How to attack a bench is one of the frustrations faced every day in NBA DFS. It seems like this time of year when coaches are resting players for the postseason (or the offseason) is when finding the right bench players is the most crucial. How do you pull the trigger on a CJ Miles who scored 33 off the pine for Memphis yesterday or an Alex Len who only played 22 minutes but still had 20 points and 8 rebounds? Is it analytics...or just pure luck?

Tonight's Headline Games

One of the best ways to uncover DFS gems is to find a high scoring affair like Wednesday's 132-111 Atlanta win over Memphis. The largest O/U for Thursday is the Lakers visiting the Raptors with a total of 231.

OKC was down in the 1st half to Brooklyn yesterday but fought back for a 12 point win. They've got to go in a B2B tonight at Indiana even though Russell Westbrook and Paul George both logged over 35 minutes yesterday.

The Kings vs. Celtics game could also see a bevy of points scored. Sacramento likes to push the pace (105.92) and Boston is well rested after having the last two nights off.

Guards

Darren Collison (DK: $6,000 FD: $7,100 Y! $21) Ownership: 14.43%

Following the "PG vs. OKC" strategy here, Darren Collison actually becomes a great play, especially as the Thunder are in a back-to-back. The Pacers PG had a 42 point fantasy night Tuesday, which seems to be his ceiling but there's a great chance of approaching 50 on Thursday. Jeff Teague is a very similar player to Collison, who had 45.25 fp vs. OKC 9 days ago.

Jamal Murray (DK: $6,400 FD: $7,700 Y! $23) Ownership 10.44%

Another player with 40-50 point fantasy potential on Thursday is Denver's Jamal Murray. First off, you like the opportunities he's been getting (taking) lately with field goal attempt numbers of 16, 10, 20, and 19 over the past four games. Ideally more of those shots would fall as Murray has just two 40+ point fantasy nights over that span. But the Nuggets host the Mavs tonight and Dallas has allowed 43.75 fp to Derrick White and 44.5 to Tomas Satoransky over the past 5 games.

Jeff Teague (DK: $6,300 FD: $6,500 Y! $24) Ownership 13.34%

Keep an eye on the injury report because he's a GTD with inflammation in his left foot that caused him to miss Tuesday's game but Jeff Teague is a solid play if he gives it a go. The Timberwolves are up against the Jazz Thursday, who played last night in Phoenix (114-97 win). Despite the 17 point win, three Jazz starters played over 32 minutes. Not only that, Minnesota is so banged up that Teague almost has no choice but to accumulate points. He's scored 45+ fp in two of the last four and will be a go-to option (along with Karl-Anthony Towns) with Derrick Rose and Andrew Wiggins among the walking wounded. If Teague doesn't go, Tyus Jones ($4,200) could also be an interesting bench/non-bench play.

Forwards

Kyle Kuzma (DK: $6,300 FD: $6,500 Y!: $24) Ownership 9.36%

There's solid value on Kyle Kuzma tonight, especially if LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard go to battle on each other. Kuzma had a solid return to the lineup on Tuesday with 21 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds. He had missed two games prior with an ankle injury but still managed to go 9-17 from the field.

Cedi Osman (DK: $5,700 FD: $6,300 Y!: $21) Ownership 10.4%

Cedi Osman is Kevin Love (Lite) for about $2,500 less. The Cavs are up against an Orlando team playing in a B2B. Four Magic starters played over 32 minutes and Terrance Ross (DFS killer) logged another 29 off the bench. Osman has logged 35+ minutes in four straight games and went for a solid 18/8/4 line with Love out of the lineup Tuesday. Osman has 39+ fp in 4 of 8 games and you like his upside for the price vs. a fatigued Orlando squad.

Harrison Barnes (DK: $5,500 FD: $5,600 Y! $20) Ownership 11.84%

The Kings are at the Celtics tonight, a game after Boston just gave up 140 points to the Clippers. Granted, that game came as the C's wrapped up a 4-game West Coast road trip but it at least lends potential to Harrison Barnes and the Kings getting into a high scoring affair (O/U 226). The Boston D does a solid job of clamping down on the back court (7th vs. PG, 19th vs. SG) and C (3rd) but they are a bit vulnerable to the PF spot. Danilo Gallinari and Moe Wagner have put up consecutive 35+ point fp nights vs. Boston. Barnes went for 24 points and 8 rebounds (41fp) in the game before that vs. the Celtics.

Center

Myles Turner (DK: $6,700, FD; $7,600 Y!:$29 ) Ownership 13.56%

You can find something wrong with virtually all of the top tier center options for Thursday. Karl-Anthony Towns has knee inflammation, Nikola Vucevic and Rudy Gobert are on a B2B, Nikola Jokic costs $10,000 and has had back-to-back sub 40 fp nights, etc. Therefore, one of the best plays for the value has to be Indiana's Myles Turner. He's up against an OKC team that is not only on a B2B, but has also allowed three 42+ fp nights to C in the last five games. Turner has shot attempts of 11,19, and 15 in three of the last four games. The Pacers big man can be hit or miss, but tonight looks like a hit as Indiana tries to hold on to the 4 seed in the East.

Utility Player

Jalen Brunson (DK:$5,300 FD:$5,900 Y!: $15) Ownership 5.54%

Tonight's lineup leaves a decent $7,100 available at the utility spot. Why not go back to the Jalen Brunson train, especially in a GPP where his ownership is low and on paper it's a horrible matchup vs. Denver (6th vs. SG)? Brunson's shot was falling last game (12-16 from the field) en route to a 49 point fantasy night, his third in a row going for 30+.

It's still hard to dig up quality bench players but it should get easier as the season continues to wind down. Finding role players that blow up is a science that will probably be perfected on the last day of the season - just in time for the formula to be scrapped! We've got another chance Friday with 8 games on the card. Until then, check out Carl Taylor (@dailydogsports) on Twitter for more NBA betting talk and DFS news.

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