The NBA has six games on the slate for this Thursday night on DraftKings, and the Jazz are the only one of the dozen teams that will be playing for the second night in a row. There are some great matchups on the board that should bring plenty of excitement, and it’s a fun slate for NBA DFS contests as well. As always at this time of the season, fantasy managers need to keep a close eye on the injury reports, especially for those teams playing on either side of the back-to-back games. As the availability of players is finalized throughout the day, the models will change and adjust, so be sure to check back before tip-off.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
In the FantasyLabs projections, Cade Cunningham has the highest ceiling, median, and floor projections of all players on the slate. The Pistons are headed to San Antonio for a marquee matchup with the Spurs, and Cunningham will try to help his team avenge their home loss to San Antonio from just after the All-Star break.
Cunningham had 49.5 DraftKings points in that contest on 16 points and 10 assists. He has been even better in three of his four games since then, posting 64.5 DraftKings points, 51.5 DraftKings points, and 57 DraftKings points in three wins over the Thunder, Cavs, and Magic. He did have a down game on Tuesday in a loss to the Cavs with just 10 points and 41.5 DraftKings points, but he should be in a good spot to bounce back with a heavy workload against the Spurs.
Cunningham is one of 10 superstars with usage rates over 30% in the NBA this season, and he’s averaging an impressive 25.2 points, 9.9 assists, and 51.2 DraftKings points per game this season. He’s an expensive option at over $11,000, but he makes sense to use as an anchor in your lineup if you can find salary savings in other spots and pay up at point guard.
Value
The Heat host the Nets on Thursday night, and teammates Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell have the top two Plus/Minus projections at point guard. Herro is the more expensive of the two players at $7,400, while Mitchell is more affordable at $4,400. Mitchell gets much lower usage and has a lower ceiling, but he has the higher Plus/Minus projection coming into Thursday’s matchup.
Herro is still ramping up after missing time due to multiple injuries earlier in the season. He had 22 points in 28 minutes against the Nets on Tuesday in the first game of this set and will continue to carry a big workload with Norman Powell out.
Mitchell played through a bruised shoulder in Tuesday’s game, finishing with eight points, four assists, and 18.75 DraftKings points in that game against the Nets. He typically focuses mostly on the defensive end of the floor, but he can be a great value in favorable matchups like this if you’re looking for a player who gets plenty of minutes and accumulates low-level stats in multiple categories at a low salary.
Without Powell, both guards will be a little more active against Brooklyn and make sense at their respective price points based on their Plus/Minus projections.
Fast Break
Trae Young will make his Wizards debut against the Jazz on Thursday, and it’s a great spot for him since the Wizards have the highest implied team total on the board according to our Vegas dashboard. Young hasn’t played since Dec. 27 and will have a major minutes limitation early on. He isn’t likely to live up to his lofty salary in his first game back, but he’s definitely worth watching going forward in his new home.
Immanuel Quickley is coming off back-to-back double-doubles that have earned him 40+ DraftKings points in matchups against the Wizards and Knicks. He also had a huge game with 53.25 DraftKings points against the Bucks just over a week ago. He has a great ceiling from his mid-range salary, although he hasn’t been as consistent as Cunningham as a pay-up play.
On the other side of the matchup in South Beach, the Nets will be without Egor Demin (foot) for a third straight game, leaving more work for Nolan Traore, who has shown good upside. The 19-year-old from France has started 16 straight games for Brooklyn, averaging 12.1 points, 4.9 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 28.2 minutes per game. He had 14 points in just 23 minutes against Miami on Tuesday and will be lined up for a big workload again on Thursday, making him a good value play under $5,000.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
When breaking down a slate, it can be helpful to have a second perspective, and one way to get that is by adding the ShotQuality projections to your models. In the ShotQuality projections, Stephon Castle stands out as one of the best options at shooting guard since he is the only player at the position with a salary of $6,000 or more that has a positive Plus/Minus projection.
Castle and the Spurs are home to face the Pistons after a five-game road trip, and Castle had a double-double of 16 points, 11 assists, and 41.5 DraftKings points against Detroit when he faced them at the start of that road trip. He also ended the trip with a double-double on Tuesday, posting 15 points, 10 assists, and 38 DraftKings points against the Sixers.
In each of his seven games since the All-Star break, Castle has scored double-digit points, averaging 16.1 points and 33 DraftKings points per game. Coming home in a contest that should be extremely competitive throughout, look for another big game from Castle on Thursday.
Value
In both sets of projections, Duncan Robinson has the highest Plus/Minus projection at shooting guard. The 31-year-old veteran has had a solid first season in Detroit and remains very affordable at $4,200.
Robinson had 25.75 DraftKings points against the Spurs on 13 points, five assists, and three rebounds in 27 minutes in their first meeting of the season, and he bounced back from a strange scoreless game against the Magic with 23 DraftKings points on Tuesday against the Cavs.
The Pistons don’t have a ton of options that bring good shooting, and since Robinson does, he typically gets plenty of playing time and opportunities in matchups like this one against the Spurs, where spreading the floor and stretching the defense is extremely important.
Fast Break
Anthony Edwards has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at shooting guard in both sets of projections, but in a matchup against the Raptors, he could have a hard time reaching his lofty salary-based expectations. He has a very high ceiling but is risky due to the matchup, and the same is true of Brandon Ingram on the other side of that contest.
The Magic have had to lean heavily on Desmond Bane for the last several games with Franz Wagner out. With Anthony Black and Wendell Carter Jr. both questionable for Thursday’s matchup against the Mavs, Bane once again brings a very high ceiling and has posted at least 34 DraftKings points in six straight games, highlighted by three games of at least 49 DraftKings points.
Jaden Hardy is a solid bargain play to consider, although he’ll have to find his spot in the backcourt rotation now that Trae Young will be in the mix. Hardy has at least 17 DraftKings points in all but one of his six games since the All-Star break, scoring double-digit points in each of those six games. He posted 20 and 21 DraftKings points in his last two games and offers the Wizards good scoring in the second unit.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
In both sets of projections, Kevin Durant has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at small forward as the Rockets host his former team, the Warriors. Durant won’t have to go toe-to-toe with Jimmy Butler or even try to keep up with Steph’s scoring, but he may have to carry a heavy workload since his own side of this matchup could also be shorthanded. The Rockets listed Alperen Sengun (illness), Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle), and Amen Thompson (ankle) all as questionable for this matchup, and if any of them are unable to go, there would be even more work available for KD.
Durant has come out of the All-Star break locked in, scoring 30+ points in five of his seven games and averaging 48.1 DraftKings points per contest. He has played over 37 minutes and scored at least 30 points in each of his last three contests, with 58.5 DraftKings points against the Magic, 54.75 DraftKings points against the Heat, and 40.75 DraftKings points against the Wizards.
With more work and a favorable matchup in which he could be extra motivated, Durant is a great option to build around this Thursday night.
Value
The Wizards catch the Jazz on the second night of a back-to-back, and it should be a great matchup for Washington overall. Will Riley has the highest Plus/Minus projection on the entire slate in the ShotQuality projections and the highest at both small forward and power forward in both sets of projections.
The first-round pick should be in a big role again since Kyshawn George will join Alexandre Sarr, Tristan Vukcevic, and Jamir Watkins on the sidelines. Even with Trae joining the rotation, Riley should still get lots of work in the frontcourt. He has a very high ceiling for a play under $6,000.
Riley had 19 points and 34.75 DraftKings points against the Magic on Tuesday in the second game of his team’s back-to-back. That big performance gave him double-digit points and at least 25 DraftKings points in five of his last six games. He has two games over 34 DraftKings points during that span, and he has that kind of upside again on Thursday in a smash spot against the Jazz.
Fast Break
Michael Porter Jr. only had nine points and 17.25 DraftKings points in the first game of the Nets’ two-game stop in Miami, but he’ll look to get back on track on Thursday. He has the second-highest median, floor, and ceiling projections at small forward and had at least 25 points in two of his three previous games before Tuesday’s low output.
Depending on whom the Jazz have available for the second game of their back-to-back, Brice Sensabaugh could be worth a look since he has shown a high ceiling when given a larger role in the offense. Ace Bailey is a more expensive option at small forward and is coming off a down game of just 20.5 DraftKings points on Wednesday. If Keyonte George is out, Bailey would get a big boost.
Along with Riley, Bilal Coulibaly has a high Plus/Minus projection for the Wizards while Keldon Johnson is a great bargain pivot if you need to spend under $4,000.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Paolo Banchero has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at power forward in both sets of projections and is third behind Cunningham and Wembanyama for the top marks on the entire slate. His salary is under $10,000, which makes him fit more easily into many roster builds, and he has the highest Plus/Minus projection of all options over $8,000 in the FantasyLabs projections.
Banchero and the Magic will take on No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and the Mavs (if Flagg is able to play through his questionable tag). While Flagg will likely be playing limited minutes, Banchero is in a smash spot. He brings a very high ceiling and is coming off 37 points, six assists, and five rebounds for 51.75 DraftKings points on Tuesday against Washington.
Since returning from the All-Star break, Paolo has scored at least 24 points in five of his seven games, posting three double-doubles as well. With Franz Wagner out (and Anthony Black and Wendell Carter Jr. questionable), Banchero will have to once again step up and carry the load against Dallas.
Value
Behind only Riley, Andrew Wiggins has the second-highest Plus/Minus projection at power forward in the FantasyLabs projections. With Powell out and Herro still working back to a full load, Wiggins has stepped up for the Heat and can contribute great value at his mid-range salary.
Wiggins had 13 points and 33.75 DraftKings points in only 27 minutes on Tuesday against the Nets, so if he plays closer to his average workload, he could be even better on Thursday. He has scored at least 12 points in six straight games and has produced an average of 34.5 DraftKings points per game over that span.
In two of those contests, Wiggins showed off his upside with over 43 DraftKings points, and he could deliver another ceiling performance.
Fast Break
Kyle Filipowski has shown an elite ceiling for the Jazz, but he’s hard to count on since the team continues to adjust and shift its rotation. If he is given the minutes, he has a high enough ceiling to be a great GPP play, but he is too risky for cash lineups.
Nets rookie power forward Danny Wolf has hit double-digit points in nine of the last 12 games (one start), averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 0.8 blocks in 22.3 minutes per game.
He went off for 23 points, nine boards, and over 45 DraftKings points against the Cavs last Sunday, but even in his typical role, he brings good multi-category production at this salary.
Both Justin Champagnie of the Wizards and Julian Champagnie of the Spurs have good Plus/Minus projections that rank them in the top six at power forward in the ShotQuality projections. Justin has a clearer path to playing time in a great matchup against the Jazz, but Julian has a high ceiling as one of the Spurs’ best threats from long range, and he comes $500 cheaper than his twin brother as well.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
In one of the best matchups of the night, Jalen Duren will go head-to-head with Victor Wembanyama. Wemby has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection at center and is hard to match for pure upside, but Duren is $2,700 cheaper and a much better play based on his Plus/Minus projection.
The two big men faced off in a thriller a couple of weeks ago, and even though Wemby’s Spurs won, Duren had a huge game. He finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 48 DraftKings points. He’s been crushing it since the All-Star break and continues to be one of the breakout fantasy stars of the season.
Since returning from his two-game suspension, he has averaged 25.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 32 minutes per game. In those six games, he’s averaging 50 DraftKings points per contest and contributing at an elite level. If he continues his success on Thursday, he’ll end up as a great value at the center spot.
Value
If you don’t pay up for one of the stars at center, you can go to the other end of the spectrum and build around Julian Reese and his salary of just $3,700. He has the second-highest Plus/Minus projection of all centers on Thursday in the FantasyLabs projections.
Reese signed a two-way contract last Saturday and stepped right into a starting role with Alexandre Sarr, Tristan Vukcevic, and Anthony Gill all out. Gill (illness) was listed as questionable on Thursday, but even if he does play, Reese should stay involved enough to be a bargain value.
He only had 11 DraftKings points in 28 minutes before fouling out of his first game, but he looked much better against the Magic on Tuesday, recording nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, and 23 DraftKings points in 33 minutes.
If Gill is out, Reese will get a ton of work against the questionable Jazz frontcourt, making him a great bargain option to include at the utility spot even if you opt to play Duren or Wemby at center.
Fast Break
Heat center Kel’el Ware is coming off back-to-back double-doubles that earned him 36.75 and 39.25 DraftKings points. He had 11 points, 13 rebounds, and five steals on Tuesday against Brooklyn and could help soak up minutes in the rematch on Thursday if the game gets lopsided. He has the highest Plus/Minus projection of all centers in the FantasyLabs projections.
Danny Wolf and Justin Champagnie (discussed above) are solid values at center if you slide them over from power forward.
If the Jazz limit or rest Filipowski, Oscar Tshiebwe and Mo Bamba would be bargains to consider against the Wizards in a matchup that should be stuffed with value at every spot, especially at center.
