The Thursday NBA dockets are usually pretty light and tonight is no exception with three contests tipping off later. Just because there isn't the volume doesn't mean there aren't some good games tonight, however. This is Carl Taylor (@dailydogsports) celebrating Howie Mandel's birthday as well as National Electronic Greeting day so let's make a deal or no deal while sending an e-mail and get on to the games:

Games that Stand Out at First Glance

There are only three games on the slate tonight but they are all interesting in some way. The Golden State Warriors have lost four straight road games and find themselves huge 8 point underdogs at the Toronto Raptors. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are also in action (LAL -4.5) when they host the Indiana Pacers and their #2 scoring defense. The third game of the night is also interesting as the Los Angeles Clippers are 3 point favorites on the second end of a back-to-back at the Sacramento Kings.

Guards

De'Aaron Fox (DK: $7,200 FD:7,600 $ Y!: $29 )

Sacramento is in a nice spot for an upset win as they host the Clippers who are playing on a back-to-back. The Kings are 2nd in the NBA in possessions per game and it's De'Aaron Fox that pushes that issue from the PG spot. Fox and the Kings can push the ball even more considering that Sacramento is fresh, having had 3 nights off. Fox's minutes were down a bit last game in a blowout loss to Utah, but he logged 33+ in the three games prior. Over those three contests, Fox had 35 assists and he's a top play on Thursday if his scoring can increase a bit, which it should, as the Clippers allow 7FG/game to PG starters.

Fred VanVleet (DK: $4,600 FD: $4,700 Y!: $ 10)

The Raptors have 116 implied points tonight vs. the Warriors and although Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry will likely soak a lot of those up, you can't overlook a possible big contribution from Fred VanVleet. Toronto has rattled off six straight wins and VanVleet has scored in double figures in five of those. He also has 4+ AST in five of those games. What scares you about VanVleet is his usage, but Toronto played a game two nights ago in Memphis in which Kyle Lowry logged 37 minutes. If rest for Lowry can open up some court time for VanVleet tonight, he should be able to have a big game in a primetime spot vs. Golden State.

Lou Williams (DK: $5,600 FD: $6,200 Y!: $21 )

The Clippers being on a back-to-back actually helps the DFS numbers for backup Lou Williams. Avery Bradley and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played 28 minutes last night vs. Phoenix and Williams was very productive in his role, scoring 20 points in 22 minutes on the court. Throw out a 4-point hiccup two games ago vs. Portland and Williams has scored 15+ points in 15 of 17 games. Williams had 26 vs. Sacramento last January and could replicate those numbers in a fast paced game Thursday.

Forwards

Doug McDermott (DK: $3,500 FD: $3,900 Y!: $10)

Does McBuckets have another big night in him in Hollywood tonight? There's great value on Doug McDermott if he does, as he's coming off back-to-back 21 point nights. He has shot 15-25 over that span including going 5-7 from 3-point range Tuesday night vs. the Suns. McDermott is in a good spot for another productive evening as the Lakers give up 3.5 REB/game and 3.4 FG/game to SF reserves. With the way McDermott is shooting, he has to have earned more minutes tonight – especially since the Pacers are playing their third straight road game and Victor Oladipo remains out.

Danilo Gallinari (DK: $6,500 FD: $7,000 Y!: $22)

As much concentration is being put into the Clippers playing on a B2B, you have to remember they are still 3-point road favorites vs. a Kings team that has lost 4 of 6 and has given up 130+ in two of those games. Danilo Gallinari logged 33 minutes last night which isn't ideal, but he did produce with 28 points and 10 boards. The Clippers F has five 19+ point games in his last 9 and has also grabbed 8+ boards in the last three contests. Sacramento allows 28.6 FPPG to SF starters and there should be an abundance of points to be had considering the total of 234 for this game.

Thaddeus Young (DK: $4,500 FD: $5,200 Y!: $14)

Paul Millsap went for 20 points and 11 rebounds in 23 minutes vs. LA the last game, so the Lakers do give up some points to opposing PF. That's good news for Thaddeus Young who had 18 points and 9 rebounds on 9-12 shooting when the teams met up last March. Young's point totals leave a lot to be desired but if Indiana does exploit that LA front court, he offers much better value than Domantas Sabonis. Plus the Lakers give up 7.1 REB/game to PF starters and Young's production increases to 28.25 FPPG in close contests. We want even more than that out of him though.

Centers

Marvin Bagley III (DK: $5,300 FD: $6,700 Y!: $18)

The biggest reason Marvin Bagley III is a play in this spot is because of minutes. The Kings appear to have finally given in and are now playing their PF of the future 30+ minutes the last two games. Bagley has responded with a 20 point, 17 rebound night vs. Golden State and went for 18/6 last time out vs. Utah. Marcin Gortat is Q Thursday for LA with a back issue which will open up more room in the lane for Bagley and the Kings' bigs. The Clippers are on leg two of a B2B anyway, so the Kings are in a very nice upset spot led by the Bag Man.

Willie Cauley-Stein (DK: $5,900 FD: $6,800 Y!: $20)

Sacramento? More like Stack-ramento. Aside from Bagley, there's also solid value in Willie Cauley-Stein vs. the Clippers. Trill is definitely due for a big game after tallying just 6 points in each of the last two games. We need to get back to the Cauley-Stein that scored 23 points vs. the Jazz or grabbed 14 rebounds against OKC. Cauley-Stein definitely likes his own matchup, as he scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds when the two teams met up last January. We'll see how the addition of Bagley this year cuts into his productivity vs. LA but you have to like that the Clippers are giving up 39.1 FPPG to opposing C starters, which also includes 10 REB/game.

Myles Turner (DK: $6,200 FD: $7,200 Y!: $21 )

The Pacers front court has a favorable matchup vs. the Lakers bigs tonight. In the last two games, LA has given up a 14 point 7 rebound night to Nikola Jokic (in 22 minutes) and 31 points and 15 boards to Nikola Vucevic. That bodes well for Indiana's Myles Turner who was in the perfect DFS lineup on November 27th. Turner has scored 16 points each of the last two games as he seems to be recovered from an ankle injury. Turner scored 21 and grabbed 7 rebounds last March vs. the Lakers and if he can see the minutes, he should approach those numbers today.

Things can get a little dicey in a three game schedule but we looked for some value plays so that you can spend on LeBron, Durant, Klay, Kawhi, etc. Have no fear, there are 11 games on the docket for Friday and we'll end the week strong.

Freeroll

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