The Saturday night slate in the NBA features a six-game slate headlined by a potential NBA Finals showdown between the Celtics and Warriors. While getting some exposure to that matchup would be wise, there are plenty of other games that also feature some evenly matched teams with close Vegas lines and fairly high totals to consider.
Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.
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One Stud
Victor Oladipo (PG/SG – IND): $9,400 vs ORL
While paying up for one of the high-priced Warriors (Steph Curry or Kevin Durant) is viable, they are both in a “pace down” matchup against a solid defensive team. So, I’d rather take an easier path to points at a lower salary with Victor Oladipo. Oladipo has made the Magic defense disappear in two previous meetings averaging 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 4.5 steals, and 3.0 blocks on his way to 59.1 DraftKings points per game. Make your lineup jump to the top of the standings with Oladipo. Abracadabra!
The Saturday night slate in the NBA features a six-game slate headlined by a potential NBA Finals showdown between the Celtics and Warriors. While getting some exposure to that matchup would be wise, there are plenty of other games that also feature some evenly matched teams with close Vegas lines and fairly high totals to consider.
Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
One Stud
Victor Oladipo (PG/SG – IND): $9,400 vs ORL
While paying up for one of the high-priced Warriors (Steph Curry or Kevin Durant) is viable, they are both in a “pace down” matchup against a solid defensive team. So, I’d rather take an easier path to points at a lower salary with Victor Oladipo. Oladipo has made the Magic defense disappear in two previous meetings averaging 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 4.5 steals, and 3.0 blocks on his way to 59.1 DraftKings points per game. Make your lineup jump to the top of the standings with Oladipo. Abracadabra!
Core Plays
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $8,900 vs DAL
Nikola Jokic is basically another “stud,” but without any five-figure studs to pay up for on the slate you can fit at least two big-time players into your lineup. Jokic has produced a double-double in four of his last five games while flirting with triple-doubles most nights. He destroyed the Mavericks in an earlier meeting this season with 29 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists (67 DK points) and will get them at home on Saturday where the Joker has produced better fantasy production this season.
Kyrie Irving (PG – BOS): $8,400 @ GS
Kyrie Irving provides a very high floor with some upside and will need to bring his “A-game” on Saturday for the Celtics to overtake the Warriors. Irving has scored at least 37 DK points in nine of his last 10 games, providing a high floor, and he has the ability to put up a 60-burger as he did against the Magic last weekend. The matchup with the Warriors provides a nice pace up spot for Irving who should play about 40 minutes.
Aaron Gordon (SF/PF – ORL): $7,800 @ IND
Aaron Gordon has posted four double-doubles in his last five games averaging 33.6 DK points during that stretch despite shooting a woeful 31.4% from the field. Consider 34 DK points his floor, but in a favorable matchup against the Pacers who have allowed the fifth-most DK points to opposing PFs this season it will only take Gordon to knock down a few more shots to exceed 5x his salary giving you another high-floor, high-upside player.
Draymond Green (PF/C – GS): $7,700 vs BOS
The way that I will look to get some exposure to the Warriors is probably through Draymond Green. He offers nice position flexibility and fills up the stat sheet in a variety of ways. He should see big minutes in a marquee matchup against the Celtics who have allowed increased production in points (+6.6%) and rebounds (+8.0%) to opposing PFs. Green posted a solid line with 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and a steal (35 DK points) against the Celtics earlier this season and could exceed those numbers on Saturday if he can shoot better than the 3-for-11 he put up that day.
Value Plays
Terry Rozier (PG/SG – BOS): $4,600 @ GS
The Celtics’ Marcus Smart will be sidelined for a couple weeks which should free up some minutes and usage for Terry Rozier in the second unit. In three games without Smart this season, Rozier has seen his minutes jump to over 28 per game while averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in those games. Add on the pace increase facing the Warriors, and Rozier could be on his way to good fantasy day.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF – CHA): $4,100 @ MIA
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is coming off a strong game with 19 points and five rebounds against the Hawks on Friday while playing 30 minutes. He will look to keep the momentum going into a matchup with the Heat on Saturday night. Kidd-Gilchrist has averaged a solid 12.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in three meetings with the Heat this season which is good for 19.6 DK points per game. That almost reaches the 5x his current salary threshold. He should provide a solid floor, and hopefully we can squeeze a little more upside out of him on Saturday.
Jamal Crawford (SG – MIN): $3,800 vs BKN
The use of Jamal Crawford hinges on the status of Jimmy Butler. If Butler plays than look to pivot to Joe Harris ($3,800) who should see some extra minutes if Rondae Hollis-Jefferson sits out. Back to Crawford. In his last two games with Butler out, Crawford has averaged 20 points and five assists per game in 23 minutes of court time. He will also get a favorable up-tempo matchup against the Nets.
Jarrett Allen (PF/C – BKN): $3,600 @ MIN
One of the other beneficiaries of Hollis-Jefferson potentially missing Saturday’s game is Jarrett Allen. Allen has scored 12 points in back-to-back games while playing 20-plus minutes. Allen is explosive around the hoop allowing him to shoot a high percentage with solid rebound and block numbers when he is given playing time. He has averaged 28 DK points per game in his last two outings and could be a solid, cheap option to unlock an extra high-priced stud in your lineup.
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Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.