There are four NBA games on Saturday’s main slate. Charlotte, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee and Minnesota 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 $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers at Milwaukee Bucks ($12,000)
Without LeBron James, Doncic has a robust 38.5% usage rate on the season. He’s averaging an absurd 34.9 points, 3.5 treys, 9.1 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 1.8 steals in 36.6 minutes over eight games. He is not in the God/Jokic tier, but he’s mighty close. Doncic has games with 70 and 81.2 FPTS on the season. Over the last three games, though, he’s finished in the 40-FPTS range, but both of those games were blowouts to Oklahoma City and Atlanta. Could that happen again in Milwaukee? As Curly Stooge often said, “Soitenly” but I like the Lakers to show up for this one and Doncic to have one of those games that has us looking to the heavens and singing, HalleLuka.
Other Options: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,700), Anthony Edwards ($8,800), Austin Reaves ($8,400), Jamal Murray ($8,000), Brandon Ingram ($7,800), Immanuel Quickley ($7,000), Andrew Nembhard ($6,800), Ryan Rollins ($6,300)
Value
Tim Hardaway Jr., Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves ($3,900)
Christian Braun suffered an ankle injury on Wednesday and is now out for at least six weeks. There is uncertainty as to how David Adelman will manage the rotations now, but Hardaway Jr. would likely be a significant part due to his ability to shoot from the perimeter. He finished with 21.2 FPTS on Wednesday in 21 minutes of action and has put up at least 20 FPTS three other times this season.
Other Options: Bruce Brown ($3,800)
Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers ($11,500)
This is the second leg of a back-to-back for both the Lakers and Bucks, but the two teams play the Pelicans and Hornets on Friday, so they shouldn’t be taxed too heavily. Antetokounmpo is playing at such a high level, finishing with at least 50 FPTS in all but one contest this season. That one miss was due to playing only 24 minutes in a blowout. He’s gone over 60 FPTS six times with two of those over 80 FPTS. Los Angeles doesn’t have formidable rim protection and are 21st in defensive rating.
Other Options: Scottie Barnes ($8,700), Chet Holmgren ($7,500), RJ Barrett ($7,200)
Value
Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves ($4,600)
Watson has a usage rate in the low teens, but he’s out there for his defense and hustle. In only 21.1 minutes, he’s averaging 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks. He’s gone for at least 20 FPTS in six of the last seven games with a high of 32.2 FPTS, which happened to come in the game that Braun got injured. Watson played a season-high 27 minutes in that one, so he looks to be one of the primary beneficiaries with Braun out.
Other Options: Jaden McDaniels ($5,900), Jarace Walker ($5,700), Rui Hachimura ($5,500), Kyle Kuzma ($5,400), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($3,900), Jay Huff ($3,600)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves ($12,800)
Jokic is questionable for this one due to a wrist sprain. Even if he was ruled out, I’d consider clicking his name … out of reverence. Jokic is coming off a game in which he scored 55 points on 18-of-23 shooting with 12 rebounds, six assists, a block and a steal, good for 86 FPTS. Jokic has finished with over 60 FPTS seven other times with four of those over 80. He literally has 100 FPTS upside. If Jokic is unable to go, then pivot to Jonas Valanciunas ($3,500).
Other Options: Isaiah Hartenstein ($6,800), Myles Turner ($6,200)
Value
Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers ($5,600)
Poeltl has played 29 and 30 minutes over the last two games, so he’s fully ramped up after returning from injury. Indiana is lacking size at center and is 25th in defensive rating. Poeltl has three straight games with over 30 FPTS and there’s a good chance he makes it four in a row.
Other Options: Moussa Diabate ($4,600), Isaiah Jackson ($4,500), Jay Huff ($3,600), Jonas Valanciunas ($3,500) if Jokic is out, Mason Plumlee ($3,200)
