This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The NBA has a five-game slate on Thursday, about an average number this season. The Suns at the Cavs has blowout potential, but Eric Bledsoe just exploded against two of the stronger defenses in the league in the Jazz and the Spurs so a close game is still very possible. The Heat and Mavs are both strong defenses in different areas, which could make this a defensive contest.
The Wizards at the Knicks seems fantasy friendly, depending on the injury situation. The Nuggets face one of the hardest defenses in the league in San Antonio, while the Spurs face one of the leakiest defenses. And the Timberwolves would have been scrappy underdogs at the LA Clippers, but with all of the Clippers' injuries, the Wolves may just be the favorites with lots of potential value plays on both sides.
Eric Bledsoe, PHO at CLE ($8,000): Bledsoe has been playing very well, with explosive upside in recent games. He has three games of at least 26 points and seven assists in his last five outings, and is coming off of a 31 points, nine boards, nine assists effort against an outstanding Jazz defense. On Thursday, he plays a Cavs defense that ranks 25th in production allowed to opposing point guards in the FanDuel system.
Bradley Beal, WAS at NY ($7,200): Beal struggled a bit in his last outing against an excellent Grizzlies defense, but in the eight games before that he averaged 24.9 points, 3.3 boards, 3.3 assists and 1.2 combined steals and blocks. On Thursday, he faces a Knicks defense that ranks 28th in production allowed to opposing shooting guards.
Tony Parker, SA vs DEN ($4,700): This rec comes with an asterisk, as Gregg Popovich could happen at any time and sit Parker for rest without warning. With that said, Parker has scored at least 13 points in 10 of his last 11 games and notched at least five assists in eight of those 11, and on Thursday he faces a Nuggets defense that is 29th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing point guards.
LeBron James, CLE vs PHO ($10,500): James is coming off of a subpar performance against the Warriors, but is back home and may have to pick up some slack if Kevin Love (back) is unable to play. The Suns are 25th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing small forwards.
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs DEN ($7,800): Aldridge was slowed for a few games by an injury but returned to his more usual level in his last outing with 29 points, four boards, three assists and two blocks against the Timberwolves. On Thursday, he faces a Nuggets defense that ranks 18th against power forward production, but that is a bit shorter with Kenneth Faried moved into the starting power forward slot.
Mindaugas Kuzminskas, NY vs WAS ($3,900): Kuzminskas has been getting more run with Kristaps Porzingis injured and has taken advantage of it to the tune of 15.5 points, 5.5 boards and 2.0 assists over the last two games. Porzingis is listed as questionable for Thursday but has an MRI scheduled for earlier in the day that will help determine if he can go. If he gets the minutes, he'll face a Wizards defense that ranks 20th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing power forwards.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at LAC ($10,100): Towns has a tough matchup against DeAndre Jordan on Thursday but is square in the midst of a monster period in which he is averaging 26.2 points, 14.2 boards, 2.6 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.0 steals over the past five games.
DeAndre Jordan, LAC vs MIN ($8,200): Jordan is the only game in town right now for the Clippers with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin hurt and he has responded with one of his hotter periods of the year. Over his last seven games, he has averaged 15.3 points, 17.6 boards and 2.3 blocks per game. Jordan also has the kind of size and explosiveness that has given Karl-Anthony Towns difficulty in the past.
Tristan Thompson, CLE vs PHO ($4,900): Thompson is here a bit by default, as other affordable centers are either game-time decisions (e.g. Tyson Chandler and Joakim Noah) and/or unreliable (Kyle O'Quinn and Willy Hernangomez). Thompson is more steady and safe, having scored between 19 and 31.8 fantasy points in six straight games heading into a matchup with a Suns defense that ranks 22nd in production allowed to opposing centers.
