This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Here we go with a tidy three-game slate on Thursday, April 4.
Per usual, we have some injuries to monitor with potential for more while moving closer to tip-off. You'll want to stay in the loop with Rotowire's NBA News Feed before setting your final lineups. As of Thursday morning, these are the situations we are looking at:
Joel Embiid questionable. Jonah Bolden would continue to start if Embiid misses another game.
Kevin Love is questionable. Larry Nance could step into a role of 30-plus minutes.
Kyle Kuzma is highly questionable. I'd be surprised if he returned, as the Lakers have nothing to play for. We'll wait for confirmation, but Kuzma is highly questionable tonight.
These notable players will continue to miss time: Nikola Mirotic, Tony Snell, Malcolm Brogdon, LeBron James, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball, Harry Giles,
With that, I'll be breaking down the best fantasy choices on DraftKings for Thursday. The following write-ups contain a blend of cash game staples, bargain fillers, and tournament pivots.
GUARDS
De'Aaron Fox – SAC vs. CLE ($7,200): Fox underwhelmed in a blowout loss on Tuesday, but he should be able to bounce-back with a strong performance tonight. The Sacramento point guard had posted 50 or more fantasy points in two of three before that recent flop, and I wouldn't be surprised if he found that range this evening. The matchup is a great one while hosting a Cleveland team that ranks 29th in defensive efficiency to opposing point guards.
Rajon Rondo – LAL vs. GS ($6,600): The matchup isn't great from a defensive efficiency standpoint; however, Rondo could post a solid fantasy line in this high-scoring draw between two fast-paced teams. The Lakers need him to log heavy minutes and initiate the offense with almost every other playmaker sidelined at this point in the season. For that reason, I'll be looking towards Rondo and this mid-range salary.
Klay Thompson – GS at LAL ($6,100): Thompson has been very mediocre lately, but his salary has bottomed-out as a result. I'm tempted to utilize him in tonight's brief three-game slate. After all, the Warriors have the highest point projection of the night, and Klay steps into a confident matchup against a Lakers team that ranks 28th in defensive efficiency to opposing shooting guards. Look for a bounce-back performance here.
Other guards to consider: Eric Bledsoe – MIL at PHI ($7,400), Stephen Curry – GS at LAL ($8,900), Pat Connaughton – MIL at PHI ($4,900)
FORWARDS
Marvin Bagley III – SAC vs. CLE ($6,400): Bagley will continue to push for 28-30 minutes with Harry Giles ruled out for the season. That's more than enough time for his efficient fantasy profile to post a solid return on this mid-range salary. Things look even better when you consider that his opponent, Cleveland, ranks 28th in defensive efficiency to power forwards.
Larry Nance Jr. – CLE at SAC ($6,300): Kevin Love is questionable, so Nance could see more work in the Cleveland frontcourt. Similar to the previous write-up of Bagley, Nance is an efficient fantasy scorer who can make things happen in 30 or so minutes. His matchup looks good as well, playing up in pace against a Sacramento team that ranks 20th in defensive efficiency to opposing power forwards.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – LAL vs. GS ($5,700): Caldwell-Pope's write-up mirrors that of his teammate, Rondo. The Lakers need Caldwell-Pope to log heavy minutes for their injury-plagued squad, which should push him towards respectable fantasy value. That was the case last game with "KCP" hitting 38 fantasy points through 40 minutes at Oklahoma City. In fact, that's the second time he has hit 38 or more fantasy points in three games. He'll continue to be a solid performer as long as the minutes keep flowing.
Other forwards to consider: Kevin Durant – GS vs. LAL ($8,700), Draymond Green – GS vs. LAL ($6,000)
CENTERS
DeMarcus Cousins – GS at LAL ($7,100): Yes, there's blowout risk with Golden State. However, there's only three games on this slate, and the Warriors have the highest team total of the night. While you might not want to completely load up on the expensive Golden State options, I believe Cousins is a strong play through all formats. He's playing up in pace against a Lakers team that ranks 26th in defensive efficiency to opposing centers. Cousins is fresh off a remarkable 60 FP performance against Denver on Tuesday, and this matchup is ripe for the picking.
JaVale McGee – LAL vs. GS ($6,700): McGee is more of a tournament play than anything. There's risk for foul trouble with him guarding Cousins, so take note of that. However, McGee has proven himself with 40-50 fantasy point upside if the conditions are right. This is a high-scoring tilt against the Warriors, and you'd get a leg-up on your competition if McGee was able to revisit that upside.
Other centers to consider: Brook Lopez – MIL at PHI ($5,900), Jonah Bolden – PHI vs. MIL ($4,600) if Embiid out
