It’s a 9-game Saturday in the NBA, though the 6:00 Eastern start (MIN @ CHI) is off the board at DraftKings, where contests close at 7:00. As often happens, the two late games should be the highest-scoring of the night.
The Warriors and Kings are both playing back-to-back. While Stephen Curry $10400 can do whatever he wants, he may not be needed for 30 minutes in a blowout. DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) is out, so Kosta Koufos $4800 will start and Rudy Gay $7500 will be blanketed by Draymond Green $7100. Once again, Omri Casspi $3800 and Darren Collison $4800 could be Sacramento’s best DFS values.
James Harden $10000 finally went off (43 PTS, 13 AST, 6 REB, 2 STL) but faces tougher opposition vs. the Clippers tonight. Chris Paul $9100 is expected to play through a groin strain and at 80% is still better than Ty Lawson $6100. Love the battle between DeAndre Jordan $7800 and Dwight Howard $7000, but who is going to stop Blake Griffin $9600?
Dallas hosts the winless Pelicans. Anthony Davis $10600 did everything in his power (a career-high 43 PTS, 10 REB, 3 STL, 4 BLK, 3 AST) but his supporting cast is inadequate until Tyreke Evans (knee) and Omer Asik (calf) return. While the Mavs are no powerhouse, they are inexpensive. Dirk Nowitzki $6600, Zaza Pachulia $5400, Dwight Powell $4500 and J.J. Barea $3800 are the healthiest.
Plays of the Day
The $250K Sharpshooter is just a $3 buy-in (FREE to new depositors at DK) that pays the top 19,550 finishers from up to 95,833 teams. First place wins $20,000. Enter before it fills; even after the 7:00 deadline you can make lineup changes until each player’s game begins.
Back home off a 2-1 Eastern swing, the Spurs will toy with Charlotte. Kawhi Leonard $7900 is a must-start and LaMarcus Aldridge $7000 should double-double. Al Jefferson $6800 was unstoppable last game (31 PTS on 15-18 shooting) but that came against Pachulia, not Tim Duncan $6100.
Even without Nikola Vucevic (knee) Orlando has more talent than Philly. However, the 0-5 76ers competed hard in Cleveland and obviously want to earn that first victory. Jahlil Okafor $6300 might be too skilled for foul-prone Dewayne Dedmon $3800 and Nerlens Noel $7000 too big for Tobias Harris $6100. The Magic’s Victor Oladipo $7700 will be the best guard on the court; potential bargains include Evan Fournier $5800, Nik Stauskas $4200, Aaron Gordon $4200, Isaiah Canaan $3800 and C.J. Watson $3000.
One day after being blown out by 20 in Boston, can the Wizards regroup in Atlanta? Although Bradley Beal $6800 and Paul Millsap $7600 are playable, I’m not crazy about that game. A likely defensive struggle between the Grizzlies and Jazz is best ignored, though Mike Conley $6200 got Curry-ed last game and the Utah PG are less than stellar.
The 0-6 Nets are horrible and will not improve tonight in Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo $7300 led his club to a Friday road win, and Greg Monroe $8500 was terrific in Brooklyn on Monday (23 PTS, 13 REB.) With John Henson $3800 brilliant off the bench in his first game (22 PTS, 5 REB, 3BLK in 23 minutes) the young Bucks are even stronger. One or both of Jerryd Bayless $4300 and Greivis Vasquez $3800 could go off, and Khris Middleton $5600 is worth the money.
One of many ways to build a DFS lineup is an imaginary “draft” — which players do you most want to own? Kawhi is my first pick. Davis and Griffin are next, ahead of Curry only because garbage time may arrive early for GSW. Harden is the best SG by far.
That’s when the cap dictates what you can do. It’s mathematically impossible to use my four top selections. That means either choosing between the stud PF, or scrimping at all the guard spots. I’m also going cheap at C and Util. Festus Ezeli $4500 might get one more start (Andrew Bogut $4800 is expected back on Monday) and Henson is a bargain.
Left with about $4500 each for three guards, I’m gambling on Watson at that rock-bottom price, to maximize what’s left for PG and SG. Collison and Middleton is one possible pairing; Conley and Kyle Korver $4300 (who was 8-for-8 with four treys on Friday) also works. Good luck!
| Pos | Premium | Midrange | Bargain |
| PG | Stephen Curry $10400 | Mike Conley $6200 | C.J. Watson $3000 |
| SG | James Harden $10000 | Victor Oladipo $7700 | Kyle Korver $4300 |
| SF | Kawhi Leonard $7900 | G. Antetokounmpo $7300 | Omri Casspi $3800 |
| PF | Anthony Davis $10600 | Blake Griffin $9600 | John Henson $3800 |
| C | DeAndre Jordan $7800 | Jahlil Okafor $6300 | Festus Ezeli $4500 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.