This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Thursday's six-game NBA slate should offer plenty of high-quality basketball, with each of the Western Conference's three top teams in action. While the Warriors, Spurs, and Thunder are teeming with talent, it's important not to overlook the other nine teams. Opposition plays an even bigger role than teammates do in dictating fantasy worth, making the bottom-dwelling Nets-Suns contest a potentially overlooked treasure trove of value. Regardless of their situation, the players below should all help carry DFS owners to victory.
GUARD
Damian Lillard, POR vs. HOU ($48) - Lillard has ridden a preposterous 36.2 PPG to an average of 52.9 fantasy points per game over his last five contests, including a 52.1 fantasy-point outing against these same Rockets on Feb. 10. Houston fans will be the first to reluctantly identify Lillard as a Rockets-killer dating to their 2014 NBA Western Conference first-round series, and the streaking point guard figures to once again live up to that reputation as he continues his quest to carry the Trail Blazers back to the postseason.
Jrue Holiday, NO vs. OKC ($31) - Holiday just shot 7-of-21, missed all five of his three-point attempts and failed to record a steal against the Wizards on Tuesday, yet he still outperformed his $31 valuation for the sixth straight game. With Tyreke Evans out for the season and his own injury issues in the rearview mirror, Holiday is criminally underpriced considering his big usage rate. It's hard to imagine him playing any worse than he did against the Wizards, so chances are the point guard will once again outperform his price tag Thursday.
Guard to Avoid:
Devin Booker, PHO vs. BKN ($24) - Perhaps calling Booker the team's go-to scorer wasn't the smartest move by coach Earl Watson, as the rookie has folded under the pressure of that title and gone into a massive shooting slump. Even a matchup with the putrid Nets may not be enough to snap him out of it after the shooting guard hit rock bottom with a five-point, 2-for-10 shooting night against the Clippers last time out.
Others to Avoid: Khris Middleton ($33), Michael Carter-Williams ($27), Elfrid Payton ($19), Norris Cole ($18)
FORWARD
Aaron Gordon, ORL vs. GS ($21) - Gordon has topped 30.0 fantasy points in six straight appearances, pulling down double-digit rebounds in each of those games. The athletic second-year forward is able to consistently approach double-digit scoring with a handful of steals thrown in to complement those impressive rebounding numbers, and a matchup against a Warriors team that plays at the NBA's second-fastest pace will only create more possessions for Gordon to accrue statistics. The Arizona product would be a bargain at a price pushing $30, making him an absolute steal at $21.
Evan Fournier, ORL vs. GS ($20) - Fournier and teammate Aaron Gordon have formed a value-packed frontcourt for the Magic, as Fournier's 30.8 fantasy point per game average in three appearances since the Magic dealt away fellow small forward Tobias Harris makes him more than worthy of this spot just below Gordon. He has played 41 or more minutes in five of six games and will continue to be relied on heavily with no legitimate offensive alternative available at the position. Don't be afraid of playing Fournier against the Warriors, as he lit up the Spurs for 38.4 fantasy points Feb. 10 the last time he faced an elite team.
Forward to Avoid:
Gordon Hayward, UTA vs. SA ($34) - The Jazz and Spurs both rank among the bottom eight teams in the NBA in pace, suggesting there won't be many possessions to go around for Utah's leading scorer to rack up points. Add in the fact that the majority of Hayward's offensive possessions against the league's No. 1 defense will be defended by reigning DPOY Kawhi Leonard, and his chances of reaching his season average of 20.1 PPG don't look too bright. He's a solid player, but this isn't the night to utilize Hayward.
Others to Avoid: Derrick Favors ($33), Serge Ibaka ($25), Andre Iguodala ($19), Al-Farouq Aminu ($18)
CENTER
Alex Len, PHO vs. BKN ($10) - Len has seen more minutes with Tyson Chandler nursing a shoulder injury the last two games, and his 18.5 PPG and 10.5 RPG in that span suggest that he has certainly capitalized on the increased playing time. The Suns want to develop young talent over the remainder of an otherwise-lost season, and the athletic third-year center certainly fits the bill. Len should continue seeing increased minutes even if Chandler returns soon, and his productivity in an increased role makes him a no-brainer at the minimum price.
Center to Avoid:
Tim Duncan, SA at UTA ($18) - Duncan played just 17 minutes against the Suns on Sunday, as coach Gregg Popovich may be starting to switch into extreme veteran-resting mode with the All-Star break having passed. With the Spurs playing a Wednesday-Thursday back-to-back, it's unclear how much run Duncan will get. Facing off against the springy inside combo of Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert and the NBA's most deliberately-paced team doesn't bode well for the aging star's fantasy output, either.
Others to Avoid: Greg Monroe ($30), Clint Capela ($12)
