The Oklahoma City Thunder fell just short in Game 2 of their first round series against the Dallas Mavericks, dropping an 85-84 loss after a potential game-winning basket was disallowed because time had expired. The Thunder will look to bounce back on the road in one of three NBA fantasy matchups that continue on Thursday. The big question for NBA fantasy fans is whether or not their top stars are worth spending big on in DraftKings tournaments. Here is a look at the optimal lineup for Thursday’s NBA DraftKings Daily Fantasy Leagues.
PG: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Salary: $10,700
Westbrook had 19 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, two steals and a three-point shot in the Game 2 loss to the Mavericks and as long as he can at the very least match that stat line in Game 3 he will be worth taking a chance on. Westbrook is among the most expensive options on the board but he should be motivated following a loss and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he put up the absolute best fantasy score of any player regardless of position on Thursday night.
SG: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
Salary: $6,700
Stephen Curry could play in Game 3 against the Houston Rockets but the more likely scenario has the Warriors resting him and allowing him to recover from his ankle injury with a tough road ahead if they want to repeat as NBA champions. That means rolling with Thompson at a very reasonable price as a smart play in Daily Fantasy Leagues. Thompson scored a game-high 34 points with five assists and three rebounds in Golden State’s Game 2 win and he could very easily duplicate that performance in Houston.
SF: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Salary: $10,100
Durant was just 7-of-33 from the field and 2-of-11 from beyond the three-point line in Game 2 but we certainly don’t expect him to struggle like that again in Game 3. Durant still finished with a team-high 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a block so consider that the absolute floor with Oklahoma City expected to bounce back on Thursday night in Dallas.
PF: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Salary: $6,100
Nowitzki’s ability to play at such a high level at his age is pretty incredible and he delivered again in the Mavericks’ Game 2 win. Nowitzki recorded 17 points, four rebounds, an assist and a three-point shot but there is still a little bit of room for improvement if he can bounce back following a 7-of-19 shooting performance from the field. Dallas could get a boost playing in front of their home fans and Nowitzki is available at a very reasonable price considering his potential to put up solid numbers.
C: Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets
Salary: $6,300
Howard has had a terrible season in Houston but the reality is that he is playing for a new contract as potential suitors watch him very closely in this series. Howard had 12 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal in Game 2 and at just $6.3K he is worth taking a chance on with the series shifting home for the Rockets.
G: Shaun Livingston, Golden State Warriors
Salary: $3,400
Even if Curry does play Livingston should play decent minutes for Golden State. If Curry doesn’t play, Livingston could end up being the best value play on the board. The veteran guard had 16 points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals in 29 minutes in Game 2 and at just $3.4K he offers incredible value in Daily NBA Fantasy Leagues.
F: Patrick Patterson, Toronto Raptors
Salary: $3,200
Patterson provided a spark off the bench for Toronto in its Game 2 win over the Indiana Pacers and Raptors’ head coach Dwane Casey rolled with him as he played 31 minutes. Patterson registered 14 points, six rebounds, a steal, a block and two three-point shots in the win so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Casey gave him substantial minutes again in Game 3.
UTIL: Cory Joseph, Toronto Raptors
Salary: $3,100
Joseph was another key player for Toronto in its Game 2 win and a strong performance led to him playing the majority of the fourth quarter with Kyle Lowry while DeMar DeRozan was glued to the bench. DeRozan will likely bounce back in Game 3 but that doesn’t mean Joseph won’t have a substantial impact again in Game 3. The veteran guard had 16 points, three assists, a rebound and a steal in the Raptors’ Game 2 win and plugging he and Patterson in to our lineup at a combined $6.3K is an absolute steal for Thursday’s DraftKings NBA Fantasy Leagues.
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