Game 6 between the Thunder and Nuggets is set to tip off tonight, and the excitement is palpable. This has been the most competitive series of the second round, with neither squad able to gain a decisive edge over the other. Now, Denver is facing elimination, while Oklahoma City is one win away from the Western Conference Finals. Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexader will demand most of the attention in this one. However, can any lesser known names make an impact on Thursday?
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 $400K Shootaround [$100K to 1st] (OKC @ DEN)
SG/SF Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder ($6,600)
If any player best embodies the Thunder, it’s Lu Dort. Capable of guarding almost any player on the court, Oklahoma City’s three-and-D specialist is the perfect complimentary piece. On a roster this deep, it’s difficult for anyone other than Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams to consistently produce. Keeping that in mind, it’s not a shock to see Dort struggle in this series. Over his last five games, the Canadian has averaged 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 32.6% from the field.
Ghastly efficiency has made it difficult for fantasy basketball managers to trust Dort. Still, the veteran has carved out a solid role for himself in this offense. Since Game 1 against Denver, the wing has taken a combined 46 shots. Of those field goal attempts, 40 have come from three-point range. It’s not as if the Nuggets are a defensive juggernaut, allowing the third-most fantasy points to shooting guards. If Dort keeps firing away, along with a few rebounds and steals, he should deliver a solid performance tonight.
SF/PF Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets ($2,400)
On a one-game slate, finding value can be a chore. That’s especially true for a Nuggets roster that doesn’t have much depth after sixth man Russell Westbrook. If there’s any other name on Denver’s bench capable of stepping up tonight, it’s Peyton Watson. The two-way forward is a flawed player, especially on the offensive end; he’s averaged just 4.6 points per game this postseason. Regardless, the UCLA alum has the kind of all-around skills needed for a decent fantasy basketball stat line.
In this series, Watson has generated 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks. Therefore, it’s no surprise that he’s accounted for at least 14.0 fantasy points in three of his previous four outings. In what could be an intense, physical Game 6, Nuggets head coach David Adelman might opt for a more defensive-minded lineup. If Watson connects on one or two more buckets tonight, then he’ll be able to return significant value. At just $2,400, there’s little downside in taking a flier on the 22-year-old.
