There is a strong nine-game NBA slate on DraftKings Saturday night which excludes the one-hour early matchup between the Clippers and Nets. The slate includes four games with a Vegas total over 220 points and five games with a favorite of four points or fewer. Three games meet both of those criteria, Lakers/Magic, Nuggets/Pelicans, and Sixers/Hornets. So, it should be no surprise that number players from those teams show up on my recommendations for Saturday’s slate.
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
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $9,200 @ NO
There are a bunch of high-priced studs on the Saturday night slate, but I find myself dipping lower for my one stud of the night. Jokic is priced at a very reasonable $9,200 and squares off against the Pelicans in the game with the highest Vegas total and the closest Vegas line. The Pelicans are playing in the second game of a back-to-back, so Jokic and the Nuggets should be the fresher team. Jokic has exceeded 40 DraftKings points in four straight games and he has 70 DK point upside as he showed just four games ago with 72.75 DK points against the Nets.
There is a strong nine-game NBA slate on DraftKings Saturday night which excludes the one-hour early matchup between the Clippers and Nets. The slate includes four games with a Vegas total over 220 points and five games with a favorite of four points or fewer. Three games meet both of those criteria, Lakers/Magic, Nuggets/Pelicans, and Sixers/Hornets. So, it should be no surprise that number players from those teams show up on my recommendations for Saturday’s slate.
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.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
One Stud
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $9,200 @ NO
There are a bunch of high-priced studs on the Saturday night slate, but I find myself dipping lower for my one stud of the night. Jokic is priced at a very reasonable $9,200 and squares off against the Pelicans in the game with the highest Vegas total and the closest Vegas line. The Pelicans are playing in the second game of a back-to-back, so Jokic and the Nuggets should be the fresher team. Jokic has exceeded 40 DraftKings points in four straight games and he has 70 DK point upside as he showed just four games ago with 72.75 DK points against the Nets.
Core Plays
Kyrie Irving (PG – BOS): $7,700 vs. UTH
It’s hard to not recommend Kyrie after he showed up on my list on Friday and did not disappoint with 43 points and 11 assists on his way to 71.5 DK points. This has not been just a one-game thing for Irving who has exceeded 39 DK points in seven of his last eight games and somehow still sees his salary sit at the same $7,700 that it did on Friday. He gets a positive matchup on Saturday against the Jazz who have allowed a significant increase in scoring (+24.6%) to opposing PGs this season. Playing in the second game of a back-to-back is my only cause for concern but I’m still rolling with Irving.
Aaron Gordon (SF/PF – ORL): $7,700 vs. LAL
Both Gordon and teammate Nikola Vucevic are viable options for DFS lineups on Saturday in a home game against the Lakers. I prefer Gordon due to his lower salary and my desire to get Jokic into my lineup at center. Gordon has shown a remarkably solid floor recently with at least 36 DK points in six straight games. Meanwhile, he has the upside potential for a monster night at any time. The Magic get a pace up spot on Saturday against the Lakers who have allowed a slight bump in rebounds and steals to opposing PFs this season.
Jimmy Butler (SG/SF – PHI): $7,500 @ CHA
Butler made a triumphed debut in Philadelphia on Friday night with 28 points and seven rebounds on his way to 45.75 DK points. He’ll look to carry that success on the road in Charlotte on Saturday night. With Joel Embiid dealing with a swollen hand, Butler could become more of a focus on the offensive end even if Embiid plays, as expected. Butler’s salary remains reasonable for a player that should get 35-plus minutes with his ability to stuff the stat sheet. Look for a couple extra steals and blocks for Butler on Saturday to boost his fantasy production as the Hornets have allowed significant increases in both categories to opposing SFs this season.
TJ Warren (SF/PF – PHO): $6,000 vs. OKC
Warren has finally gotten the starting nod and playing time that he deserves over the last four games and he has not disappointed averaging 25.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while playing over 37 minutes in each game. Warren’s salary is still lagging behind his recent increase in playing time and production heading into a favorable matchup against the Thunder. The Thunder have allowed increased production in points (+4.0%), rebounds (+5.0%) and assists (+8.7%) to opposing SFs this season.
Value Plays
Lonzo Ball (PG – LAL): $5,400 @ ORL
With Rajon Rondo out for a few weeks, Ball should see a playing time bump at the PG position. He draws a favorable matchup on Saturday against the Magic who have given up a small increase in points and rebounds to opposing PGs this season. Meanwhile, the game is expected to be close and fairly high scoring according to Vegas which should solidify Ball’s playing time and opportunity to reach or exceed five times his mid-range salary.
Wendell Carter Jr. (C – CHI): $5,200 vs. TOR
Wendell Carter has been a solid source of fantasy production in his rookie season for the Bulls depleted frontcourt. He has scored at least 25 DK points in nine of his last 10 games which is about five times his current salary and he has shown the upside to reach 35-plus DK points on numerous occasions. He should get another 25-plus minutes on Saturday against the Raptors who have allowed increased production in rebounds (+9.2%) and assists (+6.9%) to opposing centers this season.
Juan Hernangomez (SF/PF – DEN): $4,100
Hernangomez has started and played at least 30 minutes in three straight games. He has averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in those three games and his coming off a season-high 25 points in his last outing. The Nuggets play in a pace up spot on Saturday against the Pelicans who have allowed increased scoring to opposing forwards this season.
Mike Muscala (PF/C – PHI): $3,400 @ CHA
Following the trade of Dario Saric and Muscala’s return from injury, Muscala has played significant minutes for the Sixers. He has topped 26 minutes in each of the last three games and while he doesn’t get much offense run his way just being on the court has allowed him to average close to 20 DK points over those three games. He gets a favorable matchup on Saturday against the Hornets who have allowed an increase in rebounds of 18.0% to opposing big men and he could get a little extra run if the Sixers limit Embiid due to his hand injury on the second game of a back-to-back. All for the low, low price of just $3,400 with multiple position eligibility.
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.
