This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The NBA has a six-game schedule Thursday, about as heavy a load as it ever has on Thursdays. Several matchups should produce big numbers, starting with the marquee Thunder vs. Pelicans matchup and including the Rockets at Trail Blazers, the Nets at Suns and the Bucks at Celtics. Even the Warriors at Magic matchup has the potential for fireworks, making this a night when a big score could be put on the board.
Point Guard
Jrue Holiday, NO vs OKC ($7700): Holiday has scored 32.3 to 52.7 fantasy points in six straight games, and in three games since the All-Star break he has averaged 21.3 points, 9.3 assists, 4.7 boards and 1.3 steals in 32.3 minutes.
Shooting Guard
Evan Fournier, ORL vs GS ($5500): Fournier has been a consistent recommendation lately, as his opportunity increased (Tobias Harris injury, then trade) and he has taken advantage of it (seven straight games of 28.5 fantasy points or more). On Thursday he faces a Warriors squad that has looked almost-not-superhuman recently and that has given up big production to wings all season.
Small Forward
Jae Crowder, BOS vs MIL ($6200): Crowder has scored 24.8 to 45.3 fantasy points in five consecutive games and is coming off his best game in that stretch, scoring 27 points with nine boards and three assists against the Timberwolves. On Thursday he faces the Bucks, who are 28th in the NBA against small forwards.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at BOS ($8100): Antetokounmpo has exploded since Bucks coach Jason Kidd last tinkered with the lineup four games ago. Over those four games he is averaging 20.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals while playing some point forward. In his last outing he smashed the Lakers to a 27-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple-double, and he has a size advantage of the Celtics that should let him continue to produce Thursday.
Power Forward
Jabari Parker, MIL at BOS ($5600): Parker is another Buck who has really responded well to the new lineup in Milwaukee. Over his last four games he is playing 42.5 minutes a night, including a 51-minute outing against the Hawks in double overtime, and has translated that time to 20.8 points, 10.5 boards and 3.0 assists per game.
Thaddeus Young, BKN at PHO ($6700): Young has consistently been a solid producer all season, and he has a great matchup against a Suns team that is struggling and really doesn't have a power forward/center who is well suited to guarding Young.
Center
Dwight Howard, HOU at POR ($8000): Howard has grabbed at least 13 rebounds in five of his last six games, with four of those games resulting in double-doubles and fantasy scoring averages in the 35-46 range. He has a solid matchup against a Trail Blazers defense that ranks 19th against centers.
