NBA DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups, Injuries & More Today: Thursday Playbook

The ceiling games have become somewhat scarce for Steph Curry, but the Warriors are shorthanded while they await the arrival of Jimmy Butler. The Lakers rank just 19th in DRtg and have traded away two of their top defenders in Anthony Davis and Max Christie. 

Harden is coming off a dud in which he shot just 2-of-12 from the floor, but this is a nice bounce back spot. He gets an up-tempo matchup against Indiana, who ranks 6th in pace.

Kyrie has played at least 37 minutes and attempted 20+ field goals in three straight games. Anthony Davis's debut is imminent, but it does not appear to be coming tonight. 

Tough matchup for Murray and the Nuggets, but they are still a bit shorthanded. Murray attempted just seven shots last night, as Jokic and MPJ were busy shooting the lights out. Murray had been seeing nice volume prior to that and he has been playing mid-to-upper-30s minutes on a nightly basis. 

The Lakers have won their last three games by a combined 79 points. Reaves will again be a huge part of the offense with Luka Doncic not yet ready to debut for his new team. 

The Kings were blown out last night, as Zach LaVine made his Kings debut. It is unknown how this new-look version of the team will operate, and it may take some time to find chemistry, but Monk should have a nice role as the main ball handler and distributor with De'Aaron Fox gone.  

Edwards has been on an absolute tear lately, with an average of 59.5 FP per game in his last four contests. The matchup is a tough one, but the projected ownership is very attractive for this matchup-proof superstar. 

I could see this new version of the Kings really struggling on the defensive end, and Portland is actually a slight favorite here. Simons has been inconsistent with his shot, but the ceiling is enormous if he gets them to fall. 

Braun has seen a nice uptick in his role with Russell Westbrook out of the lineup. Braun played just 29 minutes in last night's blow out of the Pels. He was up over 38 minutes in the two games prior without Westbrook. 

Wiggins, Schroder, Waters, and Anderson are no longer Warriors, Kuminga remains out, and Jimmy Butler is not yet ready to debut. TJD and Moody could also miss tonight, but Podz should have a huge role regardless of their availability. He started and played nearly 40 minutes in the lone game since the trade. 

As I mentioned in the Podziemski blurb, the Warriors are very shorthanded tonight. Hield saw 31 minutes of action in a similar situation last game and will be needed in the offense. 

Thompson gets a tough matchup in Minnesota, but he will again have a massive role with Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith still out. He has played well enough over the last month that I am willing to call him matchup proof at this point (see monster games against Boston and Cleveland as evidence.) 

The breakout for Franz Wagner was rudely interrupted with an injury, but he has returned and picked up right where he left off. I love this spot for him tonight with Aaron Gordon still out. Franz should be matchup up with MPJ and Braun an awful lot. 

Boston has the highest team total on the slate and gets a matchup with a depleted Mavs roster. The massive trade (Davis and Martin not yet available) and multiple injuries (Lively, Washington) have left this team shorthanded for the moment. Brown is a consistent producer with 50+ FP upside. 

Powell has been extremely efficient offensively and gets a nice up-tempo matchup against the Pacers. 

MPJ is coming off consecutive ceiling performances with two of his better games of the season. He gets a tough matchup against the Magic, but Gordon, Westbrook, and Watson remain out. 

AD, Christie, Knecht, and Reddish have been shipped out, and Luka and Williams are not yet available. Rui should see 30+ minutes and an increased role. 

LeBron has a massive floor/ceiling combination tonight with AD off to Dallas and Luka Doncic not yet ready to make his debut. He gets a Warriors roster that is also in trade limbo on the other side. 

Boston has the highest team total on the slate and gets a matchup with a depleted Mavs roster. The massive trade (Davis and Martin not yet available) and multiple injuries (Lively, Washington) have left this team shorthanded for the moment. Tatum is a consistent producer with 65+ FP upside. 

Naz has absolutely smashed in his last two games without Julius Randle. This is definitely his toughest matchup of the three games, but the salary tag is lower than it should be given his current role. 

We saw Draymond play over 34 minutes last game with this shorthanded roster. I have ceiling concerns for GPP, but he has a very strong floor. 

Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith are out, which could open up a path to more minutes for Eason. He has always been an excellent fantasy point per minute producer, so that is very intriguing. It is a difficult matchup and minutes are not a certainty, so definitely best left for large-field GPPs. 

Jokic is not necessarily a priority for me tonight given the difficult matchup against the Magic, rising salary tag, and other slate dynamics. There is value littered throughout the $5,000 and $6,000 range, but nothing super cheap that I feel great about. That said, Jokic is awesome and totally matchup proof.  

This Kings team is definitely in a transition period with De'Aaron Fox traded away and Zach LaVine joining the squad. The field might shy away given the uncertainty here, which gives me large-field GPP interest in Sabonis. It is an excellent matchup against Portland, who ranks 23rd in DRtg. 

Dallas lacks size behind Gafford, who has been prone to foul trouble in his career. Anthony Davis is not yet expected to be available; Washington, Lively, Powell are out, and Kleber has been traded. Boston has the highest team total on the slate. 

Indiana has allowed the 6th-most points in the paint (where Zubac does nearly all his damage) and plays at the 6th fastest pace in the league. Zubac has flashed big-time ceiling this season, even at times with Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup. 

Gafford has played 30+ minutes in three straight games and should do so again as long as he stays out of foul trouble.