FanDuel NBA: Thursday Value Plays

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Published on February 24, 2022

NBA returns to action with a seven-game slate that kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Let's begin by looking at the Vegas numbers.

SLATE OVERVIEW

CLE (-7) @ DET O/U: 208

BOS (-6.5) @ BKN OU: 214.5

CHI (-4.5) vs. ATL O/U: 235

MEM (-2.5) @ MIN O/U: 238.5

PHO (-9.5) @ OKC O/U: 215

DEN (-4.5) @ SAC O/U: 230.5

GSW (-9) @ POR O/U: 222.5

We can't mention every Chicago and Atlanta starter, but they are all in play in the evening's highest projected total. We didn't give many mentions to Memphis or Minnesota, but combing through starting lineups for both teams is a wise endeavor due to the superior game total projection.

INJURIES

CLE Darius Garland (back) - OUT

CLE Caris LeVert (foot) - OUT

Brandon Goodwin ($3,500) looks like the clearest guard pivot, but Rajon Rondo ($3,900) should also have some impact amid the backcourt absences for Cleveland.

BKN Kyrie Irving (home game) - OUT

I will continue to be all over Seth Curry ($5,900) until proven otherwise. Patty Mills ($5,200) has also performed better than expected amid the Harden departure.

ATL John Collins (foot) - DOUBTFUL

Danilo Gallinari ($4,600) will draw the start again for Collins, but all starters should be considered for slight boosts in Collins's absence.

PHO Chris Paul (thumb) - OUT

The team could go any number of ways to absorb Paul's output, but Aaron Holiday ($3,500) and his reasonable salary could be the big winner here long-term. I also can envision Phoenix going big on certain nights, using Cameron Johnson ($4,200) as a backcourt hybrid. This is especially true while Cameron Payne (wrist) is out.

OKC Luguentz Dort (shoulder ) - OUT

OKC Kenrich Williams (knee) - OUT

OKC Ty Jerome (hip) - OUT

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is back, and his presence nips a lot of Thunder value in the bud. Any pivot for OKC is a secondary concern.

POR Jusuf Nurkic (foot) - OUT

The loss of Nurkic stings. If he gets the start, Trendon Watford ($3,500) could emerge as one of the best value plays on the slate.

ELITE PLAYERS

The slate is loaded with spend-up guards, but with the high projected total, I like Trae Young ($9,800) best among Thursday's runners. I also think Ja Morant ($10,000) could be a less-popular play due to his elevated salary. Devin Booker ($8,800) is also becoming a nightly consideration at a reduced salary. The Suns will lean on him heavily during Chris Paul's extended absence.

Nikola Jokic ($11,400) is the top big man and quite expensive, but pitting him against foul-prone Domantas Sabonis seems like a wise play. Nikola Vucevic ($9,700) is in a massive pace-up spot and warrants a solid look.

Also consider: Stephen Curry, GSW ($9,300) @ POR

EXPECTED CHALK AND VALUE PLAYS

Zach LaVine, ATL ($7,900) vs. CHI

The Hawks and Bulls square off with the slate's highest projected total, and LaVine's return looks like an excellent vale spot, especially given the elevated salary for DeMar DeRozan.

Jaylen Brown, BOS ($7,900) @ BRO

I think most of the Celtics players are priced appropriately, but it's hard to fade Brown below $8K. Brown throttled the Nets with 40 FDFP in only 28 minutes a few weeks ago.

Klay Thompson, GSW ($6,200) @ POR

Even though Thompson's shot has evaded him at times since his return, his salary number is a solid bargain for GPP lineups. A hot hand could produce explosive results for Thomson, and he'll have plenty of opportunities versus Portland.

Mikal Bridges, PHO ($5,500) @ OKC

Bridges is precisely the kind of player who excels for the Suns in a blowout scenario, and hopefully, SGA's presence won't cause the type of blowout that breaks open the floodgates for every Phoenix backup. Bridges didn't do much in the two matchups against the Thunder earlier in the season, but both gamed before Bridges' scintillating January.

Kevin Love, CLE ($5,200) @ DET

Although we can employ the services of many Cleveland bug men, Love is an excellent point-per-minute producer and a huge bargain over Jarrett Allen and Even Mobley. I also believe Cedi Osman ($4,000) also has a shot at a nice number with Cleveland's slew of backcourt absences.

Also consider: Clint Capela, ATL ($6,100) @ CHI

There are many excellent values to find in the injury section. Trendon Watford, Cameron Johnson, Seth Curry and Aaron Holiday are my favorite picks.

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.