This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The NBA has a four-game schedule on Thursday, about average for a Thursday. There is one obvious match-up that should produce big numbers, the marquee Thunder vs Warriors re-match from their instant classic last week. The Kings and Mavericks could also see some good numbers, assuming that the game doesn't become a blowout. On the other hand, the other two games feature the Spurs and the Heat, two of the best defenses in the NBA, so it wouldn't be shocking if numbers were somewhat depressed in those games.
Point Guard
Goran Dragic, MIA vs PHO ($6500): Dragic has been playing very well of late, and he has a bit of a revenge game against his former team. Plus, the Suns are dead last in the NBA at defending opposing point guards. While there is blowout potential here, there is also a good chance for Dragic to post a big number.
Shooting Guard
Wesley Matthews, DAL vs SAC ($4500): Matthews played really well earlier this season, but seemed to fade out right when Chandler Parsons was establishing himself as the primary wing scorer in Dallas. Matthews has picked it up again lately, though, averaging 17.8 points with 2.6 boards, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals over his past five games.
Small Forward
Kevin Durant, OKC at GS ($10,600): Durant is a max-priced player, but he has absolutely exploded every time he has faced Golden State this year. In those two games, Durant is averaging 38.5 points, 13 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 combined steals and blocks. The Thunder are coming off of a crushing loss to the Clippers on Wednesday, as well as a similarly crushing loss to the Warriors within the last week, so Durant should have maximum motivation on Thursday.
Kawhi Leonard, SA at NO ($8000): Leonard is the second-highest-priced small forward on Thursday, but he is another that has been playing great basketball of late and has a good match-up. Leonard has scored at least 38.1 fantasy points in seven straight games, and has been over 40 fantasy points in six of those games. On Thursday he faces a weak Pelicans defense, and since it's the second half of a back-to-back for the Spurs it is conceivable that they might lean more on their younger players (Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge) and let their veterans get a bit more rest.
Power Forward
Draymond Green, GS vs OKC ($8600): Green couldn't hit the broad-side of a barn last week when he faced the Thunder…and still ended up with 56.8 fantasy points as he notched 14 boards, 14 assists, 10 combined steals/blocks and one memorable, emotional halftime tirade. Stephen Curry is listed as questionable for Thursday, but whether he plays or not Green is a good bet to put up monster numbers.
Mirza Teletovic, PHO at MIA ($4700): Teletovic has very quietly stepped into a primary role in the Suns offense of late. Over the last four games he is averaging 19.5 points, 6.3 boards and an assist which makes him a good play at this price, even against a tough Heat defense.
Center
DeMarcus Cousins, SAC at DAL ($10,900): Cousins is a nightly monster, averaging well over 50 points in his last seven games, and he has a good match-up against a Mavericks defense that doesn't do so well defending opposing power forwards. Plus, among those listed by FanDuel as centers, there are two elite guys (Cousins and Hassan Whiteside), then a pretty solid drop-off to the next wave. There are some solid value plays among the lower priced guys, but Whiteside has a tough Thursday match-up so Cousins kind of stands alone as the most likely to put a monster number on the board.
