The New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder will resume their first-round series in the 2024 NBA Playoffs Wednesday night with Game 2 from Oklahoma City. The Thunder will look to grab the 2-0 lead in the series, while the Pelicans hope to be on the right side of a close game after falling short in the series opener.
Here’s a look at one potential DFS lineup strategy for managers to use in Showdown contests for this matchup.
Captain’s Picks
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($17,100) – Despite struggling for much of the opener and failing to hit a single triple, Gilgeous-Alexander made plays when it mattered most in the 94-92 victory and finished with 40 fantasy points. He should play better in Game 2, having some additional time to study the opposition. SGA likely left 10-12 points on the board given the quality of shots he missed, so there’s a good chance he could go for a big number if he is even slightly more efficient. There’s no one else on Oklahoma City worth putting in the captain’s spot, even if the price point is a bit high.
Jonas Valanciunas ($11,100) – This might seem confusing, but Valanciunas has been on fire of late. He went for 44 fantasy points in the second play-in game against the Kings before dropping 43 fantasy points on Oklahoma City in the series opener. The Pelicans do have an edge on the Thunder on the interior, so Valanciunas should continue to be an essential part of this rotation. As long as he gets a good amount of touches, he should be extremely product and less subject to the shooting variations of New Orleans’ perimeter players. I like him as a captain at this price.
FLEX Plays
Jalen Williams ($8,800) – At just under $9k, Williams is an excellent flex option for this game. He’s likely to play heavy minutes once again, and should shoot better from the floor in Game 2. The Thunder are thin up front, which means Williams will remain involved on the glass as well. That’ll help his overall fantasy numbers and gives him the edge over some other players at this price point.
Trey Murphy III ($8,400) – Murphy got big minutes when Brandon Ingram was sidelined, and he’s appeared to carry that confidence into the postseason. With Zion Williamson still out, the Pelicans are going to need offense from plenty of sources. Murphy’s upside as a three-point shooter coupled with his recent production (35+ fantasy points in five of the last seven games) makes him an automatic flex add.
Fades
Josh Giddey ($7,800) – After going for some massive games to close the regular season, Giddey logged just 20 minutes in the series opener and finished with 11.3 fantasy points. The combo guard has fallen out of favor a bit as the Thunder go deeper into their rotation, and the team is unlikely to go to him in clutch situations. That, along with his lack of efficiency from the perimeter as a shooter, makes him a fade at this price.
Herbert Jones ($6,800) – There is something to be said for overall utility, although it doesn’t do much in fantasy basketball circles. Jones managed to log 24.3 fantasy points in 33 minutes despite going 2-10 from the floor. The Pelicans will expect better shooting from Jones and Ingram in this game, but the latter should have more usage. I’d keep Jones out of your lineup tonight.
The Outcome
Both teams should shoot the ball better, particularly the stars. I do think Oklahoma City’s lack of depth on the interior will be further tested in Game 2 but will that be enough to overcome the advantage Oklahoma City has at other spots? This should be another tight contest but I believe SGA and the Thunder make enough plays late to get the job done and take a 2-0 lead in this series.
Final score: Thunder 113, Pelicans 109