There are five NBA games on Saturday’s main slate. Brooklyn, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Indiana, Milwaukee and Phoenix are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
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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
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons at Miami Heat ($10,300)
Cunningham has certainly leveled up this season and is the engine that has propelled Detroit to an Eastern Conference-leading 15-3 record. He “only” has one triple-double on the season, but he will likely finish with quite a few before the playoffs start. From a fantasy perspective, he’s put up over 50 FPTS nine times with a whopping high of 96 FPTS. That’s Nikola Jokic territory! Miami has been awesome on defense, posting the second-best defensive rating, so that gave me some pause, but Cunningham is just too good and there will be plenty of opportunities to rack up fantasy goodies because Miami is playing at the fastest pace in the league.
Other Options: Josh Giddey ($9,800) if Coby White is out, Jamal Murray ($8,600), Ryan Rollins ($8,400), Coby White ($7,700), Bennedict Mathurin ($6,900), Collin Gillespie ($6,500), Andrew Nembhard ($6,300) if he starts
Value
Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers ($5,100)
Over the last eight games, Dosunmu has put up over 20 FPTS in all but one with four over 30 FPTS. He does have a high of 42.5 FPTS on the season, so he’s shown the ability to access a ceiling. The floor does seem pretty safe and production ending in the upper range of outcomes is likely because Indiana is eighth in pace and 23rd in defensive rating. Chicago is second in pace, so this should be an up-and-down affair.
Other Options: Tre Jones ($5,500), Davion Mitchell ($4,900), Duncan Robinson ($4,800), T.J. McConnell ($4,500), Jose Alvarado ($4,300), Will Richard ($4,200) if he starts
Forward
Stud
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans ($8,800)
Usually Giannis Antetokounmpo is an auto-click, but I do have some reservations. Milwaukee is playing the second leg of a back-to-back and Antetokounmpo just came back from injury on Friday. In addition, there is blowout risk against Brooklyn, so even if he doesn’t play, there’s a chance he doesn’t get a full complement of minutes. Butler can be inconsistent in the regular season, especially since he’s more than willing to defer, but with Stephen Curry out for a few games, I’d expect Butler to shoulder more of the offensive load.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,500), Pascal Siakam ($8,700), Draymond Green ($6,500), Dillon Brooks ($6,400)
Value
Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers vs. Chicago Bulls ($4,200)
Over the first 16 games, Ray Charles probably would’ve had a better chance of hitting a shot than Walker, as he was converting only 30% of his field goal attempts. Over the last two games, he’s converted 4-of-9 and 8-of-10 from the field. In addition, he’s been rebounding the ball well and chipping in a little something something in every other statistical category. That’s translated to over 30 FPTS in each of the last two contests. Walker is only playing around 27 minutes a night, but this matchup should be a good one as the Bulls play fast and eschew defense.
Other Options: Peyton Watson ($5,500), Saddiq Bey ($5,500), Noah Clowney ($5,500), Ayo Dosunmu ($5,100), Duncan Robinson ($4,800), Jay Huff ($4,000)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns ($13,400)
Jokic is on the slate? He’s how much? IDC, IDC. He’s a threat to triple-double and put up the most points on any given night. Jokic has the highest floor/ceiling combo in the game. He’s put up over 60 FPTS in all but three games this season, and those ended with 53.2, 59 and 59 FPTS. Jokic has three games over 80 FPTS and he’s hit 100 FPTS in the past, and it never surprises if he hits it. That’s how freaking good Jokic has been over the years. He not only sits atop the pantheon of Nikolas, but he’s at the top of the NBA fantasy pantheon.
Other Options: Nikola Vucevic ($8,100), Draymond Green ($6,500)
Value
Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers vs. Chicago Bulls ($4,000)
Huff looks to have gotten the center pendulum to swing slightly in his favor. Over the last four games, not including Friday night’s game, Huff has received over 25 minutes in three of those contests and put up over 20 FPTS in all with a high of 39.8 FPTS. He’s been racking up more blocks than Isaiah Jackson and does something that Jackson doesn’t, which is space the floor on offense.
Other Options: Quinten Post ($4,100), Yves Missi ($3,900)
