This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Thursday's two-game slate has plenty of the NBA's power players in action, giving us a number of decisions to make despite the shallow player pool. With some important budgetary considerations on tap, let's look at where the dollars might best be spent:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
James Harden, HOU at PHO ($24,200): Harden has crossed 60 fantasy points in the last two games and eclipsed 80 in two others over the last five, making him worth the sizable investment on the small slate. The matchup certainly works in his favor as well, even with some potential time at two-guard as a result of Chris Paul's expected return Thursday. The Suns have allowed the most fantasy points (54.2) per game to ones and the eighth most (51.1) to two-guards, and it's worth noting that Harden lit up this squad last season for 33.0 points, 11.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds across three games.
Mid-Tier
Kyrie Irving, BOS vs. GS ($15,600): Irving shook off his facial injury to post 38.25 fantasy points against the Nets in his return from a one-game absence Tuesday, and he faces an old nemesis against whom he's enjoyed plenty of success Thursday. Stephen Curry (quadriceps) is expected to play against Boston, which should afford Irving a chance to build on the 29.4 points per contest he averaged versus the Warriors in last season's Finals. He's been a focal point of the Celtics' offense and should be heavily involved in the up-tempo matchup, given his 33 percent usage rate that's highest among Boston's starters.
Affordable
Devin Booker, PHO vs. HOU ($13,600): Booker has been a bit of an adventure to roster in recent games, but his upside for tournaments is tempting, especially on a two-game slate. He averaged a solid 22.3 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in four games versus the Rockets last season, and is poised to exploit a squad that's allowed the seventh most fantasy points (55.4) to two-guards over the last five. They're also allowing the third highest field-goal percentage (46.0) to the position on the season, while Booker has scored between 45.25 and 57.75 fantasy points in three of his past four games, hitting or eclipsing the 30-point mark in those contests.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Kevin Durant, GS at BOS ($19,400): Durant's matchup admittedly isn't the most appealing Thursday, but on a small slate, it's impossible not to at least give him consideration. The Celtics are ranked in the top half of the league in allowing 38.5 fantasy points per game to small forwards, but Durant has scored at least 40.75 fantasy points in all but one game this season and is averaging a robust 47.36 fantasy points per contest overall. Durant's team-high 27.8 percent usage rate and 1.36 fantasy points per minute only further his case in what should be a highly competitive matchup.
Mid-Tier
Al Horford, BOS vs. GS ($14,900): Horford has taken his game up a notch in his second Celtics campaign, with his 57.6 percent success rate from the field representing a career high. He's scored between 32.50 and 44.50 fantasy points in his last five games as well and will face a Warriors squad that's allowed 41.2 fantasy points to centers over their last five, nearly five points more per game than their season average.
Affordable
T.J. Warren, PHO vs. HOU ($11,900): Like his teammate Booker, Warren sees the occasional downturn in production, but when he's on, he provides returns that significantly outpace his current price. That's been most recently evidenced by his last two games, contests in which he's scored 46.00 and 39.00 fantasy points, respectively. He's scored over 40 on two other occasions and over 60 once as well this season, while the Rockets check in allowing the sixth most fantasy points (53.9) per game to small forwards, along with the seventh most points (23.9), fourth most rebounds (9.5), third most assists (4.7) and fifth most made three-pointers (3.1) to small forwards.
UTILITY:
Marcus Morris, BOS vs. GS ($11,400): Morris scored a season-high 36.00 fantasy points versus the Nets his last time out and draws a matchup that could facilitate more of the same Thursday. The Warriors have allowed the sixth most fantasy points (48.6) per game on the season to small forwards and third most fantasy points (51.5) to the position over the last 10. Golden State has also allowed the second-most three-pointers (3.6) to threes, while Morris is shooting a career-best 40.0 percent from long distance through his first six games.
Trevor Ariza, HOU at PHO ($11,300): Ariza has found a measure of offensive consistency recently, scoring between 24.25 and 37.00 fantasy points in his seven November contests. He's a highly viable play in what should be a fast-paced contest and against a Suns defense that's allowed 48.7 fantasy points to small forwards over the last five, ninth-most over that span and nearly seven fantasy points over their 41.8 season average.
