in DFS, and here in a beautiful spot, I’m still nervous about rostering him. His last two games, more difficult matchups, have been of the disappointing kind, but in a previous meeting with Memphis earlier this year, as well as a friendly matchup with Phoenix earlier this week, Barnes has been stellar, with about 39 fantasy points. I think he breaks his mini-slump tonight.
Svi Mykhailiuk, Detroit Pistons at LA Clippers ($4200 FD, $3800 DK)
If Luke Kennard and Griffin remain out, Mykhailiuk could see extended run again tonight. Coming off a 32-minute game Monday, Mykhailiuk has scored double-digit points in four of his last six games. His performances have been uneven, but the opportunity is there for him to somehow find his way to 22-25 fantasy points.
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Power Forward
Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies at Sacramento ($5100 both)
Clarke has put together three consecutive games exceeding his season average in fantasy points per game. He has four in a row with double-digit points and his minutes are trending slightly up. That’s despite the return of P.J. Washington ($5300 FD, $5800 DK), who himself is a good bargain tonight. On FanDuel, I’m probably taking Washington who is playing about 10 more minutes, but if I need to save on DK, I think Clarke has another value-reaching effort in this one.
Marquese Chriss, Golden State Warriors at Minnesota ($4300 FD, $5400 DK)
Chriss is expected to start again, a role he has embraced with about 30 fantasy points per game. He played 34 minutes Tuesday night, and has been close to a double-double in both of his last two games. Both times, he had enough in the way of blocks, steals and assists to reach value with ease.
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State ($3700 FD, $3600 DK)
Just one last super-savings option from this game. Reid is an option if Towns and Noah Vonleh remain out tonight, which I expect. Reid has been a surprisingly good source of threes, as well as recording a block in each of the last two games.
Center
Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks vs. Brooklyn ($5100 FD, $5600 DK)
Brooklyn is an improved defensive team this season, but still gives up the third-moist fantasy points to the center position. Powell has been one of the most consistent centers in this price range over the last two weeks, and should again reach the 25-35 fantasy point range tonight.
Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers vs. Detroit ($4400 FD, $4300 DK)
If you really need to save at center, Zubac has scored at least 20 fantasy points in each of his last five games. He’s not a primary focus for the Clippers, but his rebounding has been excellent and he is capable of a small double-double any given night.
