This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Thursday is a relatively quiet night in the NBA with only three games scheduled. Two contests pit top-10 defenses against each other, while the third game (Clippers at Suns) figures to provide the easiest path to fantasy success. Lineup choices are limited, so it's imperative that you nail as many picks as possible. One huge performance or misstep will make or break your night, which means finding strong value plays and avoiding tough matchups is as important as ever.
GUARD
Zach LaVine, MIN vs. GSW ($16) - Even with both Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins expected to suit up after being held out Tuesday, it makes sense to gamble on LaVine. He's set season highs in fantasy points in each of his last two games, and the 20-year-old could see more than his usual 20.7 minutes per game if either of Rubio or Wiggins turns out to be limited in their returns to the lineup.
Eric Bledsoe, PHX vs. LAC ($34) - After a quiet first two games, Bledsoe has averaged 43.2 fantasy points in his last five games. For context, Chris Paul has only topped that number once all season yet costs $9 more than Bledsoe. The Clippers are a middle-of-the-pack defensive team, but they're the easiest matchup available other than Bledsoe's own Suns. Look for the 25-year-old out of Kentucky to stay hot in what figures to be a high-scoring game.
Guard to Avoid:
Goran Dragic, MIA vs. UTA ($24) - Dragic has scored 11 or fewer points in six of eight games this season, citing a lack of spacing for his offensive struggles. Utah's suffocating defense doesn't figure to help his cause much, so don't expect the talented Slovenian to turn his season around in this one. He'll get it going at some point, but chances are it won't be against the best scoring defense in the NBA.
Others to Avoid: Chris Paul ($43), Ricky Rubio ($33), J.J. Redick ($21)
FORWARD
Nemanja Bjelica, MIN vs. GSW ($18) - Just because you've never heard of a guy doesn't mean you can't use him in your fantasy lineup. Bjelica averaged 13.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in almost 33 minutes per game in his last three, making him a solid bargain at just $18 if he can sustain that level. The 27-year-old Serb is yet to earn an NBA start, but his combination of three-point range and 6-foot-10, 240-pound frame makes him an offensive asset that figures to keep producing for the Timberwolves.
T.J. Warren, PHX vs. LAC ($11) - Warren won't win you anything on his own, but he's an excellent low-cost building block that saves you the precious cap room necessary to draft the Stephen Currys and Blake Griffins of the world. The energetic second-year man out of N.C. State is averaging 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in November, and has recorded at least one steal in three of the last four games. He and P.J. Tucker are in a virtual dead heat for playing time, but Warren is the better daily play thanks to his bargain-bin price.
Forward to Avoid:
Andre Iguodala, GSW at MIN ($21) - Iggy's level of play this season has unsurprisingly been lower than during last season's postseason run, and he's locked in a virtual timeshare with Harrison Barnes. While both should fare fine despite facing a Minnesota defense that's only giving up 99.3 PPG, Iguodala averages about one less fantasy point per game in two fewer minutes. Since both are $21, Barnes makes for the slightly smarter play based on their production to date.
Others to Avoid: Luol Deng ($19), P.J. Tucker ($14)
CENTER
Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs. UTA ($31) - Whiteside is averaging 17.8 points, 12. 7 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game over his last six and faces Rudy Gobert while the Frenchman is dealing with a sprained left ankle. Gobert doesn't have the offensive game to get Whiteside in foul trouble, and the Heat will look to feed their dominant center often in a game where points will be hard to come by. Whiteside will be especially valuable if Gobert is clearly limited or misses the game altogether, but he brings a high floor regardless on a night with few viable alternatives.
Center to Avoid:
Rudy Gobert, UTA at MIA ($31) - Gobert is the same exact price as Whiteside, so there's absolutely no reason to draft him. The Stifle Tower is having some structural integrity issues, and playing against Miami's second-ranked defense makes him look that much less appealing Thursday night. He was limited to a season-low seven rebounds in his last appearance, and being anywhere less than 100 percent healthy against rebounding beast Hassan Whiteside spells trouble.
Others to Avoid: Tyson Chandler ($22), Gorgui Dieng ($16)
