DraftKings NBA: Thursday Cheat Sheet

DraftKings NBA: Thursday Cheat Sheet

This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.

Slate Overview

MEM (-12.5) at DET, O/U: 224

MIA (-5) at NOP, O/U: 216

BKN at WAS (-2.5), O/U: 218

TOR (-8.5) at HOU, O/U: 224

LAC at DAL (-6.5), O/U: 215

NYK at GSW (-10), O/U: 217.5

MIL at PHX (-3.5), O/U: 233.5

The 2021 Finals rematch between Bucks and Suns is a great option to build around, as a high-scoring and competitive game is expected, while both sides have plenty of top-tier talent and value opportunities. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to put up massive numbers and is worth the cost as a centerpiece to build around. Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis are good mid-tier picks, while Grayson Allen (questionable), Pat Connaughton and Donte DiVincenzo are priced for value. 

Chris Paul and Devin Booker are both playing well and stand out as reliable top-tier selections. Mikal Bridges is a good mid-priced choice, while Jae Crowder, JaVale McGee and Cameron Johnson are priced in the value range.   

Injuries to Monitor 

MEM - Dillon Brooks (ankle), Xavier Tillman (thigh): OUT

Ziaire Williams will continue to start. Brandon Clarke is in for more action off the bench. 

DET - Cade Cunningham (hip), Josh Jackson (back): Questionable

Killian Hayes and Frank Jackson would be up for a boost in playing time.

NOP - Willy Hernangomez (COVID-19), Larry Nance (knee): OUT

Jaxson Hayes will pick up more minutes. 

BKN - Nicolas Claxton (hamstring): Questionable
LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle), Kevin Durant (knee), Joe Harris (ankle), James Harden (hamstring): OUT

Patty Mills, Kessler Edwards and DeAndre' Bembry are expected to start. Blake Griffin and Day'Ron Sharpe should see significant action if Claxton is out along with Aldridge in the frontcourt. 

WAS - Daniel Gafford (COVID-19): OUT

Montrezl Harrell has room to step up. 

HOU - Eric Gordon (heel): Questionable

Garrison Mathews is up for a boost if Gordon is out. 

DAL - Tim Hardaway (foot), Kristaps Porzingis (knee): OUT

Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber get more responsibility without Porzingis. Reggie Bullock will continue to start in place of Hardaway.

NYK - Quentin Grimes (knee), Nerlens Noel (knee), Mitchell Robinson (back), RJ Barrett (ankle): Questionable

Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and Alec Burks are in line for a boost. 

GSW - Nemanja Bjelica (back): Questionable
Draymond Green (back), Andre Iguodala (hip): OUT

Jonathan Kuminga should pick up some extra playing time off the bench. 

MIL - Grayson Allen (hip): Questionable
George Hill (neck): OUT

Donte DiVincenzo is up for additional minutes. 

PHX - Cameron Payne (wrist), Landry Shamet (ankle): OUT

Cameron Johnson and Elfrid Payton are up for a boost if Payne remains out. 

Elite Players

Guards

Stephen Curry ($10,500)

Curry has an advantage in his matchup against the Knicks' backcourt. He is averaging 23.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.6 steals over the last 10 games, and he topped 50 DK points four times over that span. 

Kyrie Irving ($10,400)

Irving has to carry the bulk of the offensive load for the Nets, who are without Kevin Durant, James Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge, and more. Irving logged 59.8 DK points in his last game and is averaging 23.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.1 steals this season. 

Forwards/Centers

 Jimmy Butler ($9,300)

Butler has an advantage against the Pelicans' defense. He is averaging 20.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.5 steals over the last 10 games, and he topped 50 DK points three times over that span, including one outing where he produced 80.8 DK points. 

Pascal Siakam ($9,800)

Siakam faces the second night of a back-to-back after he logged 59 DK points in a win on Wednesday. It marked the fourth consecutive game that he topped 50 DK points, and he has topped 45 DK points in nine of the last 10 games. Siakam has an advantage going up against the Rockets, who are giving up a league-high 116.9 points per game. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,000)

Antetokounmpo is coming off a massive outing where he logged 80.2 DK points, and he is averaging 32.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.6 blocks over the last five games. He has to come up big again, as the Bucks take on the Suns in Phoenix.  

Expected Chalk 

Ja Morant ($10,300)

Morant continues his stellar play, averaging 33.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.2 steals over the last 10 games, topping 60 DK points four times over that span. He has an advantage going up against the Pistons, who are giving up an average of 111.9 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot an average of 47.3 percent from the field, which is the fourth highest in the league. 

Value Picks 

Aaron Holiday ($3,700)

Holiday is up for his fifth consecutive start after averaging 7.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals over the last four games. He has an advantage against the shorthanded Nets, who have lost nine in a row. 

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($3,500)

Caldwell-Pope is averaging 10.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists over the last 10 games, and he will continue to see more opportunity on offense with Bradley Beal out of the lineup.  

Ziaire Williams ($3,300)

Williams is averaging 12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists over the last four games, including one outing where he logged 34 DK points. He will continue to see more playing time as Dillon Brooks remains sidelined. 

Chris Boucher ($4,800)

Boucher gets consistent minutes off the bench for the Raptors, and he is averaging 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks over the last 10 games, topping 21 DK points six times over that span. 

Montrezl Harrell ($4,900)

Harrell has an advantage against the Nets' depleted frontcourt. He is averaging 12.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists over the last 10 games, including seven games where he tallied at least 21 DK points.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dan Bruno plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: duelingdan.
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only NBA Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire NBA fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Bruno
Dan has been writing all things NBA for RotoWire since 2014. He is an active fantasy sports player, with a love for DFS. Dan is a certified Coach with the Ontario Basketball Association and is a recreation professional in his home city.
NBA DFS Picks: FanDuel Lineup Plays and Strategy for Saturday, November 9
NBA DFS Picks: FanDuel Lineup Plays and Strategy for Saturday, November 9
NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Saturday, November 9
NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Saturday, November 9
NBA Bets: Free Picks and Player Props for Saturday, Nov. 9
NBA Bets: Free Picks and Player Props for Saturday, Nov. 9
NBA Picks & Player Props Today: Bets for Friday, Nov. 8
NBA Picks & Player Props Today: Bets for Friday, Nov. 8
NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Friday, November 8
NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Friday, November 8
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Plenty of Options for Week 4
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Plenty of Options for Week 4