The NBA has a four-game schedule on Thursday, about average for a Thursday. The Suns at Nuggets match-up seems most likely to produce big numbers, while the Bulls at Spurs seems most likely to have a strong defensive component. The Lakers could be a great match-up for the Cavs, but there's also the possibility of them resting their players or blowing them out and sitting the starters more. All in all, should be an interesting night.
Point Guard
Kyrie Irving, CLE at LAL ($7200): Irving has found the zone of late, with six straight games over 30 fantasy points including three of his last four over 37 fantasy points. He is facing a Lakers defense that is terrible against opposing point guards. And if the Cavs do decide to rest or limit LeBron James in any way, Irving would seem to be the most likely to pick up the slack.
Emmanuel Mudiay, DEN vs PHO ($6000): Mudiay has found his level, as the rookie is averaging 38 fantasy points over his last four games. On Thursday he faces a Suns point guard defense that has been last in the NBA at defending the position for most of the season.
Shooting Guard
Gary Harris, DEN vs PHO ($5100): Harris has quietly stepped forward as a primary scoring threat for the Nuggets in the absence of Danilo Gallinari, with seven straight games over 15 points scored. He has been good for about 30 fantasy points per game over the last week, which outperforms his price tag against a poor Suns defense.
Small Forward
LeBron James, CLE at LAL ($10,100): LeBron is obviously the highest priced player on the board on Thursday, but he also has a great match-up against a poor defense. It wouldn't be shocking if the Cavaliers chose this as a rest day for LeBron on the second night of a back-to-back against a seemingly overmatched opponent, but if he plays LeBron is set to post a big number and very likely earn his price tag.
Power Forward
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs CHI ($7900): Aldridge has been playing outstanding basketball of late, and along with Kawhi Leonard makes up the two Spurs that are likely to produce on a nightly basis. He is averaging almost 49 fantasy points over his last two games, and will be facing a Bulls big man corps that is undersized and has struggled with opposing bigs all season.
Larry Nance, JR., LAL vs CLE ($3600): Nance is a hunch. He looked really good in his last game, aggressive and around the ball. He is only averaging 19 minutes per game over his last three, but he has scored 20 or more fantasy points in two of those games which is solid for a min-priced player. And if this game does become a blowout, Nance would likely be on the unit that gets the extra garbage time.
Center
Tim Duncan, SA vs CHI ($5300): Picking Duncan, or any veteran Spurs player for that matter, is playing with fire at this time of year. But it seems lined up for Duncan to have a good game. He sat out Tuesday's game for rest, so he should have fresh legs. He produced 34.8 fantasy points on Monday against the Pacers, indicating he's playing well. And as mentioned with Aldridge, the Bulls are completely over-matched by opposing big men.
