This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Thursday brings only four games in the NBA, but there are still plenty of top options to pick from in DFS with the Thunder, Celtics and Nuggets among the teams in action. Let's examine some players across the price scale to target and avoid while you create your Yahoo lineup.
GUARDS
Russell Westbrook, OKC at SA ($52): Westbrook's percentages are down significantly this year, leaving him with an average of 21.2 points per game. That would be his lowest mark since the 2009-10 season. However, he's still one of the top options in DFS with averages of 10.8 rebounds, 10.3 assists and 2.5 steals per contest. With at least 50.2 Yahoo points in eight of his last nine games, rolling with Westbrook could be a great choice despite his lofty price tag.
Dwyane Wade, MIA vs. BOS ($16): Wade's numbers may not jump off the page, but he's been a reliable contributor with at least 24.2 Yahoo points in six straight games. He's averaging 26 minutes a game this year, which is one of the main reasons for his improved stats. With Goran Dragic (knee) on the shelf, Wade has been asked to help facilitate the offense more, which has helped him average four assists per contest. While not overly cheap, Wade is still a great option to consider.
Guard to Avoid
Terry Rozier, BOS at MIA ($19): Rozier was excellent while filling in for Kyrie Irving, which isn't surprising considering how well he played as a starter last season. The problem is that with Irving now healthy, Rozier has logged exactly 20 minutes in both of the last two games. His minute's upside just isn't high enough when the Celtics' guards are healthy.
FORWARDS
Blake Griffin, DET at SAC ($39): Things are getting ugly for the Pistons, who are 2-8 across their last 10 games. Griffin's production had been largely immune to their struggles up until Wednesday when he scored just 24 Yahoo points against the Lakers. He played 37 minutes, but failed to grab a single rebound and attempted only 14 shots. This is a great spot for him to redeem himself against a Kings team that plays at the second-fastest pace (105 possessions per game) in the league.
Paul Millsap, DEN vs. LAC ($21): Since returning from injury, Millsap's production has been all over the place. Across those six games, he's scored 20.2 Yahoo points or fewer three times. However, he scored at least 33.8 Yahoo points in each of the other three contests. Working in his favor Thursday is the fact that the Clippers play at the eighth-fastest pace (102.6), so it might be worth taking a chance that he has one of his better performances in this contest considering his reasonable price tag.
Forward to Avoid
Mason Plumlee, DEN vs. LAC ($16): Now that Millsap has worked his way back into the starting lineup, Plumlee finds himself a member of the Nuggets' second unit once again. In two games since returning to that role, Plumlee has scored 15.1 and 11.1 Yahoo points, respectively. His price has decreased by a dollar, but there's still not enough upside here to warrant considering him for your entry.
CENTERS
Andre Drummond, DET at SAC ($34): Despite their disappointing loss to the Lakers on Wednesday, Drummond was very productive with 40.9 Yahoo points. He's now scored at least that many Yahoo points in three straight games and it feels like he can almost just fall out of bed and record a double-double. This is an especially enticing matchup against the Kings, who have allowed the third-most Yahoo points per game (55) to opposing centers across their last 10 games.
Daniel Theis, BOS at MIA ($11): The Celtics have leaned on Theis to help make up for the loss of Aron Baynes (hand) and he's come through with at least 20.3 Yahoo points in each of their last four games. Since the Celtics won all four of those contests, there's no reason to believe that he'll see a reduced role Thursday. His upside certainly isn't very high, but at almost the minimum price, he could be worth considering in tournament play.
Center to Avoid
Al Horford, BOS at MIA ($20): Another reason why Theis has played so well of late is that the Celtics have been limiting Horford's minutes after he missed some time due to a knee injury. Luckily, the Celtics dominated the Pacers on Wednesday, so Horford was only needed to play 18 minutes. With that being said, it doesn't seem likely that the Celtics are going to push him to play extended minutes in the second game of their back-to-back set.
