The 2024 NBA play-in tournament will tip off on Tuesday and we’ll get the 9-10 game in the Western Conference as the Golden State Warriors will visit the Sacramento Kings at 10 p.m. ET. The winner will advance to face the 7-8 loser for the No. 8 seed on Friday, while the loser will be eliminated from the postseason.
Here’s a look at one potential lineup strategy DFS managers can use in Showdown contests involving tonight’s game.
Captain’s Picks
Domantas Sabonis ($16,800) – Sabaonis has been a fantasy monster this season and it may be worth it to put him in a captain’s spot even with such a hefty price. After all, he averaged 52.7 fantasy points per game and nearly averaged a triple-double, posting 19.4 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per outing. As the centerpiece of Sacramento’s lineup, he’ll bear even more responsibility in the postseason and we can expect him to log over 40 minutes in this matchup as the Kings try to keep their season alive for another game. The heavy investment into Sabonis should pay huge dividends.
Stephen Curry ($15,600) – There is no more obvious person for the captain’s spot in this game than Curry and I trust him more than anyone else to step up in an elimination game. The NBA’s all-time three-point leader averaged 43 fantasy points a game throughout the regular season. He’s crossed 50 a few times in the last few weeks as the Warriors won 10 of their last 12 games down the stretch. Curry has cooked Sacramento for an average of 31 points and 6.3 rebounds through four matchups this season and I expect him to put up similar numbers tonight.
FLEX Plays
Jonathan Kuminga ($7,600) – Kuminga will suit up for Golden State after dealing with multiple injuries in final two weeks of the regular season. The third-year forward made a major leap this season, averaging 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game to the tune of 27.4 fantasy points per night in DFS. As a starter, he should get increased minutes in this do-or-die game and his presence will be needed inside of the paint. He dropped 31 points the last time he went up against the Kings. I think he’ll prove to be a great addition to your lineup.
Harrison Barnes ($5,000) – There’s tons of value to be had for the veteran in this do-or-die playoff game against the franchise he won a championship with nearly a decade ago. Barnes started all 82 games for the Kings and put up decent numbers, averaging 12.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, making him a decent DFS add-on most nights. However, his status as a veteran with years of postseason experience increases his value and I’d imagine he’ll get plenty of minutes to be a difference-maker for the Kings this evening.
Fades
Keegan Murray ($7,200) – Murray took a step up in his second season as a pro this year, averaging 15.2 points and 5.5 rebounds for Sacramento. What made him a threat was his shooting from beyond the arc as he logged an average of 2.4 threes per game on 35.8% shooting from beyond the arc. However, this is the postseason, where the defensive pressure gets ratcheted up and those same threes become harder to come by. For that, I’d fade Murray in for this contest.
Trayce Jackson-Davis ($6,800) – TJD, you had a great rookie season buddy. You played your role well off the bench and put up 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. There were some nights where you even stepped up as a quality DFS option and provided 30+ fantasy points. But this is the postseason and with everything on the line, Steve Kerr isn’t going to risk letting a rookie make mistakes that could cost the Warriors the season. Fade TJD for tonight.
The Outcome
The vibes of both teams couldn’t be any more different here. Golden State has arguably played its best basketball in the final two weeks of the season while injuries to Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk took a bit of the wind out of Sacramento’s sails. I expect this veteran Warriors lineup to have a heightened sense of urgency tonight. I think they’ll win comfortably to advance.
Final score: Warriors 113, Kings 104