James Harden is a must-start Thursday in a superior matchup
Tonight has one game we are all watching as Golden State makes a quest for 73 wins. The Warriors play the second-best team in the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs. So far, both teams have split their previous two meetings and will play each other again on Sunday. The Warriors must win out to beat the Bulls record of 72 wins. However, if you notice below, I selected players that are not playing in that game. I focused on matchups this evening. San Antonio is one of the best defensive teams in the league and are a slow-paced team. Warriors are good defensively and find it difficult to adapt to the slow pace. It’s possible Step Curry could have another 37-point performance at home, but in terms of price and value in DFS I feel there are superior matchups.
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Tonight’s games & point projections:
- TOR @ ATL – 199
- CHI @ MIA – 204
- PHO @ HOU – 214
- MIN @ SAC – 222
- SA @ GS – 209
Point Guard
Ricky Rubio (PG – MIN): $6,700 at SAC
Projected to be by far the highest-scoring game of the evening, the T’Wolves traveling to play the Kings should feature plenty of points. The Kings allow the most points per game this season making it a more than favorable matchup for Rubio.
Goran Dragic (PG – MIA): $6,700 vs. CHI
Dragic has enjoyed a lot of success against the Bulls. In their two previous meetings this season with the Bulls, Dragic averaged 21.5 PPG and 10.0 APG while shooting 60% from the field. He’s a must-start tonight in a favorable matchup with C Hassan Whiteside likely missing tonight’s game.
Shooting Guard
James Harden (SG – HOU): $10,900 vs. PHO
Here’s a prime example of play your studs! You want to plug anyone playing against the Suns into your lineup especially Harden who averages close to a triple-double against PHO this season. He’s averaging 22.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 6.5 APG. He needs to be started across the board.
Seth Curry (SG – SAC): $4,200 vs. MIN
Curry has seen a huge uptick in minutes played this month over G Marco Belinelli and G Ben McLemore. Curry has started six of the previous seven games and in all of those starts he has scored in double figures. In the month of April, he’s averaging 18.0 PPG, 4.0 APG and 3.0 RPG. He’s a nice value play in a favorable matchup.
Small Forwards
Trevor Ariza (SF – HOU): $5,600 vs. PHO
You may wonder why Ariza is in here with G James Harden as well. Well it’s simple. Ariza on the season is averaging 12.5 PPG. Against the Suns, he’s averaging 23.5 PPG which is the most Ariza averages against any team this year. Start him!
Joe Johnson (SF – MIA): $4,900 vs. CHI
Johnson is a nice value play tonight with a favorable matchup against the Bulls. The Bulls allow the third most fantasy points to opposing SF in the league this season. Johnson also has scored in double figures in four consecutive games.
Power Forwards
Paul Millsap (PF – ATL): $8,500 vs. TOR
Millsap has been on a tear over his last 10 games, including posting six double-doubles and two consecutive double-doubles. He’s so versatile and is able to post-up and can shoot from beyond the arc. He has posted consecutive 50+ fantasy point games, and I look for him to at least continue his double-double streak at home against the Raptors.
Amare Stoudemire (PF – MIA): $3,500 vs. CHI
With C Hassan Whiteside being listed as a game-time decision, Stoudemire would be in line to see a heavy workload against the Bulls. It’s a favorable matchup as well. He provides a value play at his low price.
Center
Karl-Anthony Towns (C – MIN): $8,900 at SAC
Towns is the front-runner for ROY and draws a favorable matchup against the Kings. Even if C DeMarcus Cousins plays, expect Towns to be in line for a good performance. In his three previous meetings with the Kings, Towns averaged 16.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG and 2.3 BPG while shooting 61% from the field. Start your studs!
Other value picks tonight: PG Patrick Beverly, SG Devin Booker, SF P.J. Tucker, PF LaMarcus Aldridge and C Tyson Chandler.
Good Luck!
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Sean Fitzpatrick is a FantasyPros Correspondent. To read more from Sean, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @seanfitz2323.
