This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
For the second week in a row, the NBA has a fairly light, four-game slate on Thursday. Each of the games has blowout potential, which makes them more difficult to predict. The Lakers and 76ers (sans Joel Embiid) have been among the worst defensive teams all season, which would be good for the Wizards and Spurs, respectively, as long as the game doesn't get too out of hand early. Dwight Howard brings the Hawks to his old stomping grounds in Houston. The Clippers would like to be rivals to the Warriors, but without Chris Paul that is less likely, as evidenced by the Warriors' 46-point drubbing of the Clips last week.
Bradley Beal, WAS vs LAL ($7,200): Beal has scored at least 27 points in three of his last four games, a stretch over which he is averaging 25.3 points, 3.8 assists, 2.8 boards and 1.3 steals. The Lakers allow the fifth-most fantasy points to shooting guards.
D'Angelo Russell, LAL at WAS ($6,100): Russell returned from a three-game injury absence without missing a beat, notching a career-high 10 assists to go with 22 points and seven boards on Tuesday. On Thursda,y he faces a Wizards defense that has been strong against opposing point guards for the season, but that has shown some recent slippage in allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to point guards in the last five games.
Raymond Felton, LAC vs GS ($4,600): Felton rejoined the Clippers' starting lineup on Wednesday, giving them a three-guard look. He had been getting near-starter's minutes while Blake Griffin was out, and with his promotion has now played at least 25 minutes in seven of his last eight games. Over that stretch, he averaged 12.3 points, 4.1 assists, 3.8 boards, 1.0 combined steals/blocks and only 1.1 turnovers per game.
Kawhi Leonard, SA vs PHI ($10,100): Leonard had scored 30 or more points in six straight games before missing a couple with a hand injury and "only" averaged 23.5 points in his first two games back. He returned to form Tuesday against OKC with 36 points, eight boards, for assists and two blocks. The 76ers are solid on the wing, defensively (12th-fewest fantasy points to small forwards), when Joel Embiid is anchoring the defense, but with injuries to he and starting small forward Robert Covington, their defense is weakened at the position, which benefits Leonard.
Ryan Anderson, HOU vs ATL ($5,900): Anderson has turned in consecutive big games, averaging 26 points, nine boards, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals in those two outings. The Hawks are average against opposing power forwards, allowing the 15th-most fantasy points to the position over the last 10 games.
Kent Bazemore, ATL at HOU ($5,000): Bazemore is averaging 18.8 points, 3.6 boards, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks over his last five games. The Rockets, meanwhile, have struggled against opposing wings, allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to small forwards and the seventh-most to shooting guards.
Dwight Howard, ATL at HOU ($7,100): Howard had turned in five straight double-doubles before only notching six points on Wednesday in Miami, averaging 15.2 points and 13.0 boards in that stretch. On Thursday, he faces his former team in Houston for the first time since leaving this offseason, and the Rockets have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to centers on the season and most over the past five games.
Marcin Gortat, WAS vs LAL ($6,700): Gortat has turned in three straight double-doubles, averaging 15.7 points, 11 boards, 2.0 assists, 1. Steals and 1.0 blocks over that stretch. On Thursday, he faces a Lakers squad that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to centers this season.
Clint Capela, HOU vs ATL ($4,900): Capela continues to produce solid numbers in limited minute since his return from injury. He has averaged 13.4 points, 6.7 boards, 1.0 assists and 1.5 combined steals/blocks in 20.3 minutes over his last seven games. On Thursday he faces a Hawks defense that has been strong against centers on the season, but that is a more average 14th in fantasy points allowed to centers over the last five games.
