This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Thursday's NBA slate is a tiny one, with just two games on tap beginning at 8:00 PM Eastern time. Read on to see which players are primed to deliver the best fantasy value from the Rockets-Heat and Mavericks-Clippers matchups. FanDuel's format only counts the eight highest scores in your nine-player lineup, so keep that in mind when making your selections.
POINT GUARD
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LAC vs. DAL ($5,600): It's worth turning back to Gilgeous-Alexander coming off Monday's career-best 24-point performance. While he likely won't match that output here, the rookie first-rounder should still provide nice value at $5,600 if he's entrusted with playing time similar to the 38 minutes he logged Monday.
Tyler Johnson, MIA vs. HOU ($4,200): Assuming Johnson suits up after missing Wednesday's practice due to a migraine, he should provide good value at just $4,200 against a Rockets team that's playing its second game in as many nights. With Goran Dragic out long-term due to a knee injury, Johnson should get some opportunities to build on the 16.0 PPG and 28 minutes per game he's averaged in the past two.
SHOOTING GUARD
James Harden, HOU at MIA ($12,400): Harden's the most expensive player in this slate for a reason -- he's averaging 41.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 8.8 APG over the past four games. Given the limited selection in this slate, it's going to be awfully tough to make up the gap if you leave him out of the lineup and he posts another strong performance.
Luka Doncic, DAL at LAC ($8,200): Doncic's game is extremely refined for a rookie, but it's foolish to think that he won't keep growing. He's shown tremendous all-around ability over the past five contests, averaging 19.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG and 8.4 APG. With 23-plus points in three of those games, 10-plus rebounds in two and nine-plus assists in three, Doncic has massive upside if he plays up to his potential in all three categories at once.
SMALL FORWARD
Harrison Barnes, DAL at LAC ($5,800): Barnes is coming off a 30-point game, and he's now exploded for 25-plus points in five of the past 13 games. His offensive upside coupled with increased responsibility due to Dennis Smith missing time with a wrist injury give Barnes plenty of upside against a Clippers team that's allowing 114.1 points per game -- most among teams in this slate and sixth-most in the league overall.
Derrick Jones, MIA vs. HOU ($5,200): Jones has been rolling over the past five games, scoring between 26.6 and 41.8 fantasy points in each. He still costs just $5,200, so keep rolling with Jones until either he slows down or his price climbs.
POWER FORWARD
Tobias Harris, LAC vs. DAL ($8,200): Harris is putting together his finest offensive season, averaging a career-high 21.5 PPG and an 8.2 RPG mark that's his second-highest behind the 8.5 he managed in 2012. His skill set was on full display in a 39-point, 11-rebound performance in the Clippers' last game, so Harris brings some nice momentum into this one and should once again serve as his team's primary option on offense.
Kelly Olynyk, MIA vs. HOU ($5,400): Olynyk scored just eight points in Miami's last game Sunday, but he had poured in at least 13 in each of the previous eight, suggesting a bounce-back effort is likely. The sharpshooting big man's also grabbing 6.4 rebounds per game over these past nine, and he should continue to see plenty of crunch time minutes with atrocious free throw shooter Hassan Whiteside often sitting out fourth quarters entirely.
CENTER
DeAndre Jordan, DAL at LAC ($7,200): Whiteside's much too inconsistent to trust, leaving Jordan as the obvious choice for owners who can't afford Clint Capela at $8,800. The former Clippers big man comes into this revenge game against his old club averaging 11.0 PPG, 13.8 RPG and a career-best 2.1 APG. Expect another double-double with the strong possibility of some hustle stats as well.
