This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Thursday's slate offers just four games, but that doesn't lessen the edge you can gain by staying on top of the latest fantasy basketball news, shifting NBA lineups, and a constantly updated NBA injury report. With several stars sidelined and NBA depth charts in flux, today's matchups create clear opportunities for value — especially if you're building lineups with a DFS NBA optimizer.
NBA Games Today
BOS at MIL: Celtics on five-game winning streak, 7-5 on road; Bucks 7-7 at home
LAC at HOU: Clippers 3-11 on road; Rockets 7-2 at home
POR at NOR: Trail Blazers 6-9 on road; Pelicans on seven-game slide, 2-12 at home
DEN at SAC: Nuggets on three-game winning streak, 11-2 on road; Kings 3-7 at home
For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
NBA Injury Report
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
BOS - Chris Boucher (illness): OUT
MIL - AJ Green (shoulder): Questionable; Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf): OUT
LAC - Derrick Jones (knee): OUT
HOU - Tari Eason (oblique): OUT
POR - Robert Williams (illness), Yang Hansen (face): Questionable; Donovan Clingan (lower leg), Jrue Holiday (calf), Matisse Thybulle (thumb), Scoot Henderson (hamstring): OUT
NOR - Jordan Poole (quadriceps): Questionable; Zion Williamson (adductor): OUT
DEN - Julian Strawther (back): OUT
SAC - Dennis Schroder (hip): Doubtful; Zach LaVine (thumb), Domantas Sabonis (knee): OUT
Elite DFS Picks
Guards
Trey Murphy, Pelicans 
($8,100) vs. Trail Blazers
Murphy has appeared in four consecutive contests for New Orleans, posting at least 39.8 DK points in each of them. During that span, the 25-year-old swingman has averaged 27.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals across 37.0 minutes per game. He has also shot 53.9 percent from the field in that four-game stretch.
Russell Westbrook, Kings 
($8,000) vs. Nuggets
Westbrook is coming off a season-high 70.0 DK points in Monday's loss to Indiana and has now posted at least 31.5 in five of his last six outings. The veteran point guard has had success in three outings against his previous club thus far, during which he has averaged 20.3 points, 9.3 assists, 8.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals across 32.7 minutes per tilt. Additionally, the Kings will be without Zach LaVine (thumb), which could lead to more shots for Westbrook.
Forwards/Centers
Jaylen Brown, Celtics 
($9,900) at Bucks
Brown continues to perform at an elite level as Boston's clear top option and will face a Bucks defense that ranks in the bottom third of the league in defensive rating (117.0) and will be without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf). Brown has recorded at least 45.0 DK points in eight straight games, averaging 32.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals across 36.6 minutes per contest over that stretch.
Deni Avdija, Trail Blazers 
($9,700) at Pelicans
Avdija has remained a strong contributor throughout the campaign, though Portland's banged-up backcourt has allowed him to take on more playmaking duties of late. The 24-year-old forward has dished out at least seven assists in six straight games, posting at least 42.8 DK points in each of them. In a win over the Pelicans on Nov. 12, Avdija produced 40.3 DK points, though Jrue Holiday (calf) and Donovan Clingan (lower leg) were both available for that contest.
Kevin Durant, Rockets 
($8,800) vs. Clippers
Durant has appeared in each of Houston's last five games following a two-game absence due to personal reasons, averaging 44.5 DK points with a low of 32.8 during that span. Over that five-game stretch, the superstar forward has averaged 27.2 points, 5.6 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while recording shooting splits of 55.4/45.0/92.6.
Expected DFS Chalk Picks
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 
($12,900) at Kings
Jokic carries a high price for good reason, as he has yet to log fewer than 51.3 DK points this season. He has a favorable matchup against a lackluster Kings defense that is expected to start rookie second-rounder Maxime Raynaud at center. In three games against Sacramento this season, Jokic has averaged 37.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 2.0 steals in 35.3 minutes per tilt.
Mid-Range DFS Picks
Kevin Porter, Bucks 
($7,600) vs. Celtics
Porter has logged 30-plus minutes in four consecutive contests, posting 41.0 or more DK points in each of them. Over that stretch, he has averaged 27.0 points, 6.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals across 34.8 minutes per contest. He should continue to take on increased playmaking duties with Antetokounmpo sidelined.
Shaedon Sharpe, Trail Blazers ($6,700) at Pelicans
Sharpe has tallied at least 23.0 DK points in each of his last four outings, finishing with 34.3-plus in three of them. The 22-year-old guard has been deployed off the bench following a four-game absence due to a strained right calf, though he appears to be past his minutes restriction. In Portland's win over the Pelicans on Nov. 12, Sharpe generated 50.3 DK points, during which he posted 35 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 39 minutes.
DFS Value Picks
Bobby Portis, Bucks ($5,200) vs. Celtics
With Antetokounmpo sidelined for all but three minutes over the last three games, Portis has finished with at least 27.8 DK points in each of them. During that span, he has averaged 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 combined steals-plus-blocks in 24.3 minutes per tilt.
Steven Adams, Rockets ($4,500) vs. Clippers
Adams has been in and out of the starting lineup throughout the season, though he continues to provide relatively consistent production. The veteran big man has generated at least 16.5 DK points in 12 consecutive contests, during which he has averaged 6.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.6 combined steals-plus-blocks and 1.4 assists in 21.6 minutes per game.
Tim Hardaway, Nuggets ($4,000) at Kings
Hardaway has seen an uptick in minutes off the bench of late, finishing with double-digit points in seven consecutive games. The veteran sharpshooter has posted at least 19.0 DK points in six of those seven outings, averaging 15.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists across 27.7 minutes per contest during that span.
