This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
With a relatively large six-game slate on the schedule for Thursday, there's plenty of options to sort through at all levels of the price scale. The following list should provide a handful of players to consider building your lineup around:
GUARDS:
Tyreke Evans, MEM at CHA ($8,000): Evans was rested for the Grizzlies' last two games, including a late scratch Wednesday. However, coach J.B. Bickerstaff confirmed that Evans would be back in the lineup Thursday, so look for him to start and take on his typical 30-plus minutes. Prior to missing a handful of games with a rib injury, Evans was priced upwards of $8,500, so he's still slightly discounted for Thursday's slate. Adding on to that, Evans didn't show much rust the last two times out, posting 40.1 and 47.5 FanDuel points, respectively. With Marc Gasol (rest) out, look for Evans to see an uptick in usage and have the opportunity to get off as many shots as possible.
Lonzo Ball, LAL at NOP ($7,100): The Pelicans and Lakers are the top two teams in the league in terms of pace of play, so it would be wise to get a handful of players in this game in your lineup. Ball presents a very strong option, as he'll be facing off with a Pelicans backcourt that has given up the third most FanDuel points to point guards on the season. When you add that to the fact that Ball himself has posted 36 or more FanDuel points in three of the last four games, it makes him an even more appealing option. The Pelicans are also playing in a third straight game and could be a bit exhausted, which only aids Ball's value.
Shelvin Mack, ORL at PHI ($3,900): Mack has played surprisingly well off the bench of late, posting 28.0 and 30.4 FanDuel points, respectively, over his last two games. The Magic are slated to be without both Jonathon Simmons (wrist) and Evan Fournier (knee) once again Thursday, which should allow Mack to see extended playing time for a third straight game. At a price of just $3,900, Mack makes for one of the more intriguing cheap value plays at guard for Thursday's slate.
FORWARDS:
Julius Randle, LAL at NOP ($7,500): Like I mentioned in the Lonzo Ball blurb, I'm targeting at least a handful of Los Angeles players from the Lakers-Pelicans game due to the pace of play, as well as the fact that the Pelicans are playing in their third game in three nights. Randle has been extremely effective of late, averaging a whopping 45.3 FanDuel points over his last five games. The Pelicans aren't the best in terms of defending opposing power forwards either, giving up the sixth most FanDuel points to the position on the season, which again, demonstrates Randle's upside against this team.
JaMychal Green, MEM at CHA ($6,500): The Grizzlies are set to be without Marc Gasol on Thursday, so Green will likely see a spike in minutes and rebounds as a result. The last time Gasol was out of the lineup Monday against the Nets, Green showed his upside, posting 14 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block across 29 minutes, which was good enough 46.7 FanDuel points. His price certainly did increase a bit because of it, but that's not overly concerning, especially because the Hornets are set to be without defensive stopper Dwight Howard, who's been suspended for picking up his 16th technical foul recently.
Mario Hezonja, ORL vs. PHI ($4,500): Hezonja should be seeing increased minutes on the wing Thursday, as the Magic will be without Jonathon Simmons (wrist), Jonathan Isaac (foot) and Evan Fournier (knee). Whether Hezonja starts or not is yet to be determined, but either way, he's likely pushing for minutes in the upper 20s. Hezonja has shown his upside previously this season with nine games over 30 FanDuel points, so at a price of just $4,500, he shouldn't have any troubles hitting value.
CENTERS:
Joel Embiid, PHI at ORL ($11,000): Embiid is the most expensive center on Thursday's slate, which is to be expected considering he's facing off against a Magic defense that has given up the third most FanDuel points to centers on the season. While it's somewhat concerning that he's set to be playing in the second night of a back-to-back, he did log just 20 minutes Wednesday, so it doesn't seem like he'll have any restrictions Thursday. Prior to Wednesday's contest, Embiid logged four straight games with 50 or more FanDuel points, which is the type of potential production he could have against a weak frontcourt defense.
Deyonta Davis, MEM at CHA ($3,800): As I've mentioned a few times previously, the Grizzlies will be without starting center Marc Gasol, which is going to afford a handful of players more minutes in the Grizzlies frontcourt. Davis is the prime candidate to pick up another start in his place after also doing so Monday against the Nets. While he struggled in that start, he followed up that game with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double Wednesday off the bench, which is the sort of upside he has overall. At a price of just $3,800, that would make him a pretty strong value play.
