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With just four games on the schedule, Thursday’s NBA DFS slate is, as you may have guessed, pretty thin. That being said, there are some very strong plays at the top, and a number of intriguing punt plays who will allow you to get to the studs. Rather than targeting a specific position, I would identify the punt plays you like first, and then fill in with the best guys you can afford. That being said, you will probably have to spend some money at small forward, so keep that in mind so you’re not stuck playing somebody like Brandon Ingram.
Point Guard
Lately, T.J. McConnell has been doing his best impersonation of Jason Kidd before Kidd learned how to shoot, with double-digit assists in five of his last seven games. McConnell is the cheapest safe point guard on Thursday’s slate.
Stephen Curry had 43 points, nine rebounds and six assists against the Clippers Saturday, and there are some reasons to expect a big game again Thursday. Chris Paul is still out, and if the celebration of his half-court buzzer-beater from Saturday is any indication, the Warriors still hate the Clippers. The Warriors will likely be happy to run up the score again if they are able, which is good for Steph’s fantasy value.
Tony Parker has scored double-digit points in five of his last seven games, averaging 11.6 points and 4.4 assists over that span. His price is low enough to make him worth a shot in cash lineups, but I like him even better in a GPP.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Stephen Curry | GSW | A | LAC | 48 | 33.4 | 92% | 4.1 | 25.3 | 4.3 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 48% | 29.19% | 40.6 | 44.4 | 42.7 | $9,600 | $8,700 | $44 |
| T.J. McConnell | PHI | A | SAS | 47 | 24 | 76% | 0.1 | 5.7 | 2.9 | 6.1 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 45% | 13.90% | 19.5 | 20.6 | 19.5 | $5,900 | $5,600 | $18 |
| Tony Parker | SAS | H | PHI | 35 | 25.6 | 75% | 0.4 | 11.2 | 2 | 4.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 48% | 21.44% | 20.1 | 21.1 | 20.3 | $4,500 | $4,100 | $11 |
Shooting Guard
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot started Wednesday and played 23 minutes with Robert Covington out. He didn’t do a ton in those minutes, but seven points, four rebounds and two assists aren’t awful for a guy who costs the minimum.
James Harden had 30 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists against the Hawks earlier this season, and now he gets them at home on the second of a back-to-back. Harden is surprisingly easy to afford, and he is the only player in Thursday’s slate with more than an outside chance at a triple-double.
J.J. Redick has scored at least 13 points in five consecutive games. If you need a shooting guard and don’t want to go to one of the extremes, Redick should be pretty safe.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| James Harden | HOU | H | ATL | 52 | 36.4 | 86% | 3 | 28.4 | 8.2 | 11.5 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 5.9 | 44% | 34.02% | 53.3 | 58.2 | 54.8 | $12,000 | $12,400 | $62 |
| Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot | PHI | A | SAS | 35 | 10.7 | 76% | 0.3 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 42% | 16.25% | 6 | 6.6 | 6.1 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $10 |
| J.J. Redick | LAC | H | GSW | 46 | 28.1 | 87% | 2.7 | 15.6 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 45% | 22.76% | 20.4 | 22.5 | 21.7 | $4,700 | $5,200 | $17 |
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Small Forward
Who exactly is going to guard Kawhi Leonard? Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot? Dario Saric? If Philadelphia can manage to keep this game close, Leonard could have a huge game.
One reason to like Kawhi is the small forward position drops off precipitously after him. Otto Porter is the next best thing, and he has double-digit points in his last three games.
If you cannot afford Porter, you are looking at either Trevor Ariza or Kent Bazemore. I wouldn’t go any cheaper. Bazemore has scored at least 14 points in six consecutive games, and while there are many days he doesn’t do much either than score, the scoring should be pretty safe at least until Thabo Sefolosha returns.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Kawhi Leonard | SAS | H | PHI | 44 | 33.7 | 91% | 2.1 | 25.6 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 2 | 49% | 30.46% | 40.3 | 42.7 | 41.4 | $10,100 | $9,000 | $43 |
| Otto Porter | WAS | H | LAL | 48 | 33.6 | 77% | 2 | 14.3 | 6.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 54% | 15.46% | 28 | 29.7 | 29 | $6,700 | $6,500 | $25 |
| Kent Bazemore | ATL | A | HOU | 47 | 27.4 | 72% | 1.3 | 11.2 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 40% | 20.87% | 20.9 | 22.5 | 21.5 | $5,000 | $5,300 | $13 |
Power Forward
One of two things will likely happen Wednesday if Robert Covington is out. Either Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot will play better, or Dario Saric will top 25 minutes. The smart money is probably on the latter.
Ersan Ilyasova has double-digit points in three straight games, including two double-doubles. With Embiid and Covington out, Ilyasova will almost certainly get a lot of minutes and shots again Thursday.
The case for LaMarcus Aldridge is the same as the case for Kawhi Leonard. Who will guard him? Aldridge should have his way against Ilyasova, Saric, Jahlil Okafor or anybody else Philadelphia can throw at him.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Dario Saric | PHI | A | SAS | 48 | 23.7 | 77% | 1.2 | 9.9 | 5.8 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 38% | 22.12% | 19.1 | 20.9 | 19.7 | $4,400 | $4,300 | $11 |
| Ersan Ilyasova | PHI | A | SAS | 3 | 20.7 | 0% | 1 | 5 | 5.3 | 0.3 | 1 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 38% | 14.14% | 13.2 | 14.7 | 13.7 | $5,700 | $5,800 | $24 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | SAS | H | PHI | 44 | 32.3 | 81% | 0.4 | 17.7 | 7.2 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 49% | 24.33% | 31.6 | 32.9 | 31.8 | $7,800 | $6,700 | $33 |
Center
Ivica Zubac is averaging 15.0 points and 8.7 rebounds over his last three games. Julius Randle is questionable Thursday, and Zuback is playable so long as Randle is out.
In his only game against Houston this season, Dwight Howard had 20 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks. I don’t usually believe in revenge games, but I do believe Dwight Howard hates James Harden and wants to prove once again he is better than Clint Capela.
JaVale McGee played a season-high 17 minutes Wednesday and finished with a respectable nine points, four rebounds and four blocks. McGee’s upside is severely limited, but he is a solid punt play with Zaza Pachulia and David West out.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Dwight Howard | ATL | A | HOU | 44 | 29.5 | 56% | 0 | 13.6 | 12.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 63% | 19.01% | 33 | 34.7 | 33 | $7,100 | $6,900 | $25 |
| Ivica Zubac | LAL | A | WAS | 16 | 12.9 | 87% | 0 | 5.7 | 3.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 49% | 20.31% | 12.2 | 12.8 | 12.2 | $4,700 | $3,900 | $10 |
| JaVale McGee | GSW | A | LAC | 44 | 8.5 | 46% | 0 | 5.7 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 68% | 25.10% | 10.4 | 10.8 | 10.4 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $10 |