Saturday’s NBA DFS feature contest at DraftKings is a double dose of NBA Cup action. Get your DraftKings NBA DFS lineups in early. Let’s dig into the research, make some fantasy basketball picks, and plop on the couch to enjoy the two-game main slate for this contest that starts at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Semi-Final Special [$50K to 1st]
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Guard
Stud
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets ($10,200) — Trae Young ($9,300) is a great option. The Hawks look good. SGA is a similar guard in a similar situation. Young is emerging as the face of the new NBA. SGA has the opportunity to steal that spotlight. The Thunder are rolling. Years of development have paid off. This could be the year for OKC. The roster is ready and steady but SGA has to lead. This is a big game. A big statement can be made. The Lakers’ 2023 NBA Cup win was unremarkable. A Thunder Cup is a pivotal moment. It’s a declaration. They have arrived. That win depends on SGA on the offensive end.
Other Options — Trae Young ($9,300)
Value
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets ($3,800) — The Thunder’s elite defender is healthy. Offense is better than defense in DFS but Caruso is doing enough. His minutes aren’t perfect but his price works. Caruso is averaging over 22 DKFP over his last four games.
Other Options — AJ Green ($3,500)
Forward
Stud
Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder ($5,700) — This is a bet on talent. Thompson provides savings with risk. The risk is rotational. The Rockets run random. The Houston rocket isn’t a big gun, single bullet or main missile. Their offense is a cluster attack. All Rockets strike with proximity to their projection but one is a direct hit. This is a dangerous spot in DFS but unavoidable on a small slate. Rockets ownership will still be low because NBA DFS players can’t shake the normal tendency to fade Houston’s balanced attack. Embrace the chaos. Get the ownership edge. Pick a Rocket. Any Rocket. Rock it. Give Amen the rock and he’ll hit it. “Can I get an Amen?” Thompson has talent and is trending to the top. His usage rate dropped on Tuesday but his performance did not. He’s making shots and padding the peripheries.
Other Options — Jalen Johnson ($8,200)
Value
Dillon Brooks, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder ($4,200) — Rockets are risky but every DFS NBA player is dealing with the same risk on the two-game slate. The goal is to limit variables. Predicting usage rates in a big game is challenging. Predicting minutes is not. The Rockets will want Brooks’ defense on the court. His play paid off against Golden State. He’ll be equally disruptive against the Thunder. The question is whether he’ll be an active part of the offense. He doesn’t have to be too active at this price. His Memphis and Houston days have been the same. Brooks bricks. He’s notorious for taking all of the shots and missing all of the shots. At least he takes shots and that gives DFS lineups a shot.
Other Options — Bobby Portis ($5,500)
Center
Stud
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder ($8,900) — The theme continues. Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,200) is safe but expensive. Sengun isn’t as safe, but he’s the safest Rocket. He’s the most consistent producer in their lineup. His position helps and his talent helps more. Sengun is an elite center. His time has come. The goon is their gun. He scored 52.8 DKFP with a 36.8% usage rate in their quarterfinals win. The most important factor is the OKC D. Cason Wallace ($3,900), Lou Dort ($4,400) and Alex Caruso are elite perimeter defenders. This should funnel work to Sengun.
Other Options — Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,200)
Value
Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks ($4,300) — The pieces are coming together for the Hawks. The combo of Clint Capela ($5,400) and Okongwu has been a productive frontcourt this season. Capela is the lead. Okungwu runs efficiently with the second unit. He’s scored 20 DKFP or more in the last nine games with over 25 in seven. He scored in the double digits in all of those contests.
Other Options — Clint Capela ($5,400)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Semi-Final Special [$100K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is greenflagradio2) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
