Looking for the best NBA DFS picks and projections today? Thursday’s slate is small, but it’s absolutely stacked, and if you’re grinding daily fantasy NBA on DraftKings or FanDuel, you’re in for a real treat. Identifying the actual DFS plays that separate winning lineups from losing ones requires more than just spotting the studs. That’s where smart NBA fantasy projections and DFS strategy come into play. Our NBA DFS picks for Thursday are always based on data, so you know you’re working with intel that actually matters. Whether you’re stacking a specific game or exploring other GPP strategies, we’ve got the top daily fantasy NBA projections and picks broken down and ready to go.
Best DFS Apps in All States
Best NBA DFS Picks and Daily Fantasy Basketball Projections Today – Thursday, Nov. 20
Let’s first take a look at our NBA DFS projections for Thursday’s slate.
NBA DFS Projections Today For DraftKings
| Player | Team | Position | Salary | Props Projection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Harden | LAC | PG/G/UTIL | $10,000 | 49.6 |
| Tyrese Maxey | PHI | PG/G/UTIL | $10,300 | 49.3 |
| Jalen Johnson | ATL | PF/F/UTIL | $9,800 | 44.9 |
| De’Aaron Fox | SAS | PG/G/UTIL | $9,300 | 42.3 |
| Franz Wagner | ORL | SF/F/UTIL | $8,800 | 41.7 |
| Ryan Rollins | MIL | PG/G/UTIL | $7,500 | 38.9 |
| Ivica Zubac | LAC | C/UTIL | $7,400 | 37.0 |
| Desmond Bane | ORL | SG/G/UTIL | $7,500 | 36.7 |
| Russell Westbrook | SAC | PG/G/UTIL | $7,900 | 36.1 |
| Myles Turner | MIL | C/UTIL | $6,700 | 34.9 |
| Santi Aldama | MEM | PF/C/F/UTIL | $5,800 | 34.8 |
| Andre Drummond | PHI | C/UTIL | $6,400 | 33.8 |
| Vince Williams | N/A | N/A | N/A | 33.6 |
| Domantas Sabonis | SAC | C/UTIL | $8,600 | 33.4 |
| Kyle Kuzma | MIL | SF/F/UTIL | $6,900 | 32.8 |
| Dyson Daniels | ATL | PG/G/UTIL | $7,300 | 32.6 |
| Cedric Coward | MEM | SF/F/UTIL | $6,300 | 32.5 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | ATL | C/UTIL | $7,600 | 32.2 |
| VJ Edgecombe | PHI | SG/G/UTIL | $6,000 | 31.8 |
| DeMar DeRozan | SAC | SF/F/UTIL | $7,300 | 30.9 |
| Bobby Portis | MIL | PF/C/F/UTIL | $6,500 | 30.9 |
| Jalen Suggs | ORL | PG/G/UTIL | $6,000 | 30.7 |
| Quentin Grimes | PHI | PG/SG/G/UTIL | $6,100 | 30.6 |
| Devin Vassell | SAS | PG/SF/F/G/UTIL | $6,600 | 30.4 |
| Zach LaVine | SAC | SG/G/UTIL | $6,900 | 30.0 |
NBA Live Odds
| Player |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrew Wiggins
MIA
SF MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Bam Adebayo
MIA
C MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Baylor Scheierman
BOS
SG DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Brandon Miller
CHA
SF MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Coby White
CHA
SG MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Cooper Flagg
DAL
PF DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Daniel Gafford
DAL
C DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Davion Mitchell
MIA
PG MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Derrick White
BOS
SG DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
MIA
SF MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jaylen Brown
BOS
SG DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jayson Tatum
BOS
SF DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Kel'el Ware
MIA
C MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Kon Knueppel
CHA
SG MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
LaMelo Ball
CHA
PG MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Max Christie
DAL
SG DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Miles Bridges
CHA
SF MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Moussa Diabaté
CHA
PF MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Naji Marshall
DAL
SF DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Neemias Queta
BOS
C DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Nikola Vučević
BOS
C DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Payton Pritchard
BOS
PG DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Pelle Larsson
MIA
SG MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
P.J. Washington
DAL
PF DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Sam Hauser
BOS
SF DAL @ BOS
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
Tyler Herro
MIA
SG MIA @ CHA
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Alperen Sengün
HOU
C POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Amen Thompson
HOU
SG POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Clint Capela
HOU
C POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
Donovan Clingan
POR
C POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Dorian Finney-Smith
HOU
PF POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
Jabari Smith Jr.
HOU
PF POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jerami Grant
POR
PF POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jrue Holiday
POR
PG POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Kevin Durant
HOU
PF POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Reed Sheppard
HOU
PG POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Robert Williams III
POR
C POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Scoot Henderson
POR
PG POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Tari Eason
HOU
SF POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Toumani Camara
POR
SF POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Vít Krejčí
POR
SG POR @ HOU
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Aaron Gordon
DEN
PF NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Bruce Brown
DEN
SG NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Cameron Johnson
DEN
PF NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Christian Braun
DEN
SG NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Collin Gillespie
PHO
PG NO @ PHO
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Dejounte Murray
NO
SG NO @ PHO
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Devin Booker
PHO
SG NO @ PHO
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Grayson Allen
PHO
SF NO @ PHO
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Herbert Jones
NO
SF NO @ PHO
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jalen Brunson
NY
PG NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jalen Green
PHO
SG NO @ PHO
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jamal Murray
DEN
PG NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jonas Valančiūnas
DEN
C NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Josh Hart
NY
SF NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Julian Strawther
DEN
SF NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Karl-Anthony Towns
NY
PF NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Landry Shamet
NY
SG NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Mikal Bridges
NY
SF NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Mitchell Robinson
NY
C NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Nikola Jokić
DEN
C NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
OG Anunoby
NY
SF NY @ DEN
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Oso Ighodaro
PHO
PF NO @ PHO
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Royce O'Neale
PHO
PF NO @ PHO
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Saddiq Bey
NO
PF NO @ PHO
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Trey Murphy III
NO
SF NO @ PHO
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Zion Williamson
NO
PF NO @ PHO
Today
9:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Bennedict Mathurin
LAC
SG LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Brook Lopez
LAC
C LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
De'Aaron Fox
SA
PG LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Derrick Jones Jr.
LAC
SF LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Devin Vassell
SA
SG LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Dylan Harper
SA
PG LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jordan Miller
LAC
SF LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Julian Champagnie
SA
SF LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Kawhi Leonard
LAC
SF LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Keldon Johnson
SA
SF LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Kobe Sanders
LAC
SG LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Kris Dunn
LAC
PG LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Stephon Castle
SA
SG LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Victor Wembanyama
SA
PF LAC @ SA
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Aaron Nesmith
IND
PF IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Andrew Nembhard
IND
PG IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Austin Reaves
LAL
SG IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Ben Sheppard
IND
SF IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Jarace Walker
IND
PF IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jaxson Hayes
LAL
C IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jay Huff
IND
C IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Luka Dončić
LAL
PG IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Marcus Smart
LAL
PG IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Pascal Siakam
IND
PF IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Rui Hachimura
LAL
PF IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
T.J. McConnell
IND
PG IND @ LAL
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - |
Top NBA DFS Picks Today
Who’s going to smash tonight? We’ll dive into our favorite NBA DFS picks this morning. There could be a ton of news that breaks later, but we’ll check out the best early plays on the board.
Top NBA DFS Stud: James Harden
With just four games on the Thursday NBA DFS slate, high ceiling options may be hard to come by. However, one option stands above the rest, and that is James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Harden has been a one-man show for the Clippers with Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal out of the lineup. Beal is out for the season, and Leonard is not yet ready to return from his ankle injury, with both already ruled out for Thursday night’s matchup with the Orlando Magic. Derrick Jones Jr. and Jordan Miller have also been ruled out by the Clippers, which puts even more of the load on the shoulders of Harden.
In six games this season with Leonard and Beal inactive, Harden has posted an elite 33.6% usage rate, and he is averaging nearly 60 fantasy points per game. He has averaged 31.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.7 assists during those contests.
Harden proved just what his ceiling can look like in this setup last week when he dropped a 41-point triple-double on the Mavericks and finished with 87 fantasy points.
Tonight’s matchup against the Magic does not look great on paper, with Orlando playing at only the 22nd fastest pace in the league.
However, their number two-ranked defense from a season ago has slipped to 14th this year, and they will be without Paolo Banchero in this game. Harden brings triple-double upside and massive fantasy appeal into any matchup, and that is even more true when his team is shorthanded without a star like Kawhi Leonard.
Expert Mid-Tier Pick: Santi Aldama
The Memphis Grizzlies are going to be a very popular target on Thursday, as they have already ruled out Ja Morant, and Jaren Jackson Jr. is listed as doubtful on the injury report. Without their two highest usage players, Memphis will be forced to lean heavily on several players who are under-priced for their expanded roles.
Morant has missed three games so far this season, and in those contests, Santi Aldama has seen a meaningful bump in opportunity, including a 2 percent increase in usage up to 23.3%, which ranks second on the team behind Jackson, who is unlikely to suit up.
Aldama should step into the starting lineup for Jackson and has a legitimate chance to lead the team in usage. For the season, he is averaging 12.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 25.6 minutes per game. The 24-year-old was already beginning to see an expanded role with Morant out, and now he has a clear path to serve as the focal point of the Memphis offense with Jackson also sidelined.
Tonight’s matchup also adds to his appeal. The Sacramento Kings play at the fifth-fastest pace in the league and rank just 27th in defensive efficiency. That environment should boost both possessions and scoring opportunities for Aldama.
He looks locked into a starting role with a very realistic path to 30 minutes or more, and the role he is stepping into suggests he can easily outperform his mid-range price tag. With both volume and matchup working in his favor, Aldama profiles as one of the strongest value plays on the slate.
Top NBA DFS Value Play: Vince Williams
We’re sticking with another Memphis player as our early pick for top value on Thursday. Vince Williams started at point guard in place of Ja Morant in the last game and came incredibly close to posting a triple-double, finishing with 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists in nearly 30 minutes of action. With Jaren Jackson also expected to miss this game, Williams could be even more involved in the offense.
Tonight’s matchup is even more favorable. The Kings rank 27th in defensive efficiency, and both Memphis and Sacramento play at a top‑10 pace, contributing to a massive 234.5-point total for the game.
Williams should see the ball in his hands constantly, acting as both a scorer and playmaker. This combination gives him high usage, plenty of scoring opportunities, and a chance to rack up assists, making him an extremely attractive fantasy option.
The role Williams is stepping into is far too good for his current price tag. With his expanded minutes, ball-handling responsibilities, and the favorable matchup, he should be a core piece in DFS lineups on Thursday and has the potential to easily outperform expectations.
Editor’s Note: This article was published in the morning. These core picks could change based on more daily news and injuries.
Looking for more NBA DFS News and Picks? We’ve got you covered all season:
- Fantasy Basketball News Today
- Best Player Props Today
- First Basket Predictions
- NBA Betting Hub (Game Predictions & More)
- Daily Promo Roundup
