It’s a big night in the sports world, with a three-game slate of first-round NBA playoff action and, of course, the NFL Draft. Here’s the thing: You can’t build DFS lineups for a draft. So, by default, the basketball is the better option for your viewing needs on Thursday night. You’re welcome.
You’ll need some DFS picks for those lineups. I’ve got you covered there, too.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $350K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
C Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers, $11,600
While Jokic is still very expensive, we’re talking about an asset that was listed at $13,000 for his final three starts of the regular season. Context matters and getting Jokic for less than $12,000, even on a smaller slate, is always a tantalizing prospect. The former MVP has been his usual self to begin the postseason, exceeding 60 FPTS in both contests against the Clippers and coming a single rebound in Game 1 short of back-to-back triple-doubles. This series has been the most competitive so far in the first-round and that’s equated to pushing starters past their normal limits for both coaching staffs. Specific to Jokic, that’s meant playing all but 4.7 minutes of action in Game 2 after logging 46.1 minutes in Saturday’s overtime victory. That’s a ton of volume for any player, but especially Jokic, who averaged a whopping 1.77 FPTS per minute played during the regular season. That combination of efficiency and role is simply too much to fade — at any price.
PF/C Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies, $7,200
If the Grizzlies are going to take a game in this series — and that’s a huge if — it’ll probably be Game 3. At the very least, tonight has the potential to be a slightly closer contest, which is not that high a bar to clear, as the Thunder have easily registered a 51-point win and a 19-point win so far. A tighter script would mean more action for Oklahoma City’s stars, assets like Holmgren. Despite logging just 21.2 minutes in Game 1, Holmgren has posted back-to-back double-doubles against Memphis, taking advantage of an uptempo opponent that surrendered the third-most FPTS to opposing power forwards throughout the regular season. The big man comes into Thursday’s tilt averaging an eye-popping 1.59 FPTS per minute in the postseason after producing 1.23 FPTS in his 32 prior starts in 2024-25. In the 12 games where Holmgren was asked to play at least 30 minutes, the former second-overall pick averaged 44.9 FPTS. That’s the type of ceiling we’re dealing with if the Grizzlies can put up a little fight. I’ll take my chances.
PF Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks, $6,100
Avert your eyes 76ers’ fans, but Tobias Harris has been phenomenal to begin this playoff run for the Pistons, averaging 20.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 37.1 FPTS across two starts, all while shooting 58.3% (14-for-24) from the field. Still, the biggest two reasons for the veteran wing’s viability on this slate are price point and role. Harris is only the eighth-most expensive forward-eligible asset on Thursday, despite the fact he’s led Detroit in minutes played in both Game 1 and Game 2. That was 39.8 minutes and 43.1 minutes, respectively, by the way. Harris has barely ever left the court, and if that pattern continues this evening, I find it hard to imagine that the 32-year-old wouldn’t bring back 5x or 6x value through sheer osmosis. Make sure Harris is in your player pool.
