Once Isaiah Jackson got injured in the opening minute of the opening game last night, you knew Wednesday was going to be a rough night. Everyone had him, though, and it’s impossible to predict injuries. It has us ready to bounce back here, though, so let’s get into it!
You guys know that I love shorter slates, and that’s just what we have here. We get six games for this Thursday card and some fascinating matchups to watch. The injury report looks more like an All-Star roster, though, and that’ll surely make things interesting closer to tip!
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Schedule and Odds
- MIN at DET (MIN -6.5) O/U: 225
- PHX at ATL (PHX -5) O/U: 223
- CHI at TOR (TOR -2) O/U: 224.5
- MIA at SAS (MIA -3.5) O/U: 219
- SAC at GSW (GSW -13) O/U: 221
- LAL at LAC (LAC -2) O/U: 218
Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros
Injury Report
- LeBron James (knee) Questionable
- Anthony Davis (B2B) Questionable
- Dejounte Murray (wrist) Questionable
- Trae Young (shoulder) Questionable
- Paul George (elbow) OUT
- Kawhi Leonard (knee) OUT
- De’Aaron Fox (ankle) Questionable
- D’Angelo Russell (ankle) Questionable
- Jakob Poeltl (concussion) OUT
- Cade Cunningham (hip) Questionable
- Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
- Deandre Ayton (ankle) Questionable
- Kyle Lowry (personal) Questionable
- Draymond Green (back) OU
Core Plays
Stephen Curry (PG – GSW): $10,600 DraftKings, $9.300 FanDuel
Chef Curry was mired in a shooting slump this time last week, but 67 DraftKings points in his most recent outing would indicate that his slide is over. That got his season average above 47 fantasy points per game, and we expect that to be his floor here. We say that because Sacramento sits 29th in both points allowed and defensive efficiency. In their two meetings this season, Curry is cooking them to the tune of 51 DK points per game!
Russell Westbrook (PG – LAL): $9,600 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
With LeBron likely out and AD possibly sitting the second half of a B2B set, this could be Westbrook’s show. Russ is in line for 20-25 shots and a 35 percent usage rate if those two are out. If he does that, we’re likely looking at the $11K Westbrook that won an MVP in years prior, especially since he has at least 48 DK points in five of his last seven games. If both those studs are out, Westbrook should be your first selection in every lineup!
Jimmy Butler (SG/SF – MIA): $9,400 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
Jimmy has been undervalued all season. This guy has scored at least 33 DraftKings points in 29 of 33 games, generating a 56-point average over his last four fixtures. That makes it hard to understand why he remains below $10K, particularly with the Spurs sitting fifth in pace and 25th in total defense.
Cash Game Considerations
Karl-Anthony Towns (C – MIN): $10,000 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
Towns have been on a tremendous run recently, scoring at least 41 DraftKings points in 18 of his last 19 games. He’s also providing nearly 50 fantasy points per game in that span, which is right on par with his impressive season averages. The best part of this is the matchup, with Detroit surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.
Jerami Grant (SF/PF – DET): $6,500 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
This is a risky cash game play, but Grant is too cheap. This guy is usually $8K when he’s right, and it’s just a matter of time before he gets rolling. The encouraging sign about his return is the fact that he played 29 minutes. That means he essentially doesn’t have a minutes restriction, and we saw him averaging 35 fantasy points per game in this role before his injury. The matchup with Minnesota is magical, too, with the T’Wolves ranked 21st in total defense.
Kevon Looney (C – GSW): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
What if I told you that Looney has been a Top-5 rebounder over the last three weeks? It surprises me just as much as you, but it’s hard to argue with 11 rebounds in the previous 14 games played. That alone makes him a good cash game option because rebounding is one of the only reliabilities in NBA DFS. We love that against a subpar Sacramento defense, with the Kings surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers.
GPP Targets
Gary Trent Jr (SG – TOR): $6,100 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
Volume shooters are in this section more than anyone, but we love when they get hot. Trent is actually scorching right now, scoring at least 40 DraftKings points in five straight outings. That’s the production you usually see from an $8K player, particularly with GT averaging 42 minutes and 25 shots a night in that span. Those numbers will eventually fall off, but it makes him impossible to avoid right now. He’s had success against Chicago this season, too, averaging 34 fantasy points per game in their two matchups.
Klay Thompson (SG – GSW): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
We all know that Klay is one of the best players in the NBA when he’s right. He’s working to get back to that player, and we love the upwards trend. Thompson has played at least 26 minutes in four straight fixtures, scoring at least 26 fantasy points in each. The matchup with Sacramento is the best part of this, though, with the Kings surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards. Klay always loves playing them, too, setting a record with that 37-point quarter and torching them throughout his career.
Reggie Jackson (PG – LAC): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
This guy is so inconsistent. That’s why he’s in the GPP section, though, because R-Jax can be one of the best values out there in this $5K range. He’s still the Clippers’ starting point guard, and needs to do a ton with Kawhi and PG13 out of the lineup. That’s led to Jackson’s 29-point average for the season, which is really all you can ask for from such an affordable player. Facing the Lakers is the icing on the cake, though, surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season. In their one meeting earlier this year, Reggie registered 35 DK points across 35 minutes of play!
Value Plays
Luke Kennard (SG – LAC): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
Kennard has been one of the Clippers’ best players recently. He’s scored at least 26 DK points in five of his last six games, averaging 35 fantasy points per game in those five outings. Good luck finding that from another sub-$5K player, especially against a team that ranks third in pace and 27th in total defense.
Gabe Vincent (PG – MIA): $4,400 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel
With Lowry’s return looming, this is probably the last time we’ll recommend Vincent. This guy has been an amazing value in this expanded role, averaging 25 DK points per game across 32 minutes a night in his 20 starts. Those are unbelievable numbers from a $4,500 player, and it’s hard to understand why he remains so affordable in such a good matchup.
Drew Eubanks (C – SAS): $3,300 DraftKings, $4,500 FanDuel
Much like Vincent, Eubanks has been a formidable fill-in for Jakob Poeltl. Drew has played at least 21 minutes eight times this season as a starter, averaging 24 fantasy points per game. That equates to 7X value, and he’s done that damage despite playing 24 or fewer minutes in all of those. If he can somehow get closer to 30 minutes, Drew would be the best per-dollar play on the board.
Advantageous Pricing
- Stephen Curry (PG – GSW): $10,600 DraftKings, $9.300 FanDuel
- Russell Westbrook (PG – LAL): $9,600 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
- Gary Trent Jr (SG – TOR): $6,100 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
- Drew Eubanks (C – SAS): $3,300 DraftKings, $4,500 FanDuel
- Jordan McLaughlin (PG – MIN): $3,500 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
- Zach LaVine (SG – CHI): $8,900 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG – ATL): $4,900 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
- Duncan Robinson (SG – MIA): $3,800 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
- Nicolas Batum (SF – LAC): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
- Clint Capela (C – ATL): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.