The New Orleans Pelicans will host the Sacramento Kings in the No. 8 seed playoff game on Friday, April 19. Tip-off from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana is set for 9:30 p.m. ET, and the game will air on TNT. Playoff basketball is always exciting, and the Showdown mode at DraftKings DFS challenges daily fantasy players to set the best lineup they can. Here is how we are approaching this matchup on Friday night.
Captain’s Picks
Jonas Valanciunas ($9,000) – Valanciunas doesn’t have a good matchup on paper, as the Kings allow the eighth-fewest DFS points to opposing centers. That being said, he has done well against Sacramento center Domantas Sabonis. Valanciunas has averaged 14.2 points and 11.4 rebounds against Sacramento in five games this season.
Domantas Sabonis ($16,800) – Sabonis is a double-double machine, averaging 19.4 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. He leads the league in rebounds per game and averages the sixth most assists per game (8.2). Sabonis hasn’t done as well this season against Valanciunas, but he is so well-rounded that he is worthy of being a Captain in your lineup, despite being the most expensive option.
FLEX Plays
Dyson Daniels ($4,400) – Daniels tends to come off the bench for the Pelicans but still averages 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He is an above-average defender and will likely come away with at least one steal.
Harrison Barnes ($5,000) – Barnes should be able to benefit from the Pelicans not having star power forward Zion Williamson. He has been more consistent recently, scoring at least 10 points and having at least five rebounds in four straight games. Barnes averaged 12.2 points, three rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
Fades
Larry Nance Jr. ($5,400) – Nance has a tough matchup as the Kings do allow the eighth-fewest DFS points to opposing centers. As a flex, he is only $600 cheaper than Valanciunas, who provides so much more upside to your lineup. Nance has only played against Sacramento twice this year and combined for six points. His 11 rebounds in those games are a positive, but not at what it takes to roster him.
Davion Mitchell ($3,800) – Viewing Mitchell as either a fade or a value play likely depends on if you are buying into his recent performances. In three games against New Orleans earlier this season, he combined for four points and 10 assists. Mitchell had 13 points and five assists in the most recent game against the Pelicans. His lack of consistency is worrying, even at this price point, with New Orleans allowing the second-fewest DFS points to opposing point guards.
The Outcome
The biggest story around this game is that the Pelicans will be without star power forward Zion Williamson. Sacramento and New Orleans have matched up five times already this season, and NOLA has won all five. The Kings got to this game by beating the Golden State Warriors, while the Pelicans lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. That momentum for Sacramento, plus the lack of Williamson, should help the Kings clinch the win and the No. 8 seed.
Final score: Kings 115, Pelicans 107