It’s a two-game, four-team slate of NBA Cup action on Saturday. Hoops fans are treated to a pair of marquee matchups in Las Vegas, starting with Trae Young and the Hawks facing off with old foe Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. The nightcap showcases the upstart Houston Rockets taking on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Western Conference-leading Thunder. With so many big names in action, narrowing down a select group to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is a difficult task. Here are the three centers at the top of tonight’s board:
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1. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets vs. OKC ($8,900)
Entering his fourth year in the NBA, it’s become apparent that Alperen Sengun is Houston’s top dog. This season, the 22-year-old is putting up 18.8 points to go with a career-best 10.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists through 25 games. In a league flush with talent down low, the Turkish big man is making a name for himself as an all-around threat. The Rockets are 7-3 in games the young center has scored more than 20 points in.
Tonight’s opponent, the Thunder, possess one of the NBA’s stingiest defenses, giving up fewer points than any Western Conference team (103.8 PPG). However, OKC has had trouble on the glass, allowing the most rebounds to opponents this season (57.3 RPG). The season debut of Isaiah Hartenstein on November 20th has helped in that regard, but this is still a somewhat undersized group. Expect the 6’11” Sengun to take advantage, as the Rockets will need their best player to put up a big-time performance in primetime.
2. Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. HOU ($7,000)
Speaking of Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City’s center is an easy pick as the second center off the board. While the former Knicks big isn’t much of a scorer, he manages to do a little bit of everything on the basketball court. During nine games this season, he’s averaging 11.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 55.4% shooting from the field. On the defensive end, Hartenstein has chipped in with 1.2 blocks and 0.8 steals.
In what could be a physical brawl between two Western Conference rivals, I-Hart’s unique skillset could come in handy. The last time these two teams played on December 1st, the seven-year veteran put up a 19-point, 13-rebound, four-assist stat line. Even if he doesn’t reach double-digit points, Hartenstein typically finds a way to contribute. On an extremely thin night for centers, he’s a solid alternative to Sengun.
3. Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks vs. MIL ($5,400)
Considering the lack of quality options available on Saturday, we’ll round out the list with an unconventional pick. Rim-runners playing just under 23 minutes per game aren’t known to produce, but Clint Capela could be an exception tonight. Despite the limited workload, Atlanta’s starting center is still generating 10.2 points and 9.5 rebounds on 58.4% shooting. Add in some modest defensive statistics (0.9 BLK, 0.6 STL), and there’s more than meets the eye with this veteran.
The Bucks have given up the sixth-fewest DK fantasy points to opposing centers, but that doesn’t make this a bad matchup for Capela. Since joining the Hawks, the 6’10” bruiser has averaged 12.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over 11 games against Milwaukee. With so few viable starters on tonight’s slate, there’s real value in playing the big man for those looking to spend more at other positions.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) 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.
