After losing our usual slate of Thursday action to the holidays, NBA DFS is back in full swing this Thursday. Five games dot the calendar – including a head-to-head match-up between the surprising Bulls and Knicks. Let’s see what we have for a line-up to get you in the green before the weekend.
(NOTE: This NBA DFS lineup was made ahead of time. Always check for the latest injuries and inactives prior to lineups locking. )
NBA DFS Picks for Thursday – Dec 2nd
PG – Dejounte Murray ($9,800) – SAS
Murray may just be the best rebounding guard in the NBA right now. He’s snagged double-digit rebounds in three of his last four games, and five of his last seven. All of this comes with his standard assist numbers and a recent uptick in scoring production. Monday was the first time he had failed to put up 50+ fantasy points in the last two weeks. The fact that you can still get him under 10k makes him a cornerstone of any NBA DFS lineup – especially the smaller Thursday night slate.
SG – Luguentz Dort ($5,700) – OKC
Dort is a play that I think should be in nearly every NBA DFS lineup. At under 6k, you can have a guy who has put up 30+ fantasy points in three of his last four games. He’ll be playing Memphis, who gives up the second most amount of points in the league. Plus, with Josh Giddey out for tonight, they’ll need to rely on Dort more heavily to get his shooting going. I expect a big night from him.
SF – Scottie Barnes ($7,500) – TOR
Scottie Barnes is currently listed as one of the three co-favorites for rookie of the year (along with Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley). Of the three, he’s been the most consistent for the entire season, which is part of what makes him a quality NBA DFS play each time he takes the floor. He’s only fallen below seven+ rebounds twice this year. In addition, he’s seen a rise in blocks and points recently. Coming off of his two best fantasy performances of the year in back-to-back games, I still think his price isn’t high enough.
PF – DeMar DeRozan ($9,000) – CHI
DeRozan spreads the stats out, to an extent, but is still a bit married to how much he scores in order to get his value in an NBA DFS lineup. Luckily for him tonight, he faces a defense in New York that ranks in the bottom half. The Bulls are also coming off some massive scoring performances since their dud against Indiana, so there should be plenty to go around for DeRozan.
C – Steven Adams ($3,900) – MEM
Steven Adams has scored just seven points combined in his last two games. You read that right. So why am I putting him in my NBA DFS lineup? He’s averaging 25.5 fantasy points a game in that span. That’s, of course, thanks to his rebounding prowess. To make tonight even better for Adams, Oklahoma City is giving up over 55 rebounds per game, which is good for 25th best in the league. They are also second to last in rebounds allowed on the road.
G – Killian Hayes ($4,400) – DET
After spending ten days away with an injury, Hayes got thrown right back into the lineup on a heavy rotation. He’s played 30 minutes a game since coming back and the production is there with 20+ fantasy points in each of those contests. As one of my NBA DFS bargain bin picks, I like him here because he shows good upside. He has the ability to get hot from three-point and the ability to get both rebounds and assists. In back-to-back games earlier this year, he had 32.0 and 40.3 fantasy points respectively. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he lands some deep balls tonight against Phoenix, who allows twelve three-pointers a game.
F – Jae Crowder ($4,300) – PHX
Crowder brings a lot of value to your NBA DFS lineup with his defense. In his last five games, he’s averaging nearly two steals per. That’s a big stat as it makes him less scoring-reliant and allows him to find value elsewhere. However, like with Hayes, he’s been hot shooting lately as well. He’s got eight made three-pointers combined over the last three games. If he can score a bit, the price tag on him here is really low.
UTIL – Isaiah Stewart ($5,000) – DET
Maybe getting in a scuffle with LeBron and getting a two-game suspension lit a spark under Stewart. The Pistons center has gone for double-digit fantasy points every time out since he was put on the shelf. This includes a 37.0 fantasy point night on Tuesday against Portland where he recorded 14 boards en route to a double-double. Phoenix has a stingy defense, but the ability to pull down rebounds and get points on the defensive side should make this NBA DFS play worth it even if he can’t get buckets.
Make sure to check out all the great NBA coverage we have to offer and be sure to listen to the NBA Gambling Podcast, which airs twice a week. This week the guys are breaking down all the best plays for the coming days.
