This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
There are five games on the NBA schedule Thursday, highlighted by the Boston Celtics taking on the Milwaukee Bucks. There are a lot of star players taking the floor, making for some juicy options for your Yahoo lineup. Here are some that you want to consider for your entry.
GUARDS
Patrick Beverley, LAC at POR ($19): Beverley has been excellent with his new team as he enters Thursday averaging 30.9 Yahoo points per game. Starting point guard Milos Teodosic (foot) missed the Clippers last game against the Utah Jazz Tuesday, leaving Beverley to take on a more significant role in the backcourt. He came through with 19 points and finished the game with 36.3 Yahoo points. Teodosic will be out again Thursday, making Beverley a great option at this price.
Jerian Grant, CHI vs. ATL ($11): The Bulls point guard situation appeared to be a mess heading into the season, especially when Kris Dunn (finger) went down due to injury. Grant has actually played well to start the season, averaging 27.8 Yahoo points per game. He is coming off of his best game of the season Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers when he scored 35.2 Yahoo points. There is a chance that Dunn returns Thursday, but expect Grant to still start and play significant minutes. At this price, Grant provides a nice value opportunity.
[Join the free NBA Yahoo Cup. $25K in total prizes with weekly winners]
Guard to Avoid
Damian Lillard, POR vs. LAC ($47): Lillard enters Thursday averaging 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, so he's not exactly struggling. However, he's going to be dealing with Beverley guarding him for at least some of this game. Beverley can give even the best guards trouble, so shy away from paying the premium price for Lillard.
FORWARDS
Blake Griffin, LAC at POR ($44):Giannis Antetokounmpo is also playing Thursday and while he will put up big numbers, he costs a whopping $58. Griffin is much cheaper and has been playing very well in his own right, averaging 46.8 Yahoo points per game. He is averaging 26.7 points per game as he is shouldering the offense with Chris Paul now in Houston. Expect excellent production from Griffin again against Portland.
John Collins, ATL at CHI ($11): Collins is only averaging 19 minutes per game this season, but that hasn't stopped him from producing as he's averaging 11.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He is coming off of two straight games with at least 30.6 Yahoo points and gets to deal with a depleted Bulls frontcourt in this contest. At almost the minimum price, Collins is an excellent value play.
Forward to Avoid
Khris Middleton, MIL vs. BOS ($28): Middleton has really struggled with his shot this season as he is shooting 39.0% from the field and 12.5% from behind the arc. His rebounds and assists are up so far, but it's hard to provide significant value when he is shooting this poorly. I'd much rather play Collins or Taurean Prince ($17) who both cost far less and can at least provide close to the same production as Middleton, if not more.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball contest or league today]
CENTERS
DeMarcus Cousins, NO at SAC ($53): Cousins might be playing the best basketball of his career as he is averaging 31.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 3.0 blocks and 2.5 three-pointers per game. You can't really ask for better counting stats than that. Anthony Davis (knee) might not play Thursday, but expect Cousins to put up another monster line even if he does play.
Robin Lopez, CHI vs. ATL ($17): Lopez only scored 18.1 Yahoo points Tuesday against the Cavaliers, but that's a bad matchup for the style of Lopez's game. Against Collins and Dewayne Dedmon, this figures to be a much better game for Lopez. With so few games on the schedule, Lopez presents one of the best cheap center options for the evening.
Center to Avoid
Jusuf Nurkic, POR vs. LAC ($26): Nurkic was a huge addition for Portland last season and played extremely well after being traded there. The start to this season hasn't gone as smoothly as he is only averaging 12.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.0 block per game. He has to face one of the best rebounders in the league in DeAndre Jordan Thursday, leaving the possibility that Nurkic could disappoint at this price.
