The second half of the NBA season continues with six games on Thursday night and that means more than enough options to choose from when it comes to building the optimal fantasy lineup. Here is some important fantasy advice to consider for Thursday’s NBA fantasy action.
Weak Defense To Target: Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn ranks in the bottom half of the NBA in points allowed per game this season and they have been particularly bad on the road where they have just four wins in 24 games as the visiting team. The Phoenix Suns haven’t exactly been winning a lot of games since December, but they will have the perfect opportunity to end their losing skid when they host the Nets on Thursday night. The best part about targeting the Brooklyn defense is that the Suns have a pair of quality value options available to play in Alex Len and Mirza Teletovic. Len has averaged 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game over the last week of action and he’s been receiving plenty of minute as the Suns are looking develop their young players for the future. He’s played 31 and 24 minutes over the last two games and that’s after he averaged over 22 minutes per game in each of the last two months. As for Teletovic, he has averaged 17.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 three-point shots and 1.7 assists per game over that same span. Both are available at a very reasonable price in Daily NBA Fantasy Leagues and they are worth taking a chance on versus Brooklyn.
Player Who’s Hot Right Now: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers have won six straight and nine of their last 10 overall with Damian Lillard’s outstanding play a big reason for it. Lillard has averaged 38.3 points, 5.3 assists, 5.0 three-point shots, 3.0 steals and 2.0 rebounds per game over the last seven days and there is no reason to expect his production to slow down. Portland will likely play another high scoring game against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night so it only makes sense to ride the hot hand with Lillard.
Injuries, Rest Create Opportunities For… Shelvin Mack, Patrick Beverley
Shelvin Mack has been a revelation for the Utah Jazz since he arrived from the Atlanta Hawks and he is still available at a very reasonable price in NBA Fantasy Leagues. Mack has averaged 16.5 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game in his first two games for Utah, so look to him as a strong value option against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Patrick Beverley’s return to the Houston Rockets’ starting lineup has led to an increase in his fantasy value. Beverley has averaged 16.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.0 three-point shots per game over the last week of action and as long as he remains Houston’s starting point guard he should continue to produce. Beverley will have his hands full defending Lillard on Thursday night, but he should be able to put up some decent statistics as another value option.
Highest Scoring Game Of The Night: OKC @ NO
Only the Golden State Warriors have scored more points per game than the Oklahoma City Thunder so there is every reason to expect their date with the New Orleans Pelicans to be the highest scoring game of the night. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to build around either Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook if you can afford one of those stars along with Lillard, but the better value play might be Steven Adams. Adams has averaged 7.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game over the last week and should have a strong performance against the Pelicans. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis continues to be a one-man wrecking machine, but he is also extremely expensive. It makes sense to consider Ryan Anderson as an alternative to take advantage of the matchup as he has averaged 16.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 three-point shots, 1.3 steals and 1.0 assist per game over the last seven days and is a decent value option for Thursday night.
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