DraftKings NBA Lineup Advice: Saturday (12/7)

The schedule for Saturday contains five games, four of which will tip-off for the main slate that starts at 7:30 p.m. EST. The early contest is between the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks, with tip-off starting at 2:00 p.m. EST. Only the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers are operating on a back-to-back.

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Guards

James Harden (SG – HOU): $11,700 vs. PHO
In his most quiet game in recent times, Harden scored 47.75 DraftKings points against the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors threw everything they had at the kitchen sink and Harden was still able to nearly put together a 50-point performance. His price tag drops in lieu of today’s contest against the Phoenix Suns, which rank 20^th in defensive rating and 10^th in pace. This game – and the Houston Rockets in particular – lead the slate in implied total tonight, and it isn’t even close. The Rockets are expected to score a ton of points and Harden is always at the forefront of that movement.

Ben Simmons (PG – PHI): $8,200 vs. CLE
Simmons’ past three contests all resulted in solid point totals as he eclipsed 42 DraftKings points in each contest. Tonight, the Philadelphia 76ers will be without starting SG Josh Richardson and starting C Joel Embiid, making Simmons a premium play at a not-so-premium price tag. Simmons has been shooting the ball incredibly efficiently lately, so expect a potential regression there, but Embiid missing the contest is huge as it allows Simmons to work more as a scorer rather than just a facilitator. The Cavaliers are ranked only 24^th in defensive rating but also 24^th in pace.

Donovan Mitchell (SG – UTA): $7,600 vs. MEM
Though he hasn’t been very consistent, Mitchell is one of the players on tonight’s slate with tournament-winning upside. Mitchell’s most recent contest was a solid one in which he scored 42 DraftKings points against the stifling defense of the Los Angeles Lakers. Tonight, Mitchell’s matchup is much easier as the Memphis Grizzlies rank 21^st in defensive rating and 6^th in pace. The stage is set tonight for Mitchell to build off a strong performance in his last contest.

Ben McLemore (SG – HOU): $4,900 vs. PHO
Speaking of building off good performances, McLemore is coming off a 40-point performance against the Raptors two nights ago. He made 8/17 three’s, scoring 28 real-life points in the game. Ironically, two of his past three games have resulted in over 40 DraftKings points. The issue for McLemore has generally been playing time, though his minutes have hovered around 29-30 minutes in his past three games. The matchup is a decent one as the Suns rank 20^th in defensive rating and will likely do whatever they can to stop Harden, giving McLemore – and others – opportunities to step up in the wake of consistent double-teams and collapsing the paint. If McLemore can continue to shoot at a strong rate, he always offers a chance to return value.

Forwards

Tobias Harris (SF – PHI): $7,400 vs. CLE
Just like Simmons, Harris is a great play for tonight’s contest against the Cavaliers as Embiid and Richardson remain sidelined. Harris is coming off two incredibly strong performances that totaled over 42 DraftKings points each. Embiid’s absence opens a ton of opportunities on the offensive end and allows guys like Harris to chip in more on the defensive boards. The matchup is also a good one, nearly making Harris a must-start. One thing to note: Harris’ price tag has increased significantly in the wake of two strong performances and the Embiid absence.

Al Horford (PF – PHI): $6,700 vs. CLE
With Embiid sidelined, the player who arguably benefits the most is the big-man in Horford. Horford – like the rest of the 76ers – plays more of a facilitating role in an offense that revolves around Embiid, though that’ll change tonight. Horford has been a strong play this season in the absence of Embiid, which is why he’ll likely be a chalky play on this slate. Still, a good matchup and an abundance of opportunities should allow Horford to reach value, and potentially crush.

Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF – PHO): $6,500 @ HOU
Oubre is coming off an incredible contest in which he scored 48.75 DraftKings points, but he managed to register 47 minutes in the game which was a result of double overtime. Obviously, that likely won’t happen again, but this game does lead the implied total’s for tonight by a wide margin and Oubre is one of the more talented players in the contest. Oubre’s struggled to shoot the ball effectively recently, which could lead to some positive regression in that regard. The Rockets are an average matchup as they rank 15^th in defensive rating and 2^nd in pace. Expect a fast-paced and high-scoring affair, which is why you’d be wise to find exposure to this contest.

Centers

Frank Kaminsky (C – PHO): $5,600 @ HOU
Kaminsky is a great option at the 5-spot for tonight, but that’s only if starting C Aron Baynes continues to miss games. Please keep an eye on Baynes’ status prior to tip-off as he is currently sporting a “questionable” tag. Kaminsky’s promotion to the starting lineup has done wonders for his DFS production, particularly in his past three contests, all of which have crushed value. If Kaminsky draws another start tonight, he could be a fun-but-chalky pivot from guys like Clint Capela or Horford.

Tristan Thompson (C – CLE): $6,100 @ PHI
In a miraculous turn of events, Thompson has revitalized his career and has arguably been the most consistent player in DFS. He routinely registers somewhere between 31-37 DraftKings points, usually somewhere on the higher end in that range. Tonight, Thompson will have a 76ers team that is missing Embiid, though Horford is no cakewalk. Big Al is one of the better defenders in the league, but Thompson should have a lot of chances to rebound the ball, which is largely his specialty. The matchup isn’t a great one as the 76ers rank 5^th in defensive rating and 17^th in pace, but they’ll be without two of their best defenders in Richardson and Embiid.

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Sosa Kremenjas is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Sosa, check out his archive and follow him @QBsMVP.