It’s an unusual NBA Saturday, getting under way at 1:00 EST with the Nuggets in Philadelphia. Then at 5:00, the mighty Warriors go for win #21 in Toronto. Those two games matter at DraftKings only in Early and All-Day action.
Stephen Curry $10700 vs. Kyle Lowry $8700 is a great matchup, and so is Klay Thompson $6300 vs. DeMar DeRozan $7200. Cory Joseph $4300 might be the best value among guards, but Draymond Green $8000 and Andrew Bogut $4500 are superior to the Raptors’ big men.
With Jahlil Okafor suspended, Nerlens Noel $6000 slumping and Kenneth Faried $5800 (ankle) questionable, the opener could produce big numbers for Darrell Arthur $4500 and Joffrey Lauvergne $4200. Using both frees up cash for other positions.
Plays of the Day
The Early $50K Sharpshooter is a mere $3 buy-in (FREE with your first deposit) that pays the top 3,840 finishers from up to 19,158 teams. First place wins $4,000. The deadline is 1:00; enter ASAP before it fills and you can make lineup changes until the 5:00 game begins — last-minute adjustments to breaking news can pay off.
Our focus is on the other eight games in 7:00 contests. The highest score should be the Kings in Houston. James Harden $10500 stands alone at the top of the SG pool, and DeMarcus Cousins $10800 should bounce back from an off-night (4-for-17) so you could build around both in a stars-and-scrubs lineup. Less expensive but with upside are Omri Casspi $4700 and Kosta Koufos $4700 for Sacramento, Trevor Ariza $5300 and Terrence Jones $5000 for the Rockets.
Without much fanfare, the Magic have won five straight. They catch the Clippers tonight with Chris Paul (ribs) out and J.J. Redick (ankle) doubtful. Elfrid Payton $6100 can blow by Austin Rivers $3900 and Tobias Harris $6200 is better than the L.A. revolving door at SF — though Lance Stephenson $3400 is a bargain — but Blake Griffin $9000 may be impossible to stop. Nikola Vucevic $6800 vs. DeAndre Jordan $7100 could be win-win in daily fantasy.
In a back-to-back on the road, Paul George $9800 had a rare poor game, missing 13 of 17 shots and turning it over five times in Thursday’s loss to Portland. He should bounce back against Gordon Hayward $6900 and the Jazz, who are shorthanded without Rudy Gobert (knee.) Derrick Favors $7500 and Alec Burks $5200 are also playable for Utah; C.J. Miles $5800 hit eight 3-pointers and Rodney Stuckey $4400 was busy for the Pacers (17 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB, 3 STL) after Monta Ellis $5800 (back) left the floor.
The Knicks won a laugher at home (65-42 at the half) last night while the Bucks lost in Detroit. Tonight in Milwaukee, fatigue may be a factor but Kristaps Porzingis $8100 and Arron Afflalo $4700 are solid plays and Jose Calderon $4100 has improved. Khris Middleton $5700 and Greg Monroe $6900 are crucial for the home team.
Damian Lillard $8900 is the #1 PG as the Blazers visit Minnesota. Isaiah Thomas $7700 vs. Tony Parker $5500 is an interesting matchup — I prefer the Spurs at home — and if you need to save even more, try Darren Collison $4600 or Calderon.
For those who can’t afford Harden (or don’t like his cost in a back-to-back) Dwyane Wade $7000 and Burks are worth considering at SG. George, LeBron James $10000 and Kawhi Leonard $8700 are all fairly priced at SF, but I’m bargain-hunting with Casspi and Stephenson.
Committing to Cousins at PF means scrimping at C. Karl-Anthony Towns $6700 has played more than 22 minutes only once in the last five games, while Gorgui Dieng $4500 has become a nightly double-double threat off the bench.
| Pos | Premium | Midrange | Bargain |
| PG | Damian Lillard $8900 | Tony Parker $5500 | Jose Calderon $4100 |
| SG | James Harden $10500 | Dwyane Wade $7000 | Alec Burks $5200 |
| SF | Paul George $9800 | Omri Casspi $4700 | Lance Stephenson $3400 |
| PF | D. Cousins $10800 | Kristaps Porzingis $8100 | Terrence Jones $5000 |
| C | Pau Gasol $7200 | Greg Monroe $6900 | Gorgui Dieng $4500 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.