James Harden and the 76ers host the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET on League Pass.
Six games will take place in the NBA on Thursday, one of which is a marquee matchup between the Bucks and Heat. However, the Heat will be shorthanded with Tyler Herro (Achilles) and Kyle Lowry (knee) both out. The Bucks will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set, so it will be important to monitor their injury report for possible rest candidates. A battle of superstars will take place in Los Angeles when LeBron James and the Lakers host Luka Doncic and the Mavericks. Let’s discuss some players to consider for your Yahoo lineups, as well as a few to potentially avoid.
Guards
James Harden, PHI vs. OKC ($45): Harden has back-to-back games with a triple-double. What makes that even more impressive is that he didn’t log more than 28 minutes in either game with the 76ers winning both in convincing fashion. Over his last nine games, Harden has averaged 22.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 12.2 assists and 1.6 steals. Even if the 76ers gain a large lead, Harden has shown that he can put up monster numbers even in limited minutes.
Malcolm Brogdon, BOS at BKN ($18): Having Brogdon come off the bench is a luxury for the Celtics that many contending teams would love to have. He especially came in handy when Marcus Smart (knee) missed the last two games. Although he was underwhelming two games ago against the Bulls, he scored 35.8 Yahoo points Wednesday against the Pelicans. With Smart out again, Brogdon has the potential to provide value.
Guard to Avoid
De’Anthony Melton, PHI vs. OKC ($19): When the 76ers were decimated at guard earlier this season, Melton stepped into the starting five and played well. However, with Harden and Tyrese Maxey healthy again, Melton moved to the bench Tuesday against the Pistons. He played just 18 minutes, scoring 22.0 Yahoo points. As long as Harden and Maxey are healthy, Melton is likely to have a limited role.
Forwards
Jaylen Brown, BOS at BKN ($38): Brown was locked in Wednesday, scoring 41 points on 15-for-21 shooting from the field. He is having the most efficient season of his career, shooting 49.8% from the field. The last time he faced the Nets, he shot 10-for-20 from the field on his was to producing 34 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and four blocks.
T.J. Warren, BOS vs. BKN ($12): The Nets are facing the prospects of Kevin Durant (knee) missing a month. This will be just the second game that he has been sidelined all season. Warren isn’t going to jump right into playing 35 minutes a game, but he should see more time on the floor moving forward. If he can approach 30 minutes in this matchup, he could provide significant value at near the minimum salary.
Forward to Avoid
Tim Hardaway, DAL at LAL ($18): Hardaway has been providing very little production in terms of rebounds, assists and defensive stats. He’s also shooting just 38.8% from the field. Given the potentially expanded role that Warren could have, and his cheaper salary, there’s no need to take a chance on Hardaway.
Centers
Pascal Siakam, TOR vs. CHA ($43): These two teams just played each other Tuesday in what was a 12-point win for the Raptors. Siakam was integral in the victory, posting 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. The Hornets have played at the 10th-fastest pace and have the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league, setting up Siakam to thrive again in their rematch.
Thomas Bryant, LAL vs. DAL ($23): The Lakers looked to be in trouble when Anthony Davis (foot) went down, but Bryant has helped them to stay afloat. He has been a consistent source of production, scoring at least 32.0 Yahoo points in seven of the last eight games. The Mavericks don’t have much size up front outside of Christian Wood, so Bryant could be met with little resistance in the paint.
Center to Avoid
Jusuf Nurkic, POR vs. CLE ($27): This is not a good matchup for Nurkic. The duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have helped the Cavaliers allow the second-fewest rebounds per game in the league. The Cavaliers also has the best defensive rating. That could lead to a long night for Nurkic.
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Mike started covering fantasy sports in 2007, joining RotoWire in 2010. In 2018, he was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. In addition to RotoWire, Mike has written for Sportsline, Sports Illustrated, DK Live, RealTime Fantasy Sports, Lineup Lab and KFFL.com.
