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We’re basically halfway through the seeding games in Orlando and we have another five games on the docket for Saturday. The action gets underway with the Blazers vs. the Clippers at 1 p.m. ET and concludes with the Mavericks vs. the Bucks at 8:30 p.m.
This is going to be an absolutely wild slate from an injury perspective. Virtually every team has at least one player listed as questionable and most teams have multiple guys who are uncertain. A lot could change between now and tip-off and a lot could change between 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
With that in mind, lineup flexibly is going to be even more important than usual. For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Live app. You also can follow DK Live on Twitter @dklive.
Set your DraftKings lineups here: NBA $450K Saturday Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Stud
Damian Lillard, POR vs. LAC, $10,000 – One thing that I can say for certain about today’s slate is that Lillard is going to be active and ready to go. The Blazers are just one game behind the Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and the difference between No. 8 and No. 9 is massive. If the Blazers can pass the Grizzlies, whoever finishes in ninth will have to beat the Blazers twice in a row to knock Portland out of the playoffs.
Lillard has brought his A-game to Orlando, averaging 31.3 points, 11.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game. He’s scored at least 48.25 DKFP in all four games and he’s crossed the 60-DKFP threshold in two of them. He has a difficult matchup vs. the Clippers, but that matchup should be slightly easier than usual with Patrick Beverley out of the lineup. On a slate without a lot of sure things, Lillard is as safe as it gets.
Other options – Luka Doncic ($11,000), Ricky Rubio ($6,400)
Value
Monte Morris, DEN vs. UTA, $4,400 – The Nuggets are rolling out another lengthy injury report prior to Saturday’s contest vs. the Jazz. Gary Harris and Will Barton remain out, while Jamal Murray and Troy Daniels are listed as questionable. If all four players are ultimately ruled out, it will open up a ton of minutes in the backcourt.
Morris has started at point guard for the Nuggets in each of the team’s first four games in the bubble and he’s done an admirable job. He was limited to just 17.5 DKFP in his last game, but he scored 30 DKFP in each of the two prior.
Other options – Reggie Jackson ($5,400), Goran Dragic ($5,100, currently questionable)
Shooting Guard
Stud
Devin Booker, PHX at MIA, $8,300 – Raise your hand if you had Phoenix as one of the last remaining undefeated teams in the bubble? Put your hand down, liar. The Suns were given virtually no chance of qualifying for the playoffs, but Phoenix has moved to just 1 1⁄2 games behind the Blazers for the No. 9 spot in the West. The Suns still have a lot of work to do, but Phoenix is definitely alive.
Booker has been the offensive focal point for the Suns in Orlando, scoring at least 39.25 DKFP in each of his first four games. He should have another chance at a strong outing vs. the Heat, who will be missing Jimmy Butler and Kendrick Nunn.
Other options – CJ McCollum ($7,800)
Value
Tyler Herro, MIA vs. PHX, $5,100 – Speaking of the Heat, expect Herro to handle a lot of the offensive responsibilities vs. the Suns. He played 33 minutes off the bench in Miami’s last game and he has the potential to move into the starting lineup with Nunn not able to suit up. The Heat hasn’t played a ton of minutes with Butler, Nunn and Dragic off the court this season but Herro has increased his usage rate by +7.0% in that scenario.
Other options – Duncan Robinson ($4,800), Aaron Holiday ($4,700)
Small Forward
Stud
Michael Porter Jr, DEN vs. UTA, $7,200 – Has anyone’s stock increased more inside than bubble than Porter’s? He has thrived for the shorthanded Nuggets, scoring at least 53.75 DKFP in each of his past three games. He’s displayed excellent ability to score the basketball, and he’s chipped in at least 12 rebounds in all three contests as well.
Porter was literally priced at the absolute minimum when the seeding games began but his salary has jumped all the way to $7,200 vs. the Jazz. As long as the Nuggets are still shorthanded, that’s still significantly too cheap.
Other options – LeBron James ($10,400, questionable), Kawhi Leonard ($8,800)
Value
Cameron Johnson, PHX at MIA, $5,200 – Johnson has been playing huge minutes for the Suns in Orlando. He’s played at least 36.4 minutes in each of his past three games and he’s scored at least 37.5 DKFP in two of them. He’s spent the majority of his time at the PF position, which has also given him a nice boost in the rebounding department. Johnson averaged just 3.3 rebounds per game before the shutdown, but he’s averaged 10.3 boards over his past three contests.
The best part is that Johnson hasn’t even shot the ball particularly well. He scored 37.5 DKFP in his last game despite making just two of nine shots from behind the arc, so he has even more upside if his jumper starts falling.
Other options – Gary Trent Jr. ($4,800), Victor Oladipo ($5,700)
Power Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at DAL, $10,800 – Who knows exactly what we’re going to get from Giannis on Saturday. This game means absolutely nothing to the Bucks, so it’s very possible that Milwaukee takes it easy on him. He was given the night off two games ago but did play 30.1 minutes in his last contest.
Ultimately, all that uncertainty with Giannis could make him an interesting tournament option. He will likely check in with lower ownership than usual and he still has one of the highest ceilings on the slate.
Other options – Anthony Davis ($10,300)
Value
Kelly Olynyk, MIA vs. PHX, $4,900 – Olynyk has been an awesome fantasy value during the restart and that doesn’t figure to change vs. the Suns. He’s scored at least 25.5 DKFP in each of his past four games and he’s scored at least 30.5 DKFP in three of them.
He will likely draw another start in place of Butler, which gives him a slightly higher floor than usual as well.
Other options – Jerami Grant ($4,700), Zach Collins ($4,300)
Center
Stud
Jusuf Nurkic, POR vs. LAC, $8,900 – If Lillard is the engine that drives the Blazers, then Nurkic is the transmission. It’s not surprising that the Blazers have gotten significantly better with him back in the lineup in Orlando.
Nurkic has also provided fantasy owners with plenty of value. He’s scored at least 50.75 DKFP in three of his first four games. He has the potential to play even a few more minutes in today’s contest given the injury to Hassan Whiteside.
Other options – Nikola Jokic ($9,200), Deandre Ayton ($7,600)
Value
Ivica Zubac, LAC at POR, $5,300 – Zubac was absolutely dominant in his last game. He recorded 44.75 DKFP vs. the Mavericks over just 24.3 minutes thanks to a perfect 100% field goal percentage on 10 attempts. He is definitely due for some regression in that department moving forward but he still has the potential to return value at his current salary.
Other options – Brook Lopez ($5,000), Myles Turner ($6,600, currently questionable)
Set your DraftKings lineups here: NBA $450K Saturday Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is mlamarca) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.