This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
There won't be a ton of action to speak of in the NBA on Thursday with just four games on the schedule. Two of them could be lopsided affairs with the Grizzlies hosting the Pistons and the Pelicans taking on the Warriors. Even the Clippers, who are currently without Paul George (elbow), could have a difficult time keeping up with the Suns in Phoenix. That could leave the matchup between the Celtics and Knicks as the most exciting of the night. Let's get down to business and highlight some players to consider for your Yahoo lineups, as well as a few to potentially avoid.
GUARDS
Jordan Poole, GS at NO ($20): Stephen Curry is struggling, shooting 8-for-41 from the field over the last two games. He just played Wednesday and is dealing with a quadriceps injury that could sideline him for this matchup. If he does indeed sit, this could be a great spot to roll with Poole. He's been one of their top secondary scoring options behind Curry, averaging 17.7 points and 2.6 three-pointers per game.
Gary Payton II, GS at NO ($13): Payton saw his playing time increase during the Warriors outbreak of COVID-19, averaging 29 minutes over their last six games. He's made a case to stay in the rotation, averaging 14.0 points, 6.2 rebounds. 1.7 steals and 1.7 three-pointers during that stretch. He could remain busy if Curry is out.
Guard to Avoid
Eric Bledsoe, LAC at PHO ($18): The last four games is close to a perfect example of what you can get from Bledsoe on any given night. In two of those games, he scored at least 31.8 Yahoo points. In the other two, he didn't top 14.2 Yahoo points in either contest. He's frustratingly inconsistent and has a tough matchup against a Suns team that has the second-best defensive rating in the league, so this might be a night to avoid him.
FORWARDS
Julius Randle, NY vs. BOS ($36): After a brief two-game absence because of COVID, Randle made his return Tuesday against the Pacers. He didn't skip a beat, posting 30 points, 16 rebounds and four assists across 39 minutes. Make no mistake about it, he's the focal point of the Knicks' offense. He's had plenty of success against the Celtics this season, scoring 60.1 and 40.3 Yahoo points, respectively, in their first two meetings.
Herbert Jones, NO vs. GS ($17): The Pelicans selected Jones in the second round of the 2021 Draft and may have found themselves a steal. Since moving into the starting lineup, he's averaged 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks across 19 games. With at least 29.7 Yahoo points in five straight games, Jones could end up being a bargain.
Forward to Avoid
Hamidou Diallo, DET at MEM ($28): When the Pistons were dealing with a COVID outbreak, Diallo stepped into not only added playing time, but added shot attempts. They are mostly healthy now, though, which contributed to Diallo scoring only 17.1 Yahoo points against the Hornets on Wednesday. This salary reflects the role he had when the team was shorthanded, not the one he currently has with them healthy.
CENTERS
Jonas Valanciunas, NO vs. GS ($30): As good as he's been, Valanciunas entered this season having never averaged more than 28 minutes per game. He's averaged 32 minutes with the Pelicans, resulting in robust averages of 18.9 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. With the news that Zion Williamson (foot) is now rehabbing away from the team, it's clear that he won't be back anytime soon. That should leave Valanciunas to fill an important role as a rebounder and scorer for the Pelicans.
Brandon Clarke, MEM vs. DET ($14): Xavier Tillman (COVID-19) being out the last three games has opened up added minutes for Clarke. He stepped in to score at least 27.4 Yahoo points each time, and he even topped 35 Yahoo points twice. There have been no indications that Tillman is ready to return, so Clarke could continue to provide increased production.
Center to Avoid
Mitchell Robinson, NY vs. BOS ($19): Robinson is kind of like the center version of Bledsoe. He can have big games, evident by the fact that he's scored at least 43.6 Yahoo points two times over his last seven games. However, he scored fewer than 20 Yahoo points three times during that stretch. In a tough matchup against Robert Williams, it's difficult to justify adding Robinson to your entry.
