The eight-game Saturday night NBA slate has some big names that won’t be taking the court including Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry. This will open up a lot of playing time and usage for other players on the Thunder and Warriors. While a few players from those teams lead the way on the list for Saturday, there are also a bunch of potential pivots on the top end for GPPs like Anthony Davis, LeBron James and James Harden, who is priced under $10,000. It could be a good night to build a “Stars and Scars” lineup with high-priced options and speculate on cheap players filling in for injured players.
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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The eight-game Saturday night NBA slate has some big names that won’t be taking the court including Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry. This will open up a lot of playing time and usage for other players on the Thunder and Warriors. While a few players from those teams lead the way on the list for Saturday, there are also a bunch of potential pivots on the top end for GPPs like Anthony Davis, LeBron James and James Harden, who is priced under $10,000. It could be a good night to build a “Stars and Scars” lineup with high-priced options and speculate on cheap players filling in for injured players.
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
Kevin Durant (SF/PF – GSW) $10,700 vs. BKN
Stephen Curry will not play on Saturday when the Warriors host the Nets. With Draymond Green also out of the lineup, a ton of usage will fall on Durant’s shoulders. He has seen a 14.8% usage increase with Curry and Green off the court this season and with the Warriors coming off a loss they should be hungry for bounce-back against the Nets. Durant averaged over five more DraftKings points per game last season in games where Curry didn’t play.
Core Plays
Paul George (SF/PF – OKC): $9,200 @ DAL
George takes over the lead role for the Thunder when Russell Westbrook is out as he will be again on Saturday. George has a 2.8% usage increase with Westbrook out. George has been playing well recently with 52 or more DraftKings points in two of his last three games and he gets a good matchup on Saturday against the Mavericks who have allowed increased production in points (+2.9%), assists (+4.3%) and steals (+36.4%) to opposing SFs this season.
Devin Booker (PG/SG – PHO): $8,300 @ NO
After missing a few games and working to get his shot back on track upon his return, he put it all together in his last game with 38 points while shooting 50 percent from the field on 30 shots. He should be launching up shots again on Saturday in a pace up spot against the Pelicans in New Orleans. The Pelicans are worse against PGs than SGs, more on that later, but Booker should also be able to have a big game as the Pelicans have allowed increased production in points (+2.5%), assists (+17.7%) and steals (+14.4%) to opposing SGs as well.
Wendell Carter Jr. (C – CHI): $6,300 vs. CLE
With value at guard and high-priced studs at forward, the center position gets lost in the shuffle on Saturday night. There is a solid group of mid-priced options to choose from including Marc Gasol, JaVale McGee, and Clint Capela but Carter is my favorite of the bunch. The rookie has played consistently well over the last couple of weeks with at least 31 DraftKings points in seven straight games. His minutes should be secure with the Bulls still working without key frontcourt players and playing in a game that should be competitive against the Cavaliers.
Quinn Cook (PG – GSW): $4,200 vs. BKN
The biggest minutes boost for the Warriors with the absence of Curry will be Cook who should draw the start at PG on Saturday night. Cook has reached double-digit points in each of the last three games while playing less than 20 minutes per night. Now with Curry out, Cook could see his minutes jump into the 30s giving him an opportunity to smash his $4,200 salary.
Value Plays
Jordan Clarkson (PG/SG – CLE): $5,100 @ CHI
The Cavaliers backcourt has some minutes open up with George Hill out. Both Collin Sexton and Clarkson are worth a look at around $5,000 each but I’ll give Clarkson the edge after his performance in the last game where he nearly put up a triple-double in 33 minutes against the Thunder. He also shot poorly in that game and still put up 35 DraftKings points. Even if his rebounds and assists regress a little bit on Saturday, a better shooting percentage could push his scoring into the 20s to compensate.
Isaiah Canaan (PG – PHO): $4,400 @ NO
Start PGs against the Pelicans! I should just reserve a spot in my article for that every night that the Pelicans take the court. They have been destroyed by opposing PGs this season allowing a big increase in points (+26.3%), rebounds (+11.6%) and steals (+40.8%). Canaan has played over 31 minutes in four straight games for the Suns and those minutes will turn into production against the Pelicans.
Davis Bertans (PF/C – SA): $3,900 vs. HOU
The Spurs will be without Rudy Gay and Pau Gasol again on Saturday which opens up playing time for Bertans. In the previous game, Bertens played 26 minutes while putting up 19 points and four rebounds. He should see at least 25 minutes again on Saturday and offers a cheap option at PF or C to help jam in some of the high-priced studs on the slate.
Iman Shumpert (SG/SF – SAC): $3,800 vs. LAL
Shumpert has seen his minutes on the rise in recent games topping out at 32 on Friday night. He should see big minutes again on Saturday as he will be relied upon to help defend the length the Lakers have on the wings with LeBron James, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma. He also gives you some cheap exposure to the game with the highest Vegas total on the slate and offers position flexibility with his SG/SF eligibility.
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.