Most Thursdays are limited to a few games, but this one is different. We have nine games making up this Thursday card, and it’s hard to understand why that’s happening. It makes us ecstatic as DFS degenerates because it gives us more teams and players to talk about. With that said, let’s dive into this large Thursday card!

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer:

Schedule and Odds

• POR at CLE (CLE -11.5) O/U: 219.5
• IND at MIA (MIA -1.5) O/U: 238
• CHA at BKN (BKN -7.5) O/U: 226
• DET at NYK (NYK -13.5) O/U: 218.5
• MIL at CHI (MIL -7.5) O/U: 227
• UTA at MIN (MIN -9.5) O/U: 222
• ATL at SAS (ATL -7.5) O/U: 245
• LAL at OKC (OKC -6.5) O/U: 228.5
• LAC at GSW (GSW -4.5) O/U: 227.5

Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.

Injury Report

• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Jimmy Butler (ankle) Questionable
• Anthony Edwards (hip) Doubtful
• Lauri Markkanen (hamstring) OUT
• Victor Wembanyama (hip) Questionable
• Tyler Herro (ankle) OUT
• DeMar DeRozan (ankle) Questionable
• Zach LaVine (foot) Questionable
• Cam Thomas (ankle) Questionable
• Chris Paul (leg) OUT
• Ben Simmons (back) OUT
• Brandon Miller (ankle) Questionable
• Jeremy Sochan (ankle) Questionable

Core Plays

Trae Young (PG – ATL): $9,700 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
Young is one of the best distributors in the NBA, and he’s a safe option on every slate because of it. Ice Trae has scored at least 44 DraftKings points in 13 of 16 games this season, generating a 48-point average. Our favorite part about this is his matchup, facing a Spurs team surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing point guards.

Donovan Mitchell (PG/SG – CLE): $9,300 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
Not enough people are talking about how special Mitchell has been. Injuries have kept him off the court more than the Cavs would like, but he’s still averaging 48 DraftKings points per game. He’s also scored at least 39 DK points in all but one outing while showcasing a 70-point upside numerous times this season. That’s even more likely against Portland, posting a 28th OPRK against opposing guards. That’s on full display when DM scored at least 43 DK points in five of their last six matchups.

Spencer Dinwiddie (PG/SG – BKN): $7,800 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
Dinwiddie has taken over this offense with Ben Simmons and Cam Thomas nicked up. He’s seen his usage and shot attempts skyrocket with those two ball-handlers out, scoring at least 38 fantasy points in four straight fixtures. He also has at least 52 DK points in two of those and thrives in this expanded role. Facing Charlotte is sensational, too, sitting 27th in points allowed and 29th in defensive efficiency.

Cash Game Considerations

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11,200 DraftKings, $11,800 FanDuel
Giannis struggled in his first few games with Damian Lillard, but he’s cruising now. The former MVP has scored at least 53 DraftKings points in nine of his last 10 games while cracking 69 fantasy points in half of those! That’s the ceiling we’ve become accustomed to for Giannis, and we don’t mind that Antetokounmpo amassed 84 DK points in the last game he finished against Chicago.

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $10,800 DraftKings, $10,400 FanDuel
The growth Haliburton has taken this season is incredible because he’s truly developed into one of the best players in the NBA. The Pacers point guard is thriving for the fastest-paced team in the league, averaging 54 DraftKings points per game. He’s also established a 40-point floor at this blistering pace, and it doesn’t matter who they play because Indiana is projected to be in the highest-scoring game every night.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC): $10,500 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
SGA is arguably the craftiest player in the league, and he’s become a DFS darling with his stat-stuffing ways. The OKC guard has scored at least 39 DraftKings points in all but one game this season, totaling a 54-point average. That’s what we want from one of our cash game players, especially since he plays an LA team allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing guards. Not to mention, SGA has at least 46 fantasy points in five of his last six matchups with the Lakers.

GPP Targets

Terry Rozier (PG/SG – CHA): $7,700 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
This Charlotte team is a nightmare, and they will only get worse with LaMelo Ball injured. That absence is big news for Scary Terry’s fantasy value, though, running things in his absence. Rozier leads the team with a usage rate above 30 percent whenever Ball is sidelined and averages over 41 DK points per game in those circumstances dating back to last season. We didn’t even mention that Rozier had 44 fantasy points in his one matchup with Brooklyn earlier in the year.

Duncan Robinson (SG/SF – MIA): $6,300 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
It’s been fun watching D-Rob revive his career. It took an injury to Tyler Herro to get him going, but it’s re-established Robinson as the sharpshooter for this Miami team. This newfound role has allowed Robinson to score at least 31 DK points in all five games before his injury. He struggled a bit in his first game back, but as long as he’s getting 35 minutes and 15 shots, Robinson is an immense value, around $6K.

Saddiq Bey (SF – ATL): $5,500 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Here we are with another guy filling in for an injured player. Jalen Johnson broke his wrist earlier in the week, and Bey is the direct beneficiary for Atlanta. He’s expected to start a small forward in his absence, but Bey was productive coming off the bench earlier in the year. He’s scored at least 26 DK points in six of his last eight games, playing at least 27 minutes in all of those. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with the Spurs ranked 27th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed.

Value Plays

Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
What is this price tag on DraftKings? The $7,700 tag on FanDuel is appropriate, but $6,300 on DK makes no sense. Clax is averaging over 32 DK points per game despite seeing his playing time limited early on because of an injury. He should get closer to 30 minutes a night as the season progresses, and this per-minute stud can post a 40-point average in that type of role. In addition, Charlotte surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing centers last season.

Jaden Ivey (PG/SG – DET): $6,200 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
This former Top 5 pick was relegated to bench duties early on, but Detroit has realized he needs to play 30 minutes as a starter. That’s what we’ve seen the last week, with Ivey scoring 35 and 38 DK points in his two most recent outings before a dud on Wednesday. We will overlook that because Ivey needs a price bump in this expanded opportunity.

Kyle Anderson (SF – MIN): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
Anderson hasn’t given us much reason to use him, but we’d be shocked if he doesn’t play at least 25-30 minutes here. Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are both out for Minnesota, and they need KA’s playmaking and defense out there with two small forwards missing. In nearly 40 games where Anderson played over 28 minutes last year, he averaged 34 DK points per game! If you get that from a sub-$6K player, Anderson would be the value play of the day! Utah is also posting a 29th OPRK against opposing forwards!

Advantageous Pricing

• Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
• Kyle Anderson (SF – MIN): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
• Marcus Sasser (PG – DET): $5,200 DraftKings, $4,000 FanDuel
• Cam Thomas (PG/SG – BKN): $7,100 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
• Buddy Hield (SG/SF – IND): $6,700 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
• Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel

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