This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
It's always fun to play Fantasy basketball, but that doesn't mean you'll want to watch most of the games in Thursday's six-game slate (you can get started on your 2018-19 scouting watching some Sweet 16 games). Four games feature at least one team that is already eliminated from the playoffs. A fifth game includes the Lakers, who are just three losses away from elimination with still 12 games remaining – they aren't technically out yet, but realistically they have almost no chance to make the playoffs. With so many lottery-bound teams in action, make sure to check your lineups before lock, as there is a high likelihood of some late-afternoon scratches that you may want to take advantage of.
TARGET
DET at HOU: This is the only game Thursday where both teams have actual interest in winning – the Pistons need a late-season surge to make the playoffs, and the Rockets are looking to secure the West's top seed (they've already clinched a top-2 seed). Lottery-bound teams can be prone to doing weird things, so it would be wise to have a solid baseline of players from this game where both teams are expected to behave rationally.
AVOID
UTA at DAL: Two of the league's six slowest teams face off, one of which has by far the best defense since the All-Star break. This is a rare game with a projected total score below 200.
GUARDS
James Harden, HOU vs. DET ($11,600): The Pistons' guards are not particularly good defenders, but even if they were, would it matter against the probable-MVP? Harden has scored at least 60 DKFP in three straight, and he's scored at least 23 points in every game since the All-Star break. This is the game I want to target, so having the best player at a fair price is a pretty reasonable starting point.
Tyreke Evans, MEM at CHA ($7,900): Many managers are likely to avoid Evans after his unexpected absence Monday – despite having played the last two games and not being listed on the injury report, Evans was a late scratch for still-undisclosed reasons. But the Grizzlies stated definitively Wednesday that Evans would play Thursday, so it seems safe to assume that he'll play. In his two games last week, Evans averaged 22.5 points, 8.0 assists and 44.8 DKFP as the team's primary ball-handler. With Marc Gasol (illness, rest) out Thursday, Evans is likely to have even more offensive responsibilities than usual.
D.J. Augustin, ORL vs. PHI ($5,000): Perhaps Augustin's biggest appeal is his high floor – he's scored at least 19 DKFP in every game this month. He's more than just a steady baseline, however, as he showed with his 32-point outburst last week. That was one of two times in the last 10 games he's scored more than 40 DKFP over his last 10 games, and he's topped 25 DKFP six times in that span.
FORWARDS
Julius Randle, LAL at NO ($8,000): The reason to not trust non-playoff teams late in the season is because we don't trust their motives. But by that logic, few players are quite as motivated as Randle, who is running out of games to prove himself before hitting free agency for the first time. Randle has had some rocky patches, including earlier this season, so every game counts. He's been on fire since the All-Star break, averaging 21.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists, but he has to keep the strong play going.
JaMychal Green, MEM at CHA ($5,800):Marc Gasol has missed four games since the All-Star break, and Thursday will be his fifth. In each of those four, Green has posted a double-double. In two of his last three non-Gasol games, Green has scored more than 46 DKFP. Gasol's absence combined with a week defensive opponent makes Green an attractive option Thursday.
Mike Muscala, ATL at SAC ($4,400): Muscala is likely to start again Thursday, as John Collins (ankle) has already been confirmed out. When Muscala started for Collins on Tuesday, he played 30 minutes and scored 21.25 DKFP, despite shooting just 33.3 percent from the field – far worse than his season average of 46.6 percent. With another large helping of minutes expected and facing one of the NBA's worst defenses, Muscala is in great position to provide another solid Fantasy performance Thursday.
CENTERS
Rudy Gobert, UTA at DAL ($8,300): While this game is generally unappealing, it's hard to ignore this tempting matchup for Gobert. None of the Mavericks' big men are equipped to handle a 7-foot athletic behemoth like Gobert. Dwight Powell isn't a terrible defender, but he's considerably shorter, and he typically plays only limited minutes. Nerlens Noel is a good defensive center, but Gobert can physically bully him. Any lineup where the Mavericks run Dirk Nowitzki at center is a massive advantage in Gobert's favor. The Mavs are also the worst rebounding team in the league, and Gobert is averaging 12.6 rebounds per game since the All-Star break.
Brook Lopez, LAL at NO ($6,700): Lopez (back) is probable Thursday, so while we should be safe including him in our lineups, we should make sure to double-check his status this afternoon. Lopez has seen a dramatic shift in his workload over the past seven games, averaging 33.0 minutes per game during that stretch, compared to 23.5 minutes per game over the previous month. With the increased role, Lopez is reminding Fantasy managers why he was a highly sought-after player in season-long leagues, averaging 22.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.0 blocks.
