The NBA Cup resumes in Las Vegas tonight with a two-game semifinals slate. To get things started, it’ll be the Magic and Knicks in a battle of Eastern Conference contenders. Later, Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs will attempt to take down the defending champion Thunder.
There’s plenty of star power in the desert, making this evening essential viewing for hoops fans. Big names are nice, but a winning lineup also requires some under the radar moves. Here are two players to target on Saturday in DFS and season-long formats.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Semi-Final Shootaround [50K to 1st]
SF/PF Aaron Wiggins, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. SAS ($4,300)
What makes the Thunder great, other than the sublime play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,400)? An enviable collection of role players capable of filling in at any given moment. Aaron Wiggins is far from a household name, but the forward has proven his worth for Oklahoma City. Through 14 games, he’s averaging 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists. The 26-year-old’s greatest skill is his shooting from long distance. Wiggins has knocked down 44% of his three-point attempts, taking 5.7 shots from beyond the arc per game.
The Spurs, with Victor Wembanyama ($11,000) back, are no walk in the park. However, the team’s perimeter defense is still somewhat lacking. San Antonio has surrendered the 13th-most three-pointers made (13.4) and fifth-highest three-point percentage (38%) to opponents this season. In addition, the Spurs have coughed up the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards. Fellow sharpshooter Isaiah Joe (knee) remains sidelined for Oklahoma City, as well. Keeping that in mind, there should be enough touches tonight for Wiggins to make an impact.
PG/SG Jordan Clarkson, New York Knicks vs. ORL ($4,200)
Speaking of injuries, Deuce McBride (ankle) won’t be suiting up on Saturday for the Knicks. That leaves New York with less depth than usual in its back court. As a result, expect more playing time for Jordan Clarkson. It’s been an uneven start to the season for the former Sixth Man of the Year. Over 24 games, he’s posted 9.9 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists. However, he’s shot just 43% from the field and 29% from three-point range. In most matchups, the guard doesn’t accumulate enough counting stats to overcome his inefficient scoring.
That may not be the case tonight, even against a stingy Magic defense. Granted, they did hold Clarkson scoreless when these clubs last met on December 7th. With that being said, the veteran put up 15 points and five assists during their previous meeting two weeks prior (27 FPTS). In addition, Orlando has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards. On a limited two-game slate, finding value can prove difficult. At just $4,200, Clarkson makes sense for managers looking to fill out their lineups.
