It all comes down to this: Nuggets vs. Clippers, Game 7. A ticket to the Western Conference semifinals hangs in the balance. It’s been a series of momentum shifts, with Los Angeles winning the most recent game on Thursday. If either squad is going to pull out a victory, they’ll need more than just superstars. In the NBA playoffs, it’s the lesser-known names that often prove to be the difference between victory and defeat.
Ahead of tonight’s action, here are two players being slept on in fantasy basketball DFS contests.
Set your DraftKings NBA postseason fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $500K Game 7 Special [$100K to 1st] (LAC @ DEN)
PG Russell Westbrook, Denver Nuggets ($8,300)
On this select one-game slate, finding good value can be a chore. In what should be an intense, physical elimination game, why not go with experience? 36-year-old Russell Westbrook has seen just about everything on a basketball court over 17 seasons in the NBA. The former MVP is now a depth piece for the Nuggets, capable of playing big minutes off the bench. That doesn’t always mean you’re getting the best out of Mr. Triple-Double. The guard’s lack of efficiency makes his fantasy basketball production dependent on counting stats.
Despite his inconsistency, Westbrook is the kind of name worth taking a flier on tonight. For the most part, he’s had a decent series, recording at least 23.0 fantasy points in four of his five outings. If not for a mid-game injury in Game 4, the veteran could have enjoyed another solid performance. Russ was busy in Game 6, logging 14 points, ten rebounds and six assists over 35 minutes (37.0 FPTS). Another heavy workload tonight could lead to a monster stat line from the future Hall of Famer.
PF/C Nicolas Batum, Los Angeles Clippers ($6,300)
If there’s one takeaway from today’s values list, it’s that 36 is the new 26. The always-energetic Westbrook isn’t the only veteran to consider in your fantasy basketball lineups on Saturday. It doesn’t always show up in the box score, but Nicolas Batum has been a valuable presence for the Clippers in this series. This postseason, the wing has only tallied 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds. However, he’s tallied 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals on defense over 23.8 minutes per game.
Batum’s ability to guard every position makes him an intriguing chess piece for Clippers coach Ty Lue. It’s no coincidence the Frenchman was on the floor for a season-high 34 minutes in Game 6, en route to 32.25 fantasy points. Whether or not he comes off the bench, the tenth-year pro has carved out a nice role in Los Angeles’ rotation. In a potential low-scoring slugfest, this is the exact type of player a team wants in their corner. As long as Batum plays 25+ minutes, he should deliver significant value on Saturday.
