Welcome back to Thursday’s FanDuel NBA Lineup Advice. Check out my lineup advice below for tonight’s five-game slate. Happy Holidays to everyone!
Don’t forget to check out FantasyPros Cheat Sheets for assistance with your lineups and the FantasyPros website for injury updates prior to tip-off. Without further ado, please check out my lineup advice below.
Tonight’s games and point projection totals:
- BOS vs. IND- 210
- GS vs. BKN- 232
- ORL vs. NY- 212
- LAL vs. MIA- 209
- SA vs. LAC- 204
Point Guards
Isaiah Thomas (BOS): $8,400 at IND
Isaiah Thomas is coming off a career-high 44 points against the Grizzlies. Thomas gets another favorable matchup for point guards against the Pacers on Thursday who are in the top-10 in most fantasy points allowed to opposing point guards.
Thomas appears over his injury bug with at least 23 points in each of his previous three games. He also added two steals in his previous game. He’s a very solid play.
Elfrid Payton (ORL): $5,800 at NY
Elfrid Payton has become a staple in my Thursday FanDuel lineups. Even though Payton is still coming off the bench, Payton has been solid this season leading the Magic in assists (5.6) and steals (1.1) per game.
He’s also fourth on the team in points per game (11.3) which is more than one point than his career average (10.0). Payton is coming off a solid 22 point performance against the Heat making him a solid lower priced play.
Also Consider:
Stephen Curry (GS) : $8,700
Goran Dragic (MIA): $7,400
Patty Mills (SA): $4,200 (daily value play)
Shooting Guards
Nick Young (LAL): $4,600 at MIA
I can’t believe I’m saying this but Nick “Swaggy P” Young has been fantasy relevant for quite some time now while coach Walton continues to start him over Jordan Clarkson, Lou Williams and Brandon Ingram.
Young has scored double-digits in each of his previous four games while scoring 24 and 32 over his previous two games. He’s mostly scorer that doesn’t fill the stat sheets but get him in your lineup while he’s on fire.
Evan Fournier (ORL): $6,000 at NY
The leading scorer for the Magic is Evan Fournier who’s averaging over 17 points per game. He has taken a huge leap this season while taking over the two-guard role.
Not only are Fournier’s points are up compared to his career totals but so are his assists, rebounds and steals. Fournier is so consistent as he hasn’t scored less than 10 points since December 4 against the Pistons.
Also Consider:
Sean Kilpatrick (BKN) : $5,000
Klay Thompson (GS): $6,300
Small Forwards
Kevin Durant (GS): $9,600 at BKN
There isn’t much question here of why we should play Kevin Durant. The Nets allow the most fantasy points to opposing small forwards in the NBA this season. Kevin Durant is also projected for the most fantasy points tonight in the projected highest scoring game of the night. PLAY YOUR STUDS!
Luol Deng (LAL): $4,600 at MIA
Luol Deng has been sneaky consistent as a low-priced daily play while regaining his starting role since returning from injury. Deng has at least 20 fantasy points over his previous seven games while seeing a bump in production with 10.4 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 1.9 steals per game across 30 minutes in his previous 10 games.
Also Consider:
Kawhi Leonard (SA) : $8,000
Bojan Bogdanovic (BKN): $4,400
Power Forwards
Serge Ibaka (ORL): $6,200 at NY
You can see a trend here with players against the Knicks. The Knicks are in the top-10 in most points allowed at every position except point guard. Ibaka has been solid over his previous five games averaging 17 points per game on 53 percent shooting. He’s a solid daily play every time he takes the floor.
Trevor Booker (BKN): $5,500 vs. GS
Trevor Booker has been quiet lately averaging about six points per game and seven rebounds per game, but a favorable matchup against the Warriors in a potential shootout leaves breakout potential for Booker. Booker has a solid chance for a double-double if he can stay out of foul trouble.
Also Consider:
Draymond Green (GS): $8,100
Kristaps Porzingis (NY): $7,800
Amir Johnson (BOS): $3,500 (daily value play)
Center
Hassan Whiteside (MIA): $9,300 vs. LAL
Hassan Whiteside has been absolutely incredible over his previous five games with at least 15 rebounds in every game. Whiteside scored at least 17 points in four of those five previous games with at least two blocks in four out of five games. Whiteside said he wants the ball more especially down the stretch in games. A matchup with the Lakers, who allow the third most fantasy points to opposing centers, makes even more sense to feed him the ball. PLAY YOUR STUDS!
Also Consider:
Bismack Biyombo (ORL): $4,700
Nikola Vucevic (ORL): $7,000
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Sean Fitzpatrick is a FantasyPros Correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Sean, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @seanfitz2323.