This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Thursday features only two games, so values are harder to find. Also, with the trade deadline Thursday, make sure to check the news feed to see if players are moving out of town. The Thunder, Mavericks, and Clippers have all been mentioned in deals, meaning that a player on Thursday's state could lose all of their value at a moment's notice.
Thursday Value Plays
Point Guard
Russell Westbrook, OKC, $10,900: Here's a spot where the high-ticket player is probably worth the investment. Westbrook is coming off an MVP performance at the All-Star Game where he put up 41 points in 26 minutes. While the rest of the players have to deal with coming off the longest All-Star break in NBA history, Westbrook has proven that he's ready to return to form once he hits the court. He also gets to match up with Rajon Rondo, who will be playing his first game back from a nasal fracture suffered at the end of January. Westbrook should surge in this matchup as he tries to lead Oklahoma City into the playoff race in the second half of the season.
Shooting Guard
Danny Green, SAS, $6,200: Green ended the first half of the season on a high note, averaging 32.6 FanDuel points over his final three games. The Clippers are also giving up the 10th most points and the sixth most three-pointers made to opposing defenses this season. Green is a streaky player, but on a two-game slate, he becomes relatively more of a reliable option.
Small Forward
Kevin Durant, OKC, $10,700: Durant may not have played many minutes in the All-Star Game, but he certainly ended the first half of the season on a high note. He finished on a four-game streak averaging 45.3 FanDuel points per game going into the break. Against Dallas he faces a team that ranks eighth in points allowed and second in three-pointers allowed to opposing teams this season.
Al-Farouq Aminu, DAL, $4,500:Tyson Chandler will be a game-time decision on Thursday, although he is expected to play. While Chandler has been out, Aminu has been getting a fair amount of run at the power forward and center positions. He's receiving minutes at all three forward positions, which gives him more opportunities to rack up FanDuel points with his steady defensive stats. Although Oklahoma City presents a middle of the road matchup, it's still good enough to roll the dice on with four games.
Power Forward
Mitch McGary, OKC, $4,000: McGary's last game to close the first half was a dud, but he managed to score 31 FanDuel points in each of the games leading up to it. At $4,000, he's a value play and can certainly exceed that price. Dallas is allowing the second most rebounds and the eighth most points to opposing teams, which are the two categories McGary exceeded in for his 31 point outings. Serge Ibaka can also be played here for the same reasons, but McGary comes at a much better value on Thursday.
Center
DeAndre Jordan, LAC, $9,000: Jordan finished the fist half with a pair of 20-20 games, averaging 60.7 FanDuel points between those outings. San Antonio has played pretty well on the boards, but they also allow the most blocks of any team playing Thursday. With Blake Griffin (elbow) out, Jordan has stepped his game, and he should do the same here. Spencer Hawes is also a frisky play at only $3,800, but he hasn't really had any big games, or played a consistent amount of minutes to be too confident in using him.
