There are six NBA games on Saturday’s main slate. Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Miami, San Antonio, Toronto and Washington are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
Keep track of all the injury news at DK Network.
This article was written on Friday night. Any changes will be updated.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $222K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers at Atlanta Hawks ($11,800): There are no words for his greatness. All we can do is look toward the heavens and sing, “HalleLuka! HalleLuka! HalleLuka!” The no-longer chunky Wunderkid has put up at least 65 FPTS in every game he’s played this season, with four over 70 and a high of 81.2 FPTS. L. O. L. The usage rate is a whopping 39.1% on the season. LeBron James is still out while Austin Reaves has been ruled out for Saturday. Atlanta is 12th in pace and 16th in defensive rating, but, if Doncic reads this piece, he’d feel disrespected that I even wrote down the stats for Atlanta because those numbers are lint on his shoulder that he flicks away.
Other Options: Tyrese Maxey ($10,100), Josh Giddey ($9,500), Donovan Mitchell ($9,000), Stephon Castle ($7,600), Trey Murphy III ($7,400), Jrue Holiday ($7,300), V.J. Edgecombe ($7,300), Dyson Daniels ($7,200), RJ Barrett ($7,100), Cooper Flagg ($6,900), Quentin Grimes ($6,500), Jake LaRavia ($6,200)
Value
Marcus Smart, Los Angeles Lakers at Atlanta Hawks ($5,200): Smart has put up at least 24 FPTS in each of the last four games, culminating in a 33.8-FPTS performance on Wednesday. Most importantly, he’s played at least 32 minutes in three of those contests and should be well-rested for this one. Smart isn’t known for his offense, but he’s scored double-digit points in three of those games. What he is out there for is his defense, and he’s racked up a total of eight steals, with at least one in each of those games. On the season, there’s only been one game that he’s failed to pilfer at least one.
Other Options: Davion Mitchell ($5,400), Max Christie ($5,100), Jaylon Tyson ($4,800), Brandon Williams ($3,500)
Forward
Stud
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors ($6,400): Oubre has been a model of consistency lately, finishing with at least 30 FPTS in each of the last six games, with a high of 52 FPTS. He’s scored double-digit points in every contest and has two games with at least 10 rebounds. He’s racked up at least one steal in seven of eight contests, with four games with at least two steals. The beauty with Oubre is that Nick Nurse is playing him over 37 minutes per game. He has three games with at least 40 minutes! And minutes are half the battle. Yo, Joe!
Other Options: Jalen Johnson ($8,900), Evan Mobley ($8,800), Deni Avdija ($8,500), Scottie Barnes ($8,400), Brandon Ingram ($7,700), P.J. Washington ($7,300), De’Andre Hunter ($6,500), Jake LaRavia ($6,200)
Value
Trendon Watford, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors ($4,000): Watford doesn’t start and won’t get 30 minutes but he’s played well recently and could be endearing himself to Nick Nurse. Over the last three games, Watford has received 25, 19 and 23 minutes, finishing with 39.2, 15 and 32.8 FPTS. He’s been an excellent playmaker, dishing out seven, two and six dimes while scoring 16 points in two of those contests.
Other Options: Marcus Smart ($5,200), Max Christie ($5,100), Jaylon Tyson ($4,800), Derik Queen ($4,500), Zaccharie Risacher ($4,400)
Center
Stud
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans ($12,400): Phoenix showed a defensive blueprint for Wembanyama on Sunday and limited him to 30.8 FPTS. The Lakers then stymied Wembanyama to 35 FPTS on Wednesday. As of this writing, he faces Houston which is perfectly suited to make life difficult. That’s why I faded him for Friday. But I’m going back to Wembanyama on Saturday despite it being a back-to-back because New Orleans is pretty terrible, ranking 28th in defensive rating.
Other Options: Nikola Vucevic ($8,100), Deandre Ayton ($7,600), Jarrett Allen ($6,200)
Value
Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks at Washington Wizards ($5,400): Gafford only played 17 minutes in his return from injury. Since then, he’s played 25 minutes in two games and put up over 30 FPTS in each. Gafford is a per-minute beast and should thrive against a Wizards team that is third in pace and 29th in defensive rating.
Other Options: Kel’el Ware ($6,000), Onyeka Okongwu ($5,800), Derik Queen ($4,500)
