This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
TEAM ANALYSIS
Defense To Avoid
Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns
There's some blowout potential for the Jazz because they allow the second-fewest points per game (97.1) and their opponents surrender the second-most (108.0). The Suns are also behind only the Sixers in turnovers committed per game (16.1) and sport the third-worst field-goal percentage (.437) in the league. Utah comes in on a three-game winning streak and has held opponents under 100 points in six of their last seven games. That span includes their last two home victories when they held the Cavs and Wizards to 85 and 93 points, respectively.
Offense To Use
Washington Wizards at Philadephia 76ers
The Sixers are at risk of being blown out any time they take the court, particularly in their currently injury-depleted state. They'll be without Robert Covington and Jerami Grant once again due to their respective concussions, and standout rookie Jahlil Okafor (knee) is out for the remainder of the season. They continue to rank in the bottom five in points allowed per game (107.7), while also committing the most turnovers per contest (16.6). They've surrendered 118, 125 and 131 points in three of their last four. Meanwhile, the Wizards have scored 124 and 117 points in their last two games, victories over the playoff-contending Pistons and Bulls.
Teams on a Back-to-Backs
First game: Raptors, Sixers, Trail Blazers, Suns
Second game: Hornets, Bulls, Wizards, Hawks, Grizzlies
DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Point Guard
Shelvin Mack, UTA vs. PHO ($5,400): Mack has been returning value that's simply too good to ignore, particularly in such a prime matchup. He's scored between 26.50 and 44.25 fantasy points over his last four, draining multiple threes in three of those contests. He'll now draw a Suns defense that is allowing the most fantasy points (55.3), points (24.7) and three-pointers (2.6) per game to point guards this season, including 59.4 fantasy points per game over the last 10.
Other options: John Wall, WAS at PHI ($9,800); Damian Lillard, POR at SAS ($8,900); Kemba Walker, CHA at MIA ($8,700); Kyle Lowry, TOR at IND ($8,200); Goran Dragic, MIA vs. CHA ($6,500); Ish Smith, PHI vs. WAS ($6,400); Jeff Teague, ATL vs. DEN ($6,000); Derrick Rose, CHI vs. BKN ($6,000); Isaiah Canaan, PHI vs. WAS ($4,500)
Shooting Guard
Rodney Hood, UTA vs. PHO ($5,600): Sticking with the theme of picking on the Suns' backcourt, Hood gets the call as another viable cost-saving option on the Jazz. The Suns are almost as bad against two-guards as they are against ones, giving up the third-most fantasy points (42.7) per game to the position this season. Hood has been heating back up lately as well, scoring between 25.75 and 33.00 fantasy points in three of his last four. While the higher-end options at shooting guard are certainly in play as well, Hood could potentially return 5x-6x value on his modest price and open things up elsewhere.
Other options: Jimmy Butler, CHI vs. BKN ($8,100); DeMar DeRozan, TOR at IND ($7,800); Nicolas Batum, CHA at MIA ($7,200); Khris Middleton, MIL vs. MEM ($7,100); Dwyane Wade, MIA vs. CHA ($7,000); Devin Booker, PHO at UTA ($6,300); Bradley Beal, WAS at PHI ($5,500); Will Barton, DEN at ATL ($5,300); Gary Harris, DEN at ATL ($5,200); Bojan Bogdanovic, BKN at CHI ($4,900)
Small Forward
Lance Stephenson, MEM at MIL ($5,500): Questionable heading into Wednesday against the Timberwolves with a wrist injury, Stephenson exploded for 49.25 fantasy points in 36 minutes. The injury-ravaged Grizzlies have little choice but to give their healthy bodies plenty of run, and Stephenson has maximized that opportunity. He'd also scored over 30 fantasy points twice and over 50 once in three of the four games prior to Wednesday's outburst, and he is getting it done across the stat sheet. Stephenson has registered 26 boards and 17 assists over his last three games, while averaging 25.0 points per contest over that span.
Other options: Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. MEM ($9,400); Paul George, IND vs. TOR ($8,400); Kawhi Leonard, SAS vs. POR ($8,300); Luol Deng, MIA vs. CHA ($6,300); Matt Barnes, MEM at MIL ($5,500); Joe Johnson, MIA vs. CHA ($5,300); Kent Bazemore, ATL vs. DEN ($4,700); Otto Porter, WAS at PHI ($4,600)
Power Forward
LaMarcus Aldridge, SAS vs. POR ($7,200): Power forward offers plenty to choose from near the top tier, but Aldridge gets the call in another tussle against his former team. He's hit his stride in the second half of the season, scoring between 28.25 and 53.75 fantasy points over his last 10. Additionally, while the Trail Blazers have done a respectable job against power forwards this season, they've been increasingly vulnerable lately. Portland has surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points (51.7) per game to power forwards over the last 10 and also yielded the seventh-most rebounds (11.0) per game to the position this season. Aldridge has averaged 34.2 fantasy points per game at home this season, and he has a solid opportunity for that type of performance Thursday.
Other options: Paul Millsap, ATL vs. DEN ($7,700); Derrick Favors, UTA vs. PHO ($7,400); Thaddeus Young, BKN at CHI ($7,300); Jabari Parker, MIL vs. MEM ($6,100); Kenneth Faried, DEN at ATL ($5,900); Marvin Williams, CHA at MIA ($5,700); Patrick Patterson, TOR at IND ($3,900)
Center
Brook Lopez, BKN at CHI ($8,100): Center is a mixed bag Thursday, so we'll go with one of the safer—albeit pricier—options. Lopez draws one of the premium matchups for centers in the league, as the Bulls are surrendering the third-most fantasy points (52.2), seventh-most points (21.2), sixth-most rebounds (15.5) and sixth-most blocks (2.5) per game to the position this season. Meanwhile, Lopez has been on one of his customary tears, scoring between 29.25 and a whopping 60.00 fantasy points in nine of the last 10. That sample size includes five games over 30 fantasy points, one over 40 and another near-60 fantasy point-performance (59.25).
Other options: Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs. CHA ($8,200); Alex Len, PHO at UTA ($6,500); Nikola Jokic, DEN at ATL ($6,500); Al Horford, ATL vs. DEN ($6,300); Rudy Gobert, UTA vs. PHO ($6,100); Greg Monroe, MIL vs. MEM ($5,800); Bismack Biyombo, TOR at IND ($4,200)
INJURY REPORT
Out
DeMarre Carroll (knee)
Alan Anderson (groin)
Robert Covington (concussion)
Jerami Grant (concussion)
Richaun Holmes (Achilles)
Jahlil Okafor (knee)
Spencer Hawes (back)
Tyler Johnson (shoulder)
Chris Bosh (calf)
Danilo Gallinari (ankle)
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (ankle)
Pau Gasol (knee)
Mike Conley (foot)
Jordan Adams (knee)
Brandan Wright (knee)
Chris Andersen (shoulder)
P.J. Hairston (groin)
Vince Carter (calf)
Greivis Vasquez (ankle)
O.J. Mayo (ankle)
Zach Randolph (knee)
Meyers Leonard (shoulder)
Alec Burks (ankle)
Game-Time Decision
Jonas Valanciunas (hand)
Marcin Gortat (back)
Ty Lawson (foot)
Hassan Whiteside (soreness)
Kenneth Faried (back)
Willie Reed (knee)
Taj Gibson (hamstring)
Cameron Bairstow (back)
Jonathon Simmons (illness)
Gordon Hayward (foot)
