This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Thursday's tend to be one of the quietest nights in the NBA, but that's not the case this week with six games on the schedule. The highlights of the night will be the Celtics taking on the Bucks and the Pelicans facing off against the Blazers. Let's try to add even more fun with a winning entry on Yahoo.
GUARDS
Damian Lillard, POR vs. NO ($39): Lillard only scored 36.1 Yahoo points Tuesday against the Rockets, but he did that in just 28 minutes due to the blowout nature of that contest. His 30.6 percent usage rate ranks ninth in the league, helping to make him one of the most potent scoring options in DFS at any position. The Pelicans have played at the third-fastest pace (106.7 possessions per game) in the league, potentially setting up Lillard for a dominant performance.
Jordan Clarkson, CLE vs. DEN ($11): Clarkson doesn't contribute much in the way of rebounds or assists, but he's averaging a career-high 16 points per game. He's only averaging 23 minutes a game, but his 27.8 percent usage rate has helped him score at least 20.5 Yahoo points in five of his last six games. At near the minimum price, he could provide value if you want to save money at guard.
Guard to Avoid
Dennis Schroder, OKC at CHA ($25): The return of Russell Westbrook has really put a damper on Schroder's value. After logging at least 30 minutes in each of his first three games, Schroder has played 27 minutes or fewer in three straight games since. It's no surprise that his production has declined, scoring 25.3 Yahoo points or fewer in all three contests. He doesn't come at much of a discount, so it might be best to avoid him for your entry.
FORWARDS
Nemanja Bjelica, SAC at ATL ($20): This has been some start for Bjelica. The Kings are a surprising 5-3 and Bjelica has played a key role in their success. His playing time was a bit inconsistent to start the year, but he's logged at least 30 minutes in four straight games. It's going to be hard for the Kings to limit his minuets now since he scored at least 39.1 Yahoo points in all four contests. Although his price is climbing, it's still reasonable, especially with the Hawks and the Kings being the top two teams in the league in terms of pace of play.
Trey Lyles, DEN at CLE ($11): The Nuggets had a surprisingly close game against the Bulls on Wednesday that went into overtime, which didn't lead to a ton of minutes for some of their reserves. Lyles was great in his 20 minutes, scoring 29.5 Yahoo points. That marks five straight contests for Lyles with at least 21.3 Yahoo points. He could see a slight uptick in playing time Thursday on the second night of a back-to-back set, making him a great option to consider.
Forward to Avoid
Jerami Grant, OKC at CHA ($19): One of the key members of the second unit for the Thunder last year, Grant has been inserted into their starting lineup for the last three games. Although he's a valuable player for the Thunder, he has very limited upside in DFS. Even as a starter, he's scored 25.7 Yahoo points or fewer in all three games. Don't expect him to score much going forward, either, playing alongside Westbrook and Paul George. Lyles has similar production potential and is priced eight dollars cheaper, making Grant an option to possibly pass on if you are looking for a cheaper forward.
CENTERS
Willie Cauley-Stein, SAC at ATL ($25): Another big reason why the Kings are playing so well is because of the improvements made by Cauley-Stein. He's been one of their offensive leaders, averaging 17.4 points per game and shooting 55.6 percent from the field. If he can continue to average 30 minutes a night, he could be in line for a breakout campaign. The Hawks don't have a ton of talent up front, leaving the potential for Cauley-Stein to thrive again Thursday.
Zach Collins, POR vs. NO ($11): After only averaging 16 minutes a game during his rookie season, Collins is averaging 22 minutes per contest this year. On the strength of his 65.1 percent field goal percentage, Collins has been able to post 11.1 points a game. Add in his 4.7 rebounds and two blocks a night and he's a very intriguing option in what should be a fast paced game against the Pelicans.
Center to Avoid
Jusuf Nurkic, POR vs. NO ($23): Nurkic can be a major asset when he's feeling it, scoring at least 38 Yahoo points in three of his last five games. The problem is that he has a hard time stringing together successful performances, evident by the fact that he produced 16.4 Yahoo points or fewer in both of the other two games during that stretch. Not only will Nurkic be left with the unenviable task of guarding Anthony Davis, but his skillset doesn't necessarily translate well to an up-tempo game. This might be one of the nights not to risk playing Nurkic.
