FanDuel NBA: Thursday Value Plays

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Published on February 3, 2022

Our Thursday slate begins at 7:00 p.m. ET, and there are several crucial spots to get back to as lock approaches. Make sure to leave some time prior to tip-off to get the latest updates.

SLATE OVERVIEW

MIN (-7) @ DET O/U: 225.5

PHO (-5) @ ATL O/U: 223.5

TOR (-3) vs. CHI O/U: 224.5

MIA (-4) @ SAS O/U: 218.5

GSW (-13) vs. SAC O/U: 221

LAC (-2.5) vs. LAL O/U: 217.5

We're giving a lot of love to Toronto tonight, and depending how the chips fall in Los Angles, we also like options in the nightcap at Crypto.com Arena. The Heat-Spurs contest will be dominated by game-time calls, and significant value could emerge from that news.

INJURIES

MIN D'Angelo Russell (leg) - QUESTIONABLE

MIN Patrick Beverley (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE

The backcourt absences should increase opportunity for Malik Beasley ($4,500).

DET Cade Cunningham (hip) - QUESTIONABLE

Cory Joseph ($4,800) should be the prime beneficiary if Cunningham can't go.

ATL Trae Young (shoulder) - GAME-TIME CALL

If Young can't go, Delon Wright ($4.600) would assume the starting duties, and we'd also want to project added production to the remaining starters.

MIA Jimmy Butler (toe) - PROBABLE

MIA Kyle Lowry (personal) - WILL PLAY

MIA P.J. Tucker (knee) - PROBABLE

SAS Dejounte Murray (wrist) - QUESTIONABLE

SAS Jakob Poeltl (concussion) - OUT

SAS Jock Landale (concussion) OUT

The frontcourt absences mean that Drew Eubanks ($4,500) will likely start under the basket. If Murray sits, I'm inclined to go with Derrick White ($6,400) over any budget pivot.

SAC De'Aaron Fox (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE

SAC Marvin Bagley (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE

LAL LeBron James (knee) - OUT

Malik Monk ($6,600) continues to be a solid pivot in James' absence.

ELITE PLAYERS

Anthony Davis ($9,600) would be my top elite play tonight, but we can't be 100% sure that he will play tonight. The back-to-back and his current injury situation are somewhat concerning, but I will fire him up if he plays. The same holds true for fellow Laker Russell Westbrook ($8,400) tonight.

Stephen Curry ($9,300) is still dealing with shooting struggles, but his newly lowered salary is a little too good to pass up when you consider his explosive upside. Pascal Siakam ($9,200) and Devin Booker ($9,100) finish out my spend-up picks. As you'lL see below, I also like a lot of other Toronto options.

EXPECTED CHALK AND CORE TARGETS

Fred VanVleet, TOR ($8,400) vs. CHI

VanVleet's floor is exceptional, and he often exceeds it with alarming frequency. He lit up Chicago for 45.7 FDFP in their last matchup, and I project him to surpass 40 FP with ease tonight. It's NOT quite enough to match 5x value, but that won't keep me from endorsing him tonight.

Anthony Edwards, MIN ($8,300) @ DET

Out primary reason for including Edwards is the possible absence of D'Angelo Russell, but the matchup against the Pistons isn't bad either. I think Edwards will be immune from a regression if Russell shows up, making him a safe early pick. He's due for a bounce-back after two mediocre games, and Detroit's subpar defense may do the trick.

Bam Adebayo, MIA ($8,200) @ SAS

We are crashing the boards in the 8k range tonight, but we have to keep going here with Adebayo, who is in a great spot against the short-handed Spurs. They'll have to reach into their third unit to find a center, and although the Spurs can offer support at other positions, most of them are at a severe size advantage against Bam, who is coming off a huge double-double against the Raptors.

Also consider: Tyrese Haliburton, SAC ($7,600) @ GSW

VALUE PLAYS

Scottie Barnes, TOR ($6,400) vs. CHI

I am a fan of Barnes' dual eligibility, allowing for four potential spots to slot the talented Raptor. His recent history against the Bulls isn't great, but he's eclipsing 30 FP routinely and could be in for a better result this time around.

Mikal Bridges, PHO ($6,300) @ ATL

Bridges has turned his game up a notch, and his salary has responded in kind with a $1,000 increase over the past two weeks. He recently set season-highs in two consecutive games, so his streak shouldn't be ignored, even with the elevated salary. Thursday presents a nice pace-up match against Atlanta, a spot where many Suns are poised to excel.

Marcus Morris, LAC ($5,200) vs. LAL

Rostering Clippers can be a mixed bag because there are several players who can step up on any given night. Overall, Morris has shown the most consistent floor. His upside won't wow you, but at $5,200, all we need is 25 FP to make Morris worthwhile, and assuming he starts, he should have an excellent opportunity get there.

Coby White, CHI ($4,800) @ TOR

White should continue to excel in relief, a position he'll hold down for a while with Lonzo Ball (meniscus) about to have surgery. If White struggles, Ayo Dosunmu will often spell him, but White is still the more consistent producer. If he can get his shot volume into the double digits, he should have no problem beating value at this salary.

Also consider: Amir Coffey, LAC ($5,100) vs. LAL

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.