Fantasy basketball picks, DFS and betting suggestions for Thursday’s NBA video games

ESPN’s fantasy basketball day by day cheat sheet is your pregame vacation spot earlier than you set your lineups for that evening’s video games. Here you may learn our greatest recommendation for the evening, together with a number of gamers you may stream in addition to game-by-game damage experiences.

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Top streamers | Best bets | DFS picks | Odds & Injury report

What that you must know for Thursday’s video games

There are solely three NBA video games on Thursday’s slate earlier than All-Star Weekend begins Friday evening. The Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz are all taking part in one another on the second evening of a back-to-back. In the opposite matchup, the Los Angeles Lakers’ have an opportunity to hold momentum into the break by finishing a season sweep of the Dallas Mavericks, having already received the primary two conferences of their collection.

LeBron James and Austin Reaves ought to shoulder the majority of the offensive accountability with Luka Doncic sidelined attributable to a hamstring damage. That dynamic makes this matchup particularly intriguing in opposition to a Mavericks staff nonetheless with out Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg whereas working Khris Middleton into the combo.

On paper, it is a sport the Lakers ought to management at house. Still, consistency has been a difficulty at occasions for them, and this presents a chance to ship an entire efficiency.

As all the time, let’s dig deeper into these and the opposite storylines on show to determine fantasy streamers, betting angles and DFS performs of curiosity on this shortened Thursday slate.

Thursday’s fantasy stream staff

Ace Bailey, SF/PF, Jazz (rostered in 31% of ESPN leagues)

The No. 5 total choose within the 2025 NBA Draft is starting to search out his rhythm. Bailey has logged a minimum of 31 minutes in 5 consecutive video games and has produced a minimum of 29 fantasy factors in 4 of them, together with one 50-point outing. The Trail Blazers are a middle-of-the-road defensive staff, positioning Bailey as a viable streaming choice whose major contributions are available scoring with modest manufacturing throughout different statistical classes.

Cason Wallace, SG, Thunder (24.4% rostered)

Wallace has began at level guard with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined attributable to an belly damage and has performed nicely, scoring a minimum of 29 fantasy factors in 5 of six video games, together with three performances of over 40. Wallace ought to proceed to see an uptick in utilization so long as Oklahoma City stays shorthanded within the backcourt. The Bucks rank within the high 10 in most fantasy factors per sport allowed to each level guards and taking pictures guards.

Isaiah Joe, SG, Thunder (5.3% rostered)

Joe additionally advantages from Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence and Oklahoma City’s shorthanded backcourt. He has scored a minimum of 31 fantasy factors in three consecutive video games. Joe is price consideration for managers in deeper codecs with a positive matchup in opposition to the Bucks.

Robert Williams III, C, Trail Blazers (4.7% rostered)

Williams would not log heavy minutes, however has been extremely productive when on the ground, averaging 32 fantasy factors per sport over his final six contests. He’s an intriguing streaming choice in deeper leagues given the matchup. The Jazz have struggled in opposition to opposing facilities all season.

Moody’s favourite bets for Thursday

P.J. Washington OVER 6.5 rebounds (+111)

Washington has cleared this line in every of the final three video games the place Anthony Davis and Flagg had been each out. During that span, he is averaged 14.0 rebound possibilities and 34.3 minutes per contest. The Lakers are a middle-of-the-road staff in rebounds allowed per sport to energy forwards. It’s additionally price noting that Washington has surpassed this quantity in 11 out of the 18 video games this season by which he has performed a minimum of 26 minutes.

Austin Reaves OVER 6.5 assists (+105)

Reaves is well-positioned to clear this line, even when he stays on a slight minutes restriction. He has surpassed 6.5 assists in 13 out of the 22 video games by which he has logged a minimum of 26 minutes. Reaves has gone over this line in six of the eight video games with Doncic out this season. The Mavericks rank eleventh in opponent assists allowed per sport.

Top Daily Fantasy values of the day

$8,100+ salaries

Deni Avdija, PF, Trail Blazers ($9,000)

Avdija has been excellent this season, averaging 46.8 fantasy factors in 34.3 minutes per sport. He attracts an elite matchup in opposition to a Jazz staff that ranks final in defensive score, third in tempo, and has allowed the seventh-most fantasy factors per sport to energy forwards.

LeBron James, PF, Lakers ($8,800)

James was held out of Tuesday’s sport in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs attributable to left foot soreness however is predicted to return Thursday and log his ordinary workload. He has produced a minimum of 44 fantasy factors in three of his final 4 video games. James and Reaves ought to shoulder the majority of the offensive accountability in opposition to the Mavericks with Doncic sidelined.

$6,100-$8,000 salaries

Kevin Porter Jr., PG/SG, Bucks ($7,800)

Porter Jr. ought to see a large utilization price in opposition to the Thunder with Giannis Antetokounmpo out and Ryan Rollins coping with a foot damage. He has scored a minimum of 44 fantasy factors in 4 consecutive video games. While Oklahoma City leads the league in defensive score and will not be a straightforward matchup, it is arduous to go up Porter at this value level.

Austin Reaves, PG/SG, Lakers ($7,700)

Reaves sat out Tuesday’s sport in opposition to the Spurs within the second leg of a back-to-back for damage administration, however is predicted to play Thursday. In 4 February appearances following a 19-game absence attributable to a calf pressure, he has averaged 34.3 fantasy factors in 24.7 minutes per sport. It stays unclear whether or not he’ll proceed to function below a minutes restriction, however his upside is obvious when he receives a full workload.

Donovan Clingan, C, Trail Blazers ($7,200)

Clingan has been dominant within the paint just lately, piling up factors, rebounds, and blocks. He has averaged 39.7 fantasy factors per sport over his final six contests. The Jazz have struggled defensively and have allowed the seventh-most fantasy factors per sport to facilities this season.

Toumani Camara, SF, Trail Blazers ($6,400)

Camara has performed a minimum of half-hour in 5 of six video games in February, averaging 28.8 fantasy factors throughout that span. He contributes throughout almost each statistical class and now attracts a positive matchup in opposition to a Jazz staff that has allowed probably the most fantasy factors per sport to small forwards this season.

$3,000-$6,000 salaries

Naji Marshall, SG/SF, Mavericks ($6,000)

Marshall has averaged 31.6 fantasy factors in 33.1 minutes per sport over his final seven contests. With Flagg dominated out, Marshall may see an uptick in utilization. The Lakers haven’t been a powerful defensive staff, rating nineteenth in defensive score over the past 15 video games. Marshall is questionable for Thursday’s matchup in opposition to Los Angeles attributable to a left foot pressure. If he’s dominated out, think about pivoting to Max Christie ($5,000) or Middleton ($4,900).

Projections and Injury Reports

Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds offered by DraftKings Sportsbook

Milwaukee Bucks at Oklahoma City Thunder
7:30 p.m. ET

Line: Bucks +12.5 (-108) | Thunder -12.5 (-112)
Money line: Bucks +490 | Thunder -675
Total: 215.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 12.9, straight up 83%, 222.8 whole factors.

Injury Report:

Bucks: Ryan Rollins, (GTD – Foot); Giannis Antetokounmpo, (OUT – Calf); Taurean Prince, (OUT – Neck)

Thunder: Jalen Williams, (GTD – Hamstring); Ajay Mitchell, (GTD – Abdomen); Nikola Topic, (OUT – Illness); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (OUT – Abdomen); Thomas Sorber, (OFS – Knee)

Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz
9 p.m. ET

Line: Blazers -7.5 (-108) | Jazz +7.5 (-112)
Money line: Blazers -285 | Jazz +230
Total: 239.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Blazers by 4.7, straight up 64%, 247.4 whole factors.

Injury Report:

Blazers: Kris Murray, (GTD – Back); Shaedon Sharpe, (GTD – Calf); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT – Knee); Damian Lillard, (OFS – Achilles)

Jazz: Elijah Harkless, (GTD – Hamstring); Keyonte George, (GTD – Ankle); Walker Kessler, (OFS – Shoulder)

Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers
10 p.m. ET

Line: Mavericks +7.5 (-108) | Lakers -7.5 (-112)
Money line: Mavericks +245 | Lakers -305
Total: 234.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 3, straight up 59%, 236.8 whole factors.

Injury Report:

Mavericks: Caleb Martin, (GTD – Ankle); Naji Marshall, (GTD – Foot); Cooper Flagg, (OUT – Foot); Kyrie Irving, (OUT – Knee); Dereck Lively II, (OFS – Foot)

Lakers: Deandre Ayton, (GTD – Knee); Luka Doncic, (OUT – Hamstring)