The 2024 NBA Playoffs continue Saturday evening with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks facing off in Game 6. The Thunder will attempt to win yet another road game and force Game 7, while the Mavericks have the opportunity to close out the matchup and head back to the Western Conference Finals.
Here’s a look at one potential lineup strategy DFS managers can employ for Showdown contests involving Saturday’s game with a captain pick, utility plays and fades.
Captain Pick
Luka Doncic, $20,100
Kyrie Irving could also make sense here for a reduced price point but I think Doncic is the better high-usage option as the captain in DFS showdowns. After struggling in the first game of the series, Doncic has tallied 56+ fantasy points in every game. He’s doing solid work on the glass, which has kept his numbers solid even if his shooting fluctuates. He’s always a triple-double threat and should be heavily involved in Game 6.
Utility Plays
Kyrie Irving, $9,800
If you don’t have Irving as your captain, you’ve got to add him as a flex play. He’s been in closeout situations 13 times in his career and incredibly, he’s undefeated in that scenario. Irving has had some great teammates to help with that mark but he’s also one of the most clutch playoff performers ever. He dropped 30 points on the Clippers in the last round in Game 6 and he could have another monster showing tonight. Even though he’s put up modest fantasy numbers so far in this series, this is the spot where Irving tends to show out.
Lu Dort, $6,000
Dort has logged 30+ fantasy points in each of the last two games, which says he’s been more involved in the offense. It’s helped that he’s connected on a few perimeter shots, even though he could do better from deep. Minutes won’t be an issue for Dort, as he’s logged at least 38 in each of the last three games. He’s one of Oklahoma City’s role players who could pop off and is worth backing as a flex play at this price point.
Derrick Jones Jr., $5,200
Jones Jr. has had a few highlight reel dunks in the last two games but DFS managers will be happy to know he’s delivering decent fantasy production overall. The Mavericks forward has averaged 28.8 fantasy points per game in the last two games and is starting to become more comfortable in his role. Dallas’ secondary scorers struggled in Game 5, which allowed Jones Jr. to see more touches. That could continue to happen but Jones Jr. does enough to have a solid floor in DFS lineups.
Josh Giddey, $4,600
I would typically fade Giddey, who has been reduced to a rotation player after being a starter for much of the season. However, the Thunder did get a strong showing from him in Game 5 and that could lead to more playing time here. Even though Giddey doesn’t offer much as a shooter, he can make a difference on the glass and is a secondary creator in the offense. If he delivers strong minutes early, he could get extended run and pay off a major way at this price point.
Aaron Wiggins, $4,200
Wiggins is one of the players who has seen more minutes at Giddey’s expense. He was excellent in Game 1 of this series with 29.8 fantasy points but has not topped 14 fantasy points in any game since. Perhaps Game 6 is a chance for the forward to make his mark, and he’s got some upside as a three-point threat.
Fades
Chet Holmgren, $8,800
The Thunder big man is actually one of the most important players in this game, especially on the defensive end. I do believe he’ll bounce back from a lackluster effort in Game 5 but he’s not nearly doing enough offensively to justify paying slightly less than $9k. After logging at least 30 fantasy points in each game of the series prior to Game 5, Holmgren only tallied 21.5 fantasy points in the last contest. Fade him tonight.
P.J. Washington, $8,200
Washington broke out from the perimeter in the middle part of this series, having arguably the best shooting stretch of his career. He fell back to Earth a bit in Game 5 and that is likely to continue in Game 6 as he returns to his usual clip. Washington tallied 31.5 fantasy points and does offer that solid floor, but I’d rather take my chances with Irving as a high-end flex play for Dallas over the forward.