There are seven NBA games on Saturday’s main slate. IND, MIN and WAS are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
This article was written on Friday night. Any changes will be updated. Keep track of all the injury news at DK Network.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $80K Fadeaway [$20K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat ($10,300)
SGA is coming off a game in which he only produced 30.5 FPTS. Over the last six games, SGA has put up 30 FPTS three times! Two of those games were blowouts while the other was against a tough Phoenix Suns team. In the other three contests, SGA went for over 50 FPTS in all with a high of 67 FPTS. While Miami is a good defensive team, the Heat play at the fastest pace in the league, so there should be plenty of opportunities for fantasy goodies. I think SGA finishes closer to the 50 FPTS range than the 30 FPTS one in this one.
Other Options: Cade Cunningham ($10,500), Jamal Murray ($10,000), Stephen Curry ($9,000), LaMelo Ball ($8,100), Donte DiVincenzo ($7,000), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($6,700), Norman Powell ($6,500), Kon Knueppel ($6,300), Collin Gillespie ($6,200)
Value
Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns at New York Knicks ($5,400)
Allen has a 22.7% usage rate on the season. Against Miami two games ago, Allen garnered a 30.7% usage rate and finished with 37.5 FPTS. Last game with Devin Booker out, the usage rate went up to a whopping 39.8% and Allen finished with 47.8 FPTS against a tough Detroit Pistons team. Booker is questionable for this one with an ankle injury. Even if Booker plays, I think Allen still sees a high usage rate. If Booker is out, then humana humana.
Other Options: Julian Champagnie ($5,600), Ajay Mitchell ($5,200), Miles McBride ($5,100), Jalen Pickett ($5,100) if he starts, Anfernee Simons ($5,000), Jordan Goodwin ($4,500) if Devin Booker is out
Forward
Stud
Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets vs. Washington Wizards ($7,700)
Watson finished with 27.2 FPTS last game. Prior to that, though, he went for over 40 FPTS in five straight with two over 50 FPTS. I think there’s a chance he puts up another 50-burger because Washington is seventh in pace and 29th in defensive rating. The fourth-year breakout for Watson was helped by injuries, but it’s legit.
Other Options: Jaylen Brown ($10,000), Jimmy Butler ($7,700), Chet Holmgren ($7,400), Brandon Miller ($6,900), Aaron Gordon ($6,600), Norman Powell ($6,500)
Value
Johnny Furphy, Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons ($3,700)
Due to injuries to Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, Furphy has been a significant part of the rotation recently. He’s been great on the glass but it’s been the switch-ability on defense that has been most alluring for the coaches. He’s even been playing some small-ball center. Now, the playing time hasn’t been that consistent, as he’s played 20 and 16 minutes in two of the last five games, but in the other three, he received 26, 26 and 30 minutes. Furphy put up over 21 FPTS in four of those contests with a high of 32 FPTS. He’s been starting and the risk/reward seems worth it to me.
Other Options: Julian Champagnie ($5,600), Grayson Allen ($5,400), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,800), Sam Hauser ($4,100), Ron Holland II ($4,100)
Center
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers ($8,800)
Jalen Brunson is questionable due to an ankle injury. With Brunson off the court this season, Towns has seen a 4.13% usage bump. Towns has been inconsistent this season and, recently, Paul Pierce had some things to say about Towns on his podcast. Keith Watkins of Heavy.com summed it up well: “Pierce is not talking about effort or engagement. He is reading comfort. Rhythm. Ownership. To him, Towns looks like a player operating within something rather than driving it, and that distinction matters when you are used to being the center of the offense.” In four games with Brunson out this season, Towns has put up 65.2, 45.8, 60.2 and 50.5 FPTS. Things that make you go hmmm.
Other Options: Onyeka Okongwu ($7,300), Jalen Duren ($7,100), Bam Adebayo ($7,000), Aaron Gordon ($6,600)
Value
Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks ($5,500)
Queta has become the ultimate floor play for fantasy. He’s put up at least 20 FPTS in 19 straight games, with six of those over 30 FPTS. On the season, he’s failed to hit 20 FPTS only three times. While he’s only played at least 30 minutes five times this season, he can pretty much be counted on for around 24 minutes a night. Queta averages a respectable 0.96 FPTS per minute.
Other Options: Mark Williams ($5,700), Moussa Diabate ($5,300), Zeke Nnaji ($4,400)
