Indiana Pacers @ Milwaukee Bucks

Total: 221.5

MIL -10.5

 

Indiana Pacers

This is the fourth and final game between the two teams as the series currently sits 2-1 in favor of Milwaukee. The one win Indiana pulled off was in fact with Victor Oladipo and as we all know, Oladipo will not be participating in many games this year. The Pacers come into Thursday's game 10-4 over their last 14 games. Bojan Bogdanovic has been their primary scorer and anytime they need a bucket, they turn to their crafty small-forward. Over his last five games, Bogdanovic has averaged 32.5 minutes, 27.2 actual points and 38.1 FP per. He hasn't had a lot of success against Milwaukee, but this is a different player from earlier in the year.

Darren Collison has been extremely consistent lately and has seen his playing time upped as the season has worn on. He's averaged 28.2 MPG, but has seen at least 33 in back-to-back games. He's scored a minimum of 29 FP in nine of his last 10 as well. If you believe the Vegas total and are thinking about game theory, Cory Joseph could be an option here. He would play heavy minutes if this game got out of hand and he's already a steady member of the rotation. Wesley Matthews is the last guard I'd consider here as he's scored 20-plus FP in eight straight.

Both Myles Turner and Thaddeus Young are interesting options tonight. The two spots Milwaukee has been allowing *some* points to are power-forward and center. Young has had at least 11 points, five rebounds and five assists in three straight games, doing a little bit of everything. Turner on the other hand has been rejecting EVERYONE coming to the rim. He has four or more blocks over the last three games and has 17 total over that span. TJ Leaf has been seeing a few extra minutes each game and if you want to go there.

Milwaukee Bucks

Indiana has been a great defensive team this year, but Giannis Antetokounmpo has not had a problem with it averaging 58.3 FP over three meetings. Nobody can guard him. Period. Load up on the Greek Freak if you wish. Eric Bledsoe has been a mixed bag of results lately but he's averaged over a FP/min across the games against IND, he just hasn't played a ton of minutes at 26.4. If you are looking for consistency, look no further than Malcolm Brodgon. He's had 30 FP in eight straight games and nine of his last 10.

Outside of one bad game against Phoenix, Middleton has been just as consistent as Brogdon with even more upside. He's averaged 31 FP/game versus Indiana this season. If we can get Nikola Mirotic to 27 minutes and the shots fall, he could be in every winning GPP lineup tonight. Game theory, Ersan Ilyasova would be firmly in play for tournaments. Brook Lopez has shown 40-plus point upside but less than a 20-point floor. He's very volatile.

 

Okalahoma City Thunder @ Portland Trailblazers

Total: 233.5

POR -3.5

 

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder have had Portland's number this year as they're 3-0 against them. Paul George has been DOMINANT against Portland averaging...wait for it.....WAIT FOR IT.......FOURTY actual points per game and 68.5 fantasy points. He's actually shot 32-percent or worse in three straight games, if that factors into your decision making (IT SHOULDNT).

If you're not going to play Paul George for whatever reason, Russell Westbrook is a pretty strong pivot. Westbrook had a monster game his last time out scoring 38 actual points and 66.25 FP. He's averaging a triple-double and just a smidge under 62 FP in three games vs. POR. Dennis Schroder is a contrarian pivot off of Westbrook that always has GPP appeal if he just gets the playing time.

Jerami Grant has been playing a lot lately averaging 34.3 minutes per game over his last five contests to go with 28.2 FP/game. One of these days Markieff Morris is going to play an intricate role for this team. Why not tonight on a two-game slate? Not the worst idea to take a chance. Steven Adams is a lock and load type play tonight at his price tag. He's notched four consecutive double-double's and three straight games of 37 FP or more. He's in arguably his best form all year, contributing really across the board.

 

Portland Trailblazers

Although Portland is down 3-0 in the season series, it's not because Damian Lillard 's been bad. He's averaged 29.3 points, 7.3 assists, four rebounds, and three steals over three contests. Lillard comes into this game not in great form, but this game total suggests they'll need Dame Dolla if they want to win.  While Lillard's shot hasn't exactly been falling, CJ McCollum 's has going for 27 or more actual points in three of his last five games.The reason I may prefer McCollum here is because we've attacked and made good money off Thunder shooting-guard's all season long. No reason to stop now.

Mo Harkless has been so good lately averaging 28.5 minutes and 30.5 fantasy points over his last five outings. He's taken away all of the potential production from guys like Rodney Hood and Jake Layman but with Evan Turner out, one of the two could be in line for some more run. I'd lean Layman just based on his ability to do more things. Hood is one dimensional. 

It's an uptempo game for Portland which means Al-Farouq Aminu is in play. It's no surprise to me he's averaged 31 FP/game versus OKC this season. Other than his last game, he had been over 20 FP in eight straight. Jusuf Nurkic hasn't been impacted by Enes Kanter 's arrival all that much playing 29 and 31 minutes in his last two games, nearly triple-doubling in both. I prefer Adams in this matchup, but Nurk has avg. 39 FP in 32 minutes vs. OKC this year. Kanter is the contrarian pivot. We know he's a fantasy point per minute beast if he gets the time.