Saturday night presents a four-game NBA main slate, and DraftKings continues to offer huge tournaments for DFS players. Below are some of my favorite targets at each position.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Shootaround [100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Stud
De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings vs. Philadelphia 76ers, $9,500
Fox has been very consistent, scoring at least 43.5 DKFP in nine of his past 10 starts and, as per usual, he and the Kings find themselves in the highest O/U game total of the night. Saturday’s date with Sixers sports a 234.5 point total via DraftKings Sportsbook and Philly will remain without Joel Embiid (knee).
They are still a strong defense, but getting to the rim and scoring in the paint is obviously easier with Embiid absent, and Fox’s role is so large that 40-50 DKFP is always obtainable, no matter the matchup. With Embiid in the lineup, Fox went crazy for 60 DFKP against the Sixers last month, and the Kentucky product is generating 45.4 DKFP per game in totals of 230 points or higher this year.
Other Options: LaMelo Ball ($8,100)
Value
Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies, $5,100
Poole drew the start at the point in place of Stephen Curry ($9,900; tailbone) Friday night and was terrific with 34 DKFP across 34 minutes in the win over the Grizzlies. Given how well the 21-year-old has been playing since he was recalled from the G-League, it wasn’t a surprise at all to see him seize the opportunity Friday, and following the start, Poole is producing 1.1 DKFP per minute over his past five.
Considered as doubtful per coach Steve Kerr in his postgame comments last night, Curry is expected to miss another contest tonight, keeping Poole in the starting lineup for a rematch with the Grizzlies. A price tag of $5,100 is just way too cheap for him in this role, and Poole is a very difficult fade for this four-game slate.
Other Options: Jrue Holiday ($6,500)
Shooting Guard
Stud
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Charlotte Hornets, $8,300
As losers of eight of their past 13, the Clippers are desperate for wins right now. They are 9.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, but with the way they have been playing, this should be a close enough tilt that George and all the main Clippers see a full complement of minutes. In Wednesday night’s loss to the Mavs, the All-Star got up to 41 minutes, lifting him to 48.5 DKFP.
The Hornets are a bottom-10 defense based on efficiency and George is averaging 42.1 DKFP per game on his home court this season, which would be right over five-times value at his salary for Saturday night.
Other Options: Buddy Hield ($6,600)
Value
Shake Milton, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Sacramento Kings, $5,200
As previously mentioned, Embiid will be out tonight, but the Sixers will also be missing Seth Curry (ankle). Naturally, this opens up a vast opportunity for Milton, possibly as the replacement starter for Curry. Even if this isn’t the case, Milton is going to see 25-30 minutes of action off the bench, to go along with a strong usage rate against this Kings defense that ranks dead last in defensive efficiency.
This will also be their second contest in two nights, so their defense should be even more susceptible than usual, and in the one instance Milton played without Curry and Embiid this season, he tallied 40.25 DKFP vs. the Grizzlies, with a 32.1% usage rate and 32.3 minutes. The combo guard brings similar upside tonight in this smash spot against the Kings, and is a value play we can confidently deploy, starter or not.
Other Options: Donte DiVincenzo ($5,800)
Small Forward
Stud
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Sacramento Kings, $9,100
Simmons should stuff the stat sheet tonight against the Kings. He has amassed 47.9 DKFP per game in these last two contests sans Embiid and his already high assist rate increases by seven percentage points when the center and Curry are off the floor.
His price tag is fair, but getting Simmons’ point-guard production at a forward spot is very valuable for this short slate. Whenever he has competed in a game with a total north of 230 points this season, the 24-year-old has provided 43.4 DKFP per game.
Other Options: Kawhi Leonard ($9,200)
Value
Damion Lee, Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies, $3,400
On top of Curry, Eric Paschall and James Wiseman were out last night due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and both will continue to be sidelined Saturday. In the absences of these three Warriors last night, Lee had his best game of the season, posting 35.75 DKFP in 27.5 minutes off the bench vs. the Grizzlies.
This amount of minutes set a new season-high for Lee and his 25.4% usage rate is also the most he has handled in 2020-21. Under the volatile Steve Kerr, nothing is guaranteed, but Lee should see a decent amount of work again tonight, making him a serviceable punt at his near-minimum salary.
Other Options: Andrew Wiggins ($6,300), Danny Green ($4,700)
Power Forward
Stud
Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Sacramento Kings, $8,800
Harris is another appealing value that we need to attack in this dream matchup. The power forward has supplied 47 DKFP per game in these past three with Embiid on the shelf, and his role is going to grow even further with Curry also injured. So far this season, when these two starters have been off the floor, Harris’s usage rate has jumped 5 percentage points and his assist percentage has seen a solid 3.5 percent boost.
The 28-year-old also provides a notable 3.6 more DKFP per game on his home floor and when we mix all these factors with the Kings’ putrid defense (seventh-most DKFP to PFs), Harris is guaranteed for at least 45 DKFP on Saturday.
Other Options: Draymond Green ($7,400)
Value
Marcus Morris, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Charlotte Hornets, $4,800
Morris has started the past two games and has been confirmed to start going forward ahead of Nicolas Batum. With the starting role, Morris has produced 28.4 DKFP with 33.5 minutes per game. Yes, Serge Ibaka ($5,300; back, questionable) has missed these last two, certainly boosting Morris’ rates, but even if the center is able to suit up tonight, Morris is still going to log over 30 minutes against the Hornets.
He is contributing 24.3 DKFP per game when given at least 30 minutes in 2020-21, and If Ibaka misses his third straight, Morris would go from a strong value to a must-play, against this Charlotte defense that is yielding the second-most DKFP per game to opposing power forwards this season.
Other Options: Bobby Portis ($4,400)
Center
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. San Antonio Spurs, $11,100
Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since Wednesday and the Spurs are on the second leg of a back-to-back. The two-time MVP has collected 57.5 DKFP per game this season when fresh off two or more days of rest, and is in terrific form right now, scoring 64.1 DKFP per game in his past five.
As usual, Antetokounmpo is simply underpriced and regardless of being the most expensive player on the board, the superstar is rating as one of the top values on the slate. With both Embiid and Curry unavailable tonight, Antetokounmpo is the clear top-overall play and a recommended option to build around.
Other Options: Jonas Valanciunas ($7,700)
Value
Dwight Howard, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Sacramento Kings, $6,000
If you haven’t caught on by now, the Sixers are one of the best teams to target this evening. Even though he doesn’t start for Embiid, Howard has been the Sixers’ main center in their past two, posting 34.6 DKFP in 29 minutes per game. The 16-year veteran will be seeking his third consecutive double-double Saturday and is a great bet to reach his goal, considering that the Kings are allowing the most points in the paint per game this season.
Furthermore, they are surrendering the fourth-most DKFP per game to opposing centers, and even with a healthy Embiid in the lineup, Howard recorded 28.8 DKFP vs. the Kings in only 13 minutes last month. With a much bigger role this time around, the future Hall of Famer has a celling well over 40 DKFP.
Other Options: Jakob Poeltl ($6,300), Ivica Zubac ($5,100, if Serge Ibaka is out)
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