This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The NBA has a five-game slate on Thursday, about average for a Thursday this season. There are three games that look to be fantasy-friendly on paper: the Pelicans at the Nets, the Bulls at the Knicks and the Mavericks at the Suns. The Lakers/Suns and Pistons/Warriors games both have blowout potential, though production can still be found even in a potential blowout. Let's find some of these value plays below.
Stephen Curry, GS vs DET ($9,000): Curry is in the midst of one of his most productive stretches of the season. Over his last four games, he is averaging 32.3 points, 6.5 assists, 5.8 boards and 1.3 steals. On Thursday, he faces a Pistons defense that ranks 19th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing point guards in the FanDuel scoring format.
Dwyane Wade, CHI at NY ($6,900): Wade enters Thursday's game against the Knicks fresh after sitting out Tuesday for rest. In the two games leading up to that absence he had averaged 21 points, 6.5 assists, 4.0 boards and a blocked shot. Jimmy Butler has been declared out for Thursday, meaning that Wade should have a larger role than usual.
Tony Parker, SA vs LAL ($4,800): This rec comes with an asterisk, as Gregg Popovich could happen at any time and sit Parker for rest without warning. With that said, Parker has scored at least 28 fantasy points in four of his last five games and he's scored double-digit points in seven of his last eight. On Thursday, he faces a Lakers defense that has been poor against opposing point guards all season.
Anthony Davis, NO at BKN ($11,800): Davis is a max-priced, risky enigma for Thursday as he is still officially listed as questionable for the game with the hip injury that caused him to miss the last game. But with that said, he's just too potent when he plays and his match-up is too good to ignore. In his last game, Davis notched 40 points and 18 boards in only 29 minutes and he is just too tall, quick, and explosive for anyone on the Nets' front line to be able to even slow him down -- again assuming health allows him to play. Check on that Thursday after shootaround before finalizing him in your lineups.
Harrison Barnes, DAL at PHO ($6,900): Barnes has produced between 29.8 and 41.9 fantasy points in each of his last six games. His constant production is predicated strongly on scoring, and he has scored at least 15 points in 17 straight games. On Thursday, he faces a Suns defense that is tied for 18th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing small forwards.
T.J. Warren, PHO vs DAL ($4,700): Warren is a risky but high-upside play on Thursday. He was one of the leading scorers/centerpieces on the Suns' offense at the start of the season before his head injury sidelined him for an extended period. Since he's been back, his production has been sporadic. However, he seems to produce a strong effort at least every few games, and his price is low enough to make him an interesting speculation play.
Andre Drummond, DET at GS ($8,200): Drummond is too big and athletic for Zaza Pachulia or Draymond Green to slow him, unless he gets into foul trouble or the game is a blowout. The Warriors have struggled against centers lately, ranking last in the NBA in production allowed to the position over the past five games.
Brook Lopez, BKN vs NO ($7,000): Lopez has been solid in his last two games, averaging 23 points with two boards, two assists, and 2.5 combined blocks/steals. He is not on the second half of a back-to-back and the game is at home, so Lopez should be expected to play but check to make sure he isn't rested.
Tyson Chandler, PHO vs Dal, ($5,200): Chandler has a winnable match-up against his former team, and comes in playing well. He has averaged 17.7 boards over the last three games to make himself viable and his Thursday opponent the Mavs rank 23rd in the NBA in production allowed to opposing centers over the past five games.
