The NBA has seven games sprinkled throughout this Saturday, with a three-game night schedule that tips off at 8:00 p.m. ET as the focus of DraftKings DFS fantasy basketball contests. The Clippers are the only team playing on the second day of a back-to-back, while the Kings are the only team back in action on Sunday. As always at this time of the season, fantasy managers need to keep a close eye on the injury reports, especially for those teams playing on either side of the back-to-back games. As players’ availability is finalized throughout the day, the models will adjust, so be sure to check back before tip-off.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
In the marquee matchup of the night, Luka Doncic takes on Nikola Jokic as the Lakers host the Nuggets in the ABC Primetime matchup. Luka has the highest median, floor, and ceiling projections at point guard, and if you can save enough salary to build around his massive price tag of $12,400, he can be the core of your Saturday night success.
Doncic is coming off his first game of the season with 50+ points, and he added 10 rebounds and nine assists to his 51 points for 90.5 DraftKings points in 37 minutes. He has over 70 DraftKings points in three of his last four games, and he had 60.75 DraftKings points when the Lakers visited Denver just over a week ago. This rematch on Saturday has the highest over/under of any game on the slate, according to our Vegas dashboard.
Luka has the potential to go off and break the slate as he did on Thursday. He does cost a lot, but he gets such high usage and production in so many categories that he has been worth paying all the way up for on a regular basis over the last few weeks. In his last five games, he has exceeded his huge salary-based expectations four times, averaging 70.2 DraftKings points per game.
Value
Jalen Suggs has the highest Projected Plus/Minus projection at point guard, and he makes a great value option since he should be very busy in a favorable matchup.
The Heat play at the fastest pace in the NBA, which usually gives their opponents plenty of chances to put up points. The Magic will be in a pace-up spot, and Suggs will have to continue to be more involved without Franz Wagner (ankle) and Anthony Black (abdominal).
Suggs had 28 points and 49 DraftKings points on Thursday against the Wizards in his most recent game and has at least 32 DraftKings points in four of his last six.
With more possessions, the Magic should be a good play across the board, and Suggs can be a huge part of their offense with his multifaceted production.
Fast Break
Taking on Luka and the Lakers, Jamal Murray has the second-highest ceiling, median, and floor projections at point guard. He had 39 points and 53 DraftKings points on Thursday in a huge win over the Spurs and has proven he can come up clutch in big games like this one. He had 28 points, seven assists, and 45 DraftKings points against the Lakers last Thursday and would be a solid value if he repeats that performance in the rematch.
Darius Garland did not play Friday in the first half of the Clippers’ back-to-back for injury management purposes, but he could be back on the floor Saturday. He has been ramping up since returning from a long layoff, but he has looked very sharp in his last three games, posting 35, 40.2, and 36.2 DraftKings points. He gets a great matchup against the Kings on Saturday night.
As a bargain option, Jevon Carter has been getting minutes as the main backup behind Suggs and should also be set up to take advantage of the faster pace. He has the third-highest Plus/Minus projections at the position and has chipped in 16 DraftKings points per game over his last seven games.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
As you build your lineups, it can be helpful to have a second opinion on some decisions that are too close to call, and one way to find that is by adding the ShotQuality projections to your models. While there are three strong options at shooting guard with similar salaries, the ShotQuality projections give the clear edge to Desmond Bane of the Magic, with the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection at the position.
Bane has been carrying a huge role in the Orlando offense without Wagner and Black, and he has shown he can stuff the stat sheet in multiple categories. Bane has exceeded salary-based expectations in four straight games, averaging 44.5 DraftKings points per game during that stretch.
He logged 42 minutes against the Wizards on Thursday even though it was the second half of a back-to-back. In the first game of the set, he had 35 points, six rebounds, and six assists to rack up 54.5 DraftKings points in a huge win over the Cavs.
Value
In both sets of projections, Kris Dunn has the highest Plus/Minus projection at shooting guard and the second-highest at point guard. Dunn could be in a more limited role if Garland is back in the mix as expected, but he still brings enough potential to be a good play at just over $4,000 at either guard spot where you want to save salary.
Dunn had eight points, six assists, and 26 DraftKings points against the Bulls on Friday and has over 24 DraftKings points in three straight games. He hasn’t been scoring a ton of points during that stretch, but he contributes enough in every other area of the box score to still be a good play at this price.
The Clippers are in a great spot against the Kings, and Dunn should be able to bring solid returns. His style of production that relies on non-scoring numbers lowers his ceiling but also lowers his risk.
Fast Break
Tyler Herro and Austin Reaves are the other two shooting guards with similar projections to Bane. Herro is questionable after missing two games but was excellent before the injury, with 63.75 DraftKings points against the Hornets and 40.5 DraftKings points against the Pistons. Reaves has 25+ points and 46+ DraftKings points in three straight games while starting alongside Luka.
Bennedict Mathurin has exceeded salary-based expectations in four straight and five of his last six. He has a very high ceiling against the Kings if he gets minutes, and the Clippers’ injury report will be a critical one to watch for since they could rest veterans and give younger players like Mathurin more usage.
The Magic have been giving more minutes to Jett Howard since Black joined Wagner on the sidelines, and Howard has exceeded salary-based expectations in five straight games, scoring over 15 DraftKings points. He probably won’t go off for a huge game, but with the second-highest Plus/Minus projection at shooting guard, he’s a solid value option against the uptempo Heat.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
The Clippers could try to get Kawhi Leonard a break on Saturday, or they could lean heavily on the veteran forward in a smash spot against the Kings. Since he has been playing so well and carrying so much of the load, he has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections of all small forwards on Saturday in both sets of projections.
On Friday, he played 38 minutes in a win over the Bulls, totaling 28 points and 39.5 DraftKings points. That was actually a big drop for Kawhi, since he had 45 points and 65.2 DraftKings points against the Timberwolves on Wednesday. His non-scoring numbers were down a little bit in the win over Chicago, but he could go off against the Kings if he’s again the focus of the offense.
Leonard has 28+ points in six straight games, averaging 49.5 DraftKings points per game. He could get the night off or play a smaller role against the Kings, but if he’s a full go, he should be set up to smash Sacramento on Saturday.
Value
Magic forward Tristan da Silva has the highest Plus/Minus projection on the entire slate in both sets of projections, as he continues to step into the starting lineup in place of Anthony Black.
Since Black’s injury, da Silva has started three games, producing only 22 DraftKings points in his first start but then going off for 23 points and 36 DraftKings points against the Cavs and a huge 26 points and 50.2 DraftKings points against the Wizards in Orlando’s back-to-back home wins earlier this week.
He’ll be on the road for this matchup against the Heat, but since his salary is still under $5,000 despite his spike in production, da Silva is an outstanding value in this pace-up spot. He has 30+ DraftKings points in four of his last five games and has averaged 31.3 DraftKings points per game over his last nine contests.
Fast Break
Bane and Mathurin (discussed above) can be solid options at small forward if you want a big name but don’t think Kawhi will get the work. DeMar DeRozan is another strong option over $6,000 since he’s getting all the work he can handle right now for the shorthanded Kings.
Norman Powell is questionable for this game after missing seven games with a groin strain. If Powell and Herro play, there won’t be a ton of usage for the rest of the Heat shooting guards and forwards, but if they sit, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson will have tons of potential upside. Larsson had a huge game against the Bucks on Thursday, pouring in 28 points, six rebounds, six assists, and 47 DraftKings points.
If you are looking to go cheap at small forward, Kobe Sanders stands out as a good option after he had 11 points and 26 DraftKings points on Friday. His role could be smaller if Garland is back and no one rests, but he has the potential to be a good bargain at just over the minimum against the Kings.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
In the ShotQuality projections, Paolo Banchero has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at power forward, and he also has a slightly better Plus/Minus projection than all the other power forward options over $5,000.
Banchero had a double-double and 38 DraftKings points against the Wizards, and he has also stepped up without Black and Wagner. He had 25+ points in three straight games before his lower-scoring game on Thursday.
Typically, he gets heavy usage, and in this pace-up spot against Miami, he could post a huge game. He had 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 57.5 DraftKings points the last time he took on the Heat, which was at the end of January.
Value
While da Silva has the highest Plus/Minus projection at power forward, Derrick Jones Jr. is right behind him and also comes with a salary just under $5,000.
Jones has exceeded salary-based expectations in five straight games with at least 23.75 DraftKings points in each contest. His best game during that stretch was a game against the Knicks, scoring 39.25 DraftKings points on 16 points and seven boards.
On Friday in the first game of the back-to-back, Jones had 32.5 DraftKings points in 34 minutes against the Bulls. With John Collins out, Jones has filled in very nicely, and if Collins misses another game on Saturday, Jones will again be a very solid value play with an even higher ceiling if other Clippers rest.
Fast Break
LeBron James has a slightly better Plus/Minus projection than Banchero and the other forwards over $6,000 on this slate in the FantasyLabs projections. LeBron has been posting very steady numbers with between 38 and 43 DraftKings points in four straight games. Against Denver last week, he had 41.75 DraftKings points in 34 minutes. If you can’t afford or don’t trust Banchero, James is the other pay-up option that makes sense at power forward.
On the other side of that marquee matchup, Aaron Gordon is back for the Nuggets, and he went off for 44 DraftKings points in just his second game after returning. He lit up the Thunder for 23 points to go with 10 boards, but he followed that up on Wednesday with a disappointing scoreless performance in a lopsided win over the Rockets.
If you are looking for a bargain play under $4,000, Simone Fontecchio of the Heat is a solid option if Powell is out, and Noah Penda of the Magic has the highest Plus/Minus projection of power forwards under $4,000 in both sets of projections.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
In the FantasyLabs projections, Nikola Jokic has the highest overall median, ceiling, and floor projection of all players on the slate. The Joker has been turning in laughably excellent numbers lately and regularly blowing his salary-based expectations away, even though his salary is over $12,000.
Jokic had a 31-point triple-double and 88 DraftKings points against the Spurs on Thursday. It was his third straight triple-double, and he has posted over 64 DraftKings points in six of his last eight games.
He faced the Lakers in that stretch and finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists, and 66.5 DraftKings points while leading the Nuggets to a win last Thursday. Even though he’s extremely expensive, he’s a key option to consider building around since he brings so much upside. It’s almost impossible to include both Jokic and Luka, and since the options at guard are much deeper, my preferred build centers on Jokic in the marquee matchup.
Value
The Clippers have been using Brook Lopez and Isaiah Jackson at center since trading Ivica Zubac at the deadline. In the FantasyLabs projections, Jackson has the highest Plus/Minus projection at center on Saturday’s slate, and Lopez is right behind him.
BroLo had 11 points and seven boards for 33.25 DraftKings points on Friday against the Bulls, while Jackson had 23.75 DraftKings points on eight points and seven boards in just 17 minutes off the bench.
If Lopez sits out or has a smaller role and Jackson gets closer to 20-25 minutes, he could be one of the best bargain plays on the slate at only $3,300. If you’re more comfortable with Jackson than the value guard plays, you can build around Luka and Jackson instead of Jokic.
Fast Break
After his monster 83-point game on Tuesday, Bam Adebayo settled down with just 21 points and 35 DraftKings points on Thursday against the Bucks. Adebayo had 49+ DraftKings points in three straight games before that contest, and he could end up carrying the load again if both Herro and Powell are out. He’s a solid alternative to Jokic if you can’t get the salary together to build around The Joker. He has the second-highest projections at center on Saturday.
Taking on Jokic, Deandre Ayton is a solid mid-range option at center. He’s coming off two strong games with double-doubles at home against the Timberwolves and Bulls. He had 35.5 DraftKings points on Tuesday and 38.5 DraftKings points on Thursday. Since his salary is under $6,000, he brings good value if he’s around that same level of production on Saturday.
Wendell Carter Jr. has the best Plus/Minus projection at center in the ShotQuality projections and the highest of all the non-Clippers in the FantasyLabs projections. He’s coming off a strong game of 46.75 DraftKings points against the struggling Wizards and will look to post a third straight double-double in this matchup with Bam and the Heat. He had only 18.25 DraftKings points in his last matchup with Miami, but he will look for a better total on Saturday in the rematch.
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