It’s a two-game, four-team slate of NBA Cup action on Saturday. Hoops fans are treated to two 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 guards at the top of tonight’s board:
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1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. HOU ($10,200)
Whenever Luka Doncic isn’t playing, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has dibs on the top spot of this list. The seventh-year pro is putting together another MVP-caliber season, averaging 30.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists through 24 games. Most impressive has been the two-time All-Star’s efficiency, shooting 51.5% from the field on a team-leading 20.6 shot attempts.
The Rockets are one of the NBA’s toughest defensive units, giving up the third-fewest points per game (105.9 PPG). However, they are somewhat vulnerable on the perimeter, allowing the ninth-most DK fantasy points to opposing point guards. Through two games this season, Gilgeous-Alexander has put up 30.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists against Houston. In a high-stakes primetime battle, another stellar outing should be expected from SGA.
2. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks vs. MIL ($9,300)
After a rousing win against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Trae Young and the Hawks are riding high. Atlanta’s point guard is having a solid season, putting up 21.0 points, 12.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds over 25 games. However, the three-time All-Star has struggled to shoot from the field, connecting on just 38.4% of his shots (30.8% 3PT).
The Bucks are playing improve defense, but they have given up the seventh-most DK fantasy points to point guards. Over his last five games against Milwaukee, Young has averaged 26.4 points and 8.8 assists. Give his ability to beat a defense as a scorer or as a creator, Ice Trae slots in at second on a thin Saturday slate.
3. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks vs. ATL ($8,800)
To round out the list, we’ll stick with the matinee matchup. Despite rumors of his demise, Damian Lillard has come out of the gates strong this season. The 34-year-old is producing 25.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 7.6 assists over 21 games, a clear statistical improvement from his first season in Milwaukee. That includes a 37.2% field goal percentage on three-pointers, the guard’s highest mark in over three years.
The Hawks have some talented defenders, including current steals leader Dyson Daniels. Still, this is a group giving up the sixth-most DK fantasy points to point guards. That mark is buoyed by Atlanta’s NBA-worst 38.2% opponent three-point percentage. The last time these two teams met on December 1st, Lillard put together 25 points, four rebounds and five assists on eight-of-fourteen shooting from the field. An encore performance hovering around those numbers should deliver plenty of value for fantasy managers.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Semi-Final Special [50K to 1st]
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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.
