This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
After taking last Thursday off for Thanksgiving, the NBA has a six-game schedule this week, a slightly above-average number. The Clippers at Cavaliers and Rockets at Warriors both stand out to me as really interesting matchups with top-level players squaring off. The Bucks at the Nets also has to draw attention after the monster performances both teams put together on Tuesday. Should be a fun night.
Stephen Curry, GS vs HOU ($9,200): Curry has had a tendency from the last year or two to explode when he sees James Harden facing off against him. Picking which Warrior will explode on a given night is chancy, but Curry has two 50+ fantasy-points efforts in his last four games and Thursday feels like another one.
Sean Kilpatrick, BKN vs MIL ($5,700): Kilpatrick edges Evan Fournier for this spot on the basis of: a) four straight strong games in which he's averaging 24.8 points and 5.8 boards per game; b) his explosive last outing on Tuesday, in which he dropped 38 points and 14 boards in double-overtime against the Clippers.
Andrew Harrison, MEM vs ORL ($3,900): The question since Mike Conley Jr. went down is who would step in for his production, and on Wednesday it was Harrison. He started, played 35 minutes, and produced 21 points, four assists and three steals against Kyle Lowry and the Raptors. At some point, Memphis may add another point guard to ease the loss of Conley, but for now it appears as though Harrison will be the primary beneficiary.
LeBron James, CLE vs LAC ($9,700): LeBron is coming off one of his worst fantasy games in recent memory, when he produced only 25.8 fantasy points against the Bucks on Tuesday. Lightning rarely strikes the same place twice, and the Cavs are playing a Clippers squad that is good enough to require their full attention. Both the Cavs and Clippers are coming off disappointing losses to lesser teams on Tuesday, so look for LeBron to be at his best Thursday.
Serge Ibaka, ORL at MEM ($6,300): Ibaka has been playing very well of late. Over his last three games he is averaging 18.7 points, 7.0 boards, 2.3 blocks and 1.7 assists per game and he has produced between 31 and 40 Fan Duel fantasy points in five of his last six outings.
JaMychal Green, MEM vs ORL ($4,400): Green has been getting extra playing opportunity over the past few games with Zach Randolph dealing with the death of his mother. Outside of a clunker against the Hornets, Green has settled in as a solid mid-teens scorer with about six boards and a couple combined steals and blocks in this current role.
Brook Lopez, BKN vs MIL ($7,300):Hassan Whiteside is another potential pick here on the strength of his back-to-back 50+ fantasy point efforts, but he faces Rudy Gobert today and there's no telling who'll win that battle. Instead, let's go with Lopez, who is significantly less expensive, facing a Bucks defense that isn't dominant in the middle, and is coming off his own big effort with 27 points, eight boards, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot against the Clippers on Tuesday.
Nikola Vucevic, ORL at MEM ($6,900): Whether starting or coming off the bench, Vucevic has averaged 16.8 points, 14 boards, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals in 30 mpg over his last four. When playing at his level, Vucevic is considerably more valuable than his price tag.
John Henson, MIL at BKN ($4,200): Henson has moved into the starting lineup and in the two games since he was benched against the Raptors has averaged 13.5 points, 8.0 boards, 2.5 blocks and 1.5 assists.
