Following a historic Game 1 comeback, the Pacers appeared to have an edge over the Thunder. However, OKC responded with a dominant 123-107 win on Sunday, evening up this series at one game apiece. Ahead of Wednesday’s NBA Finals clash, DraftKings is offering several can’t-miss DFS Showdown contests. Let’s look at which Thunder and Pacers players fantasy basketball managers should be targeting as captain plays tonight.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball NBA DFS lineups here: NBA Showdown $800K Finals Shootaround [$200K to 1st] (OKC @ IND)
SF/PF Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder ($15,600)
If not for his high price, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($19,500) would likely be the first pick here. However, there are more efficient ways for fantasy basketball managers to spend their money. Look no further than Jalen Williams, the Robin to SGA’s Batman. It’s been a mixed bag for the wing so far in the Finals. J-Dub hasn’t shot the ball well, connecting on just 33.3% of his field goal attempts. However, he’s still generated at least 33.5 fantasy points in each of his outings in this series.
It’s only a matter of time until Williams re-discovers his shooting stroke. During the regular season, the All-Star hit 48.4% of his attempts (36.5% from three-point range). In addition, the 24-year-old’s balanced skillset gives him one of basketball’s safest fantasy floors. Williams has recorded at least ten rebounds + assists in 13 of his 18 outings this postseason (72.2%). It helps that the Pacers love to (no pun intended) push the pace, creating more possessions for both sides. Another all-around performance, plus more efficient scoring, would be a boon for fantasy managers on Wednesday.
C Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers ($11,100)
In spite of Indiana’s run to the NBA Finals, Myles Turner has been a disappointment. The 29-year-old has always been an uneven player, offering scoring and rim protection but limited rebounding. However, his flaws have been more prominent over the past month. Over 18 games this postseason, the center has recorded 15.2 points on 52.2% shooting and 2.2 blocks per game. Unfortunately for the Pacers, their big man is only averaging 5.1 boards. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Turner has only had three 40+ fantasy point outings during these playoffs.
Things have been a bit better during the NBA Finals for Turner. Through two games, the veteran is averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks. There’s a good chance those numbers could see a modest boost going forward. The Thunder have opted for a small-ball approach, keeping center Isaiah Hartenstein ($8,100) out of the starting lineup. OKC already had issues on the glass, allowing the third-most rebounds per game to opponents (54.4). That could become even more pronounced with I-Hart on the bench. Obviously, Turner isn’t a rebounding machine. Still, anything close to a double-double would give the big man value. At $3,000 less than Pascal Siakam ($14,100), Indiana’s center is worth a closer look tonight.
