This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The NBA has a four-game slate on Thursday, fairly light for a Thursday this season. The Pacers and Timberwolves could be a shootout based on their season-long averages, though the Wolves' defense has shown signs of improvement lately. The Mavericks quietly have one of the best defenses in the league, but they'll have their work cut out for them trying to slow Russell Westbrook. The Suns at the Nuggets is another game that looks like a potential track meet on paper, and injuries provide the possibility of some value plays. Finally, the Lakers at the Jazz has blowout potential and one dominant defense, but the Lakers are led by a red-hot Lou Williams who has already had success against the Jazz this season.
Eric Bledsoe, PHO at DEN ($9,700): Bledsoe has been playing at a high level, with averages of 23.5 points, 8.3 assists, 4.8 boards and 1.5 steals in 11 January games. On Thursday, he plays a Nuggets defense that gives up the second-most fantasy points to opposing point guards.
Lou Williams, LAL at UTA ($5,700): Williams has been on fire lately, averaging 24.6 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 boards and 1.0 steals over his last five games. On paper, the Jazz are one of the toughest defenses in the NBA, but Williams has had success against them all season with averages of 25.7 points, 5.3 assists, 2.7 boards and 0.7 steals in three games.
Jameer Nelson, DEN vs PHO ($3,900): Nelson looks to get another start on Thursday, with Emmanuel Mudiay listed as doubtful. Nelson started the last game and turned in 17 points and seven assists against the Jazz. He faces a Suns defense that has given up the 11th-most points to point guards.
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs PHO ($10,400): Jokic is fresh off giving Rudy Gobert and the Jazz 23 points, 11 boards, six assists, three blocks and two steals on Tuesday. Over the last seven games, he is averaging 25.1 points, 11 boards, 4.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals. He now faces a Suns defense that has given up the 11th-most fantasy points to centers.
Andrew Wiggins, MIN vs IND ($7,600): Wiggins has in the midst of a very productive week, averaging 27.3 points, 4.7 boards, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks over his last three games. On Thursday, he faces a Pacers team that has given up the eighth-most fantasy points to small forwards in the last 10 games.
P.J. Tucker, PHO at DEN ($4,500): Tucker has been getting big minutes and producing solid numbers across the board this week, averaging 11.3 points with 6.3 boards, 2.7 assists and 2.7 steals in 34 minutes over his last three games. On Thursday, he faces an average Nuggets defense that has given up the 15th-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards in the last 10 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs IND ($10,600): Towns had a "down" game in his last outing against the Suns with "only" 18 points, 10 boards, two assists, two steals in a block. In the three games leading up to that he was averaging 32 points, 13.3 boards, 4.0 assists and 1.7 blocks. He'll look to bounce-back against a Pacers defense that has given up the 10th-most fantasy points to centers this season.
Rudy Gobert, UTA vs LAL ($8,300): Gobert has had relatively quiet two games, averaging 11.5 points, nine board and 2.5 blocks in his last two games after exploding for 20.8 points, 18 boards and 2.3 blocks in the four previous games. He is facing a Lakers defense that has given up by-far the most fantasy points to centers over the last 10 games.
Steven Adams, OKC vs DAL ($5,500): Adams is back from concussion and playing at a high level again, scoring 20 points with 11 boards, four blocks, three assists and a steal on Wednesday against the Pelicans. On the second night of a back-to-back set, he faces a solid-but-beatable Mavericks defense that ranks middle-of-the-pack against centers over the last 10 games.
