DraftKings NBA Lineup Advice: Saturday (3/3)

With baseball just in Spring Training and the NCAA March Madness brackets still a week away it is still a perfect time to play some DFS hoops. Saturday night features a solid seven-game slate on DraftKings that offers plenty of star-power and some decent value options but seems to be lacking upside in the mid-range salary space. It could be a great “stars and scrubs” or “studs and duds” night in the Association.

Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.

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One Stud

LeBron James (SF/PF – CLE): $11,500 vs DEN
While I have plenty of interest in some of the other high-priced studs on the slate, LeBron James takes the top spot. He gets a pace up matchup against the Nuggets as a favorite in the game with the highest Vegas total on the slate. James has scored at least 30 points in three straight outings and hasn’t scored fewer than 54 DraftKings points in his last nine games. It also feels like SF is a tough position to fill whenever I started to construct a lineup.

Core Plays

Chris Paul (PG – HOU): $7,900 vs BOS
Sure, Chris Paul has a tough matchup against Kyrie Irving and the Celtics defense in a pace down matchup for the Rockets, however, when are you ever going to get another opportunity to roster Paul for less than $8,000. He should get significant minutes as the Rockets may be forced into a close, competitive game to challenge their 14-game winning streak. Look for Paul to rise to the challenge.

Nikola Vucevic (C – ORL): $7,100 / Aaron Gordon (SF/PF – ORL): $7,200 vs MEM
I’m going to lump together the two key pieces for the Magic. Both came back from injury just after the All-Star break. Both have seen their minutes and production rise over their five games back. Both had huge games in the Magic overtime win against the Pistons on Friday. Both are priced about the same. Both have some risk playing in their first back-to-back since returning from injury. Both face a Grizzlies team that is decimated by injury. Both are viable DFS options depending on what position you need to fill out your lineup.

Dejounte Murray (PG – SA): $6,300 vs LAL
Dejounte Murray has found his stride serving as the starting PG for the Spurs. With primary scorer LaMarcus Aldridge out the last game and a half, Murray has surged posting at least 40 DK points in each game averaging 15.5 points, 9.0 rebound, 5.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 2.5 steals per game. Aldridge is expected to miss another game on Saturday which should cement Murray’s production and increase in rebounds against a Lakers’ team that has allowed the fourth most DK points to opposing PGs this season.

Gary Harris (SG – DEN): $6,200 @ CLE
New look roster or not the Cavaliers still cannot defend opposing SGs. The Cavaliers have allowed the third most DK points to opposing SGs this season and the most to the position over the last 30 days. Harris continues to play about 35 minutes a night and has found his shooting stroke over the last two games hitting 58.1% of his shots including 45.5% from three-point range while putting up 36 DK points per game.

Value Plays

Pau Gasol (PF/C – SA): $5,500 vs LAL
Be sure to watch the injury reports on Pau Gasol leading up to tipoff as he missed the last game and is currently questionable for Saturday night. If he does play and is without a minute restriction then look to roster him against one of his former teams the Lakers. With Aldridge likely out, Gasol gets a small usage bump with more offense running through him and more rebounding opportunities.

Dwyane Wade (PG/SG – MIA): $5,500 vs DET
With a return to Miami and a depleted backcourt due to injuries, Dwyane Wade appears to have found the fountain of youth in South Beach. Over his last two games, Wade has averaged 26.0 points per game while putting up 33+ DK points in each game. Wade will look to keep reliving the past on Saturday against the Pistons who have allowed the fifth most DK points to opposing SGs this season.

Paul Millsap (PF/C – DEN): $5,200 @ CLE
Paul Millsap has hit the ground running following a long layoff due to injury. In his first two games back, he has averaged 25 minutes with 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. We’ll need to watch the news reports as the Nuggets are playing the second game of a back-to-back to Millsap could be rested. If he doesn’t get the day off then look to fire him up at a cheap salary in a high-scoring matchup.

Jarell Martin (PF/C – MEM): $4,700 @ ORL
The Memphis Grizzlies are a complete mess right now with Tyreke Evans and Marc Gasol ruled out for Saturday and other frontcourt options like JaMychal Green and Deyonta Davis questionable to play. About the only healthy option down low for the Grizzlies on Saturday is Martin who has scored 16 points in back-to-back games and should see 35+ minutes. The whole Grizzlies team, at least those that manage to suit up could be viable, cheap DFS options for a shorthanded squad.

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Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.