This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
There won't be a lot of action in the NBA on Thursday with just three games on the schedule. Luckily, the night is still packed with some of the top talent in the league with the Warriors, Rockets, Nuggets and Raptors all in action. Let's dive into the slate and examine some players to target and avoid when pondering the options on Yahoo.
GUARDS
James Harden, HOU at GS ($58): The Rockets have not only fought their way back into the playoff hunt, but they are currently the fourth seed in the Western Conference. With Chris Paul (hamstring) on the sidelines, Harden has gone absolutely nuts. He's scored at least 41 points in four straight games, helping boost his season average to 33.3 points per contest. He's scored at least 61.7 Yahoo points in eight of his last 10 games, making him hard to pass up, even at this lofty price.
Derrick White, SA vs. TOR ($16): It's taken White awhile, but he appears to have turned a corner lately with at least 32.4 Yahoo points in three straight games. Two of those contests came against tough defensive opponents in the Nuggets and Celtics, which makes his streak even more impressive. His offensive upside might not be off the charts, but his ability to contribute in multiple areas could make him a bargain at this price.
Guard to Avoid
Jamal Murray, DEN at SAC ($28): The Nuggets have been decimated by injuries for much of the season, but are healthier than they have been in a while right now with both Gary Harris and Paul Millsap back in action. Murray was forced to shoulder more of the offensive load when they were out, but he should see fewer scoring opportunities moving forward. He only scored 24.1 Yahoo points with both players back Tuesday against the Knicks, making him a risky option since he's not that cheap.
FORWARDS
Kawhi Leonard, TOR at SA ($47): This should be a good one between two teams that dealt each other their star players during the offseason. Leonard's tenure with the Spurs did not end well, so there's a good chance that he's playing with some extra motivation in this contest. He's already scored at least 41.2 Yahoo points in nine of his last 11 games and could see plenty of scoring opportunities once again with Kyle Lowry (back) listed as doubtful.
Danuel House Jr., HOU at GS ($10): Not only are the Rockets without Paul, but Eric Gordon (knee) is set to miss his second straight game. House has been playing well of late and has scored at least 21.8 Yahoo points in four straight games. The return of James Ennis (hamstring) isn't exactly great news for House's upside, but he'll likely be on a minutes limit since he hasn't played in any of their last 10 games. The Warriors also like to use a lot of small lineups, so House could still see enough playing time to be worth considering in tournament play at the minimum price.
Forward to Avoid
Draymond Green, GS vs. HOU ($29): Green has never been a prolific scoring threat, but he's averaging just 7.3 points per game this season. His blocks are also down at 0.8 per contest, so his upside has taken a hit on both ends of the floor. After scoring 29.9 Yahoo points or fewer in five of his last eight games, spending this much money to get him into your lineup isn't exactly advisable on a slate with so many top-tier options worth paying up for.
CENTERS
Nikola Jokic, DEN at SAC ($44): Unlike Murray, the returns of Millsap and Harris might actually be beneficial for Jokic. Opposing defenses can't focus on him as much and he also has better offensive weapons on the floor to help him rack up assists. The Knicks sure couldn't stop him Tuesday when he posted a triple-double on his way to 65.3 Yahoo points. The Kings have allowed the most Yahoo points per game (58.2) to opposing centers over their last 10 contests, setting up Jokic with the potential to dominate.
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. TOR ($32): The Spurs aren't quite as hot as the Rockets, but they have won 10 of their last 13 games. Aldridge has played a key role in their recent run, scoring at least 35.7 Yahoo points eight times during that 13-game stretch. The Raptors are thin up front without Jonas Valanciunas (thumb), which has contributed to them allowing the fifth-most Yahoo points per game (53.7) to opposing centers over their last 10 games.
Center to Avoid
Serge Ibaka, TOR at SA ($22): Ibaka isn't playing at his best right now with 28.7 Yahoo points or fewer in five of his last six games. Even with Valanciunas out, Ibaka has scored eight points or fewer in three of his last four contests. The Spurs have allowed the fewest Yahoo points per game (36.7) to opposing centers across their last 10 games, so this is not a favorable spot for Ibaka to break out of his recent slump.
