Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks to pass during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in New York. The Bucks won 111-107. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Opponent - DEN
Proj Pts FD - 36.88 DK - 40.12
We have a tricky slate on Thursday with just two games and not really any injury news to come in terms of opening up potential value. This has me targeting a more balanced lineup tonight and it starts with McCollum who is in a great spot against a Nuggets team that gives up the fourth-most fantasy points to guards. He is coming off a dud against the Warriors but I am not concerned as he has been consistent in March. The volume is there as he has taken 15 or more shots in nine of his last 11 games while averaging 20.1 points and has added another 4.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists for just over 39 fantasy points per game. The price is a little better on DraftKings but CJ is in play for me in all formats.
Opponent - MIL
Proj Pts FD - 27.18 DK - 29.54
In the first game, I think a lot of people will be chasing Jrue's monster game from last night, but with Middleton back in the lineup, I will go in another direction. Enter Marcus Smart who isn't going to win you a GPP as a low-volume guard but has provided a solid floor from a PTS/$ standpoint lately. At his current DraftKings price we are looking for about 25 DK points as a floor and he has hit that in four of his last games while averaging 28.6 during that stretch. On this small slate, I will have exposure to Smart in cash games on both sites.
Opponent - NO
Proj Pts FD - 23.74 DK - 25.42
Value is going to be tough to come by on this slate so we are going to have to expand our player pools and include some bench players. Let's start with Bruce Brown who has been getting decent playing time lately getting 28 or more minutes in three straight and four of his last five games and has been fairly consistent hitting at least 5x on DraftKings in nine of those 14 games while averaging 23 DK points per game. This kind of output is not going to get you to GPP glory but will help in your cash builds as it leaves salary for the top players.
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 38.15 DK - 42.18
The Bucks are coming off a track meet last night where they dropped 149 points in a regulation win against the Pacers. They are the only team on a back-to-back on this slate but the good news here is that Middleton sat out last night for injury management on his knee and is expected back tonight and should be fresh. He is coming off a monster game where he made 13 of 23 shots for 34 points, eight rebounds, and five assists and while he has been a bit inconsistent overall in the second half, he is still averaging 39 fantasy points over his last nine games. Given the situation, I will have Middleton in my player pool in all formats tonight.
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 57.07 DK - 61.58
If enough value arises, we have two players in a tier of their own in Giannis and Jokic but with the latter questionable to play I like going back to Giannis who paid off big-time last night. It was, in large part, due to the Bucks' suspect defence which kept the Pacers in the game but either way it was Giannis' fifth 80+ DK point game of the season. There are few, if any players who have delivered the consistency in the second half as Giannis comes in averaging 31.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.8 blocks+steals over his last 12 games for just over 59 fantasy points per game! Lock and load in all formats.
Opponent - DEN
Proj Pts FD - 35.82 DK - 39.42
There is a good chance we just won't be able to fit Giannis comfortably and if that's the case, Big Val definitely fits the balanced build narrative. After a stretch of poor play in early March, Val has turned it around and heated up lately shooting 59% from the field while averaging a double-double on 17.1 points and 15.1 rebounds for over 43 fantasy points per game. The Nuggets aren't a great matchup but they aren't a bad one either as they rank 14th in defensive efficiency, 17th in rebounding, and 17th in fantasy points to centers. I will have exposure in all formats.
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