Saturday’s four-game NBA DFS slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET and features several extremely tight matchups. The Los Angeles Lakers-Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets-Minnesota Timberwolves games both feature narrow -1.5 spreads. The Oklahoma City Thunder-Charlotte Hornets contest stands out as the lone potential blowout with a 14.5 line.
Complicating matters, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Hornets and Lakers are all on the second half of back-to-backs, increasing the likelihood of late rest decisions. Monitoring player news and pregame updates will be essential with so many teams in that situation. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the top plays and value targets to consider for Saturday’s slate.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Core Plays
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN)
- DraftKings: $12,800
- FanDuel: $12,700
Nikola Jokic is listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a wrist sprain, but if he suits up, he stands out as the top play on the slate. Minnesota is playing on zero days of rest, and Jokic has absolutely dominated this matchup recently, recording a triple-double in each of their last two meetings, averaging 43 points, 14.5 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals. He has also topped 80 FanDuel points in three of his last six outings, showcasing the elite ceiling that makes him nearly impossible to fade when active.
If Jokic sits, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon become excellent cash game targets as both would see sizable bumps in usage and opportunity. Murray would take on added playmaking and scoring responsibilities, while Gordon’s role as a rebounder and secondary creator would expand significantly.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC)
- DraftKings: $10,700
- FanDuel: $11,300
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws an excellent matchup against the Charlotte Hornets, who rank 25th in defensive efficiency this season. He’s also in terrific form, recording at least 50 FanDuel points in five of his last six contests. His consistency and ability to contribute across multiple categories make him one of the safest high-end options on the slate.
The only drawback is the blowout risk, as Oklahoma City could put this game out of reach early, potentially limiting his fourth-quarter minutes. However, the Thunder have been involved in several lopsided wins this season, and Gilgeous-Alexander has routinely delivered strong fantasy production even in under 30 minutes. With uncertainty surrounding other high-priced stars who may rest on the second leg of a back-to-back, he remains one of the most reliable spend-up options available.
NBA DFS Cash Game Targets
Scottie Barnes (SF, PF – TOR)
- DraftKings: $8,700
- FanDuel: $8,700
Scottie Barnes enters a strong matchup against the Indiana Pacers, who rank 30th in defensive efficiency over their last four games. That immediately puts him on the DFS radar, especially with how well-rounded his production has been. Barnes is averaging 20.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.8 blocks — contributing meaningfully in every category.
Barnes has also recorded a double-double in three of his last four contests, showcasing both consistency and upside. With his versatile skill set and the Pacers’ recent defensive struggles, Barnes profiles as a high-floor, high-ceiling option on tonight’s slate.
Jakob Poeltl (C – TOR)
- DraftKings: $5,600
- FanDuel: $5,600
Jakob Poeltl draws one of the most favorable matchups on the slate, facing a defense that has struggled all season in the Indiana Pacers. The timing is ideal, as he’s affordably priced on both FanDuel and DraftKings and enters the night in strong form.
Over his last two games, Poeltl is averaging 16 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and one block — solid production across the board. Given the matchup and his recent efficiency, Poeltl profiles as a strong mid-range option with a stable floor and clear path to outperform salary expectations.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
Andrew Nembhard (PG, SG – IND)
- DraftKings: $6,800
- FanDuel: $6,900
Since returning from his shoulder injury, Andrew Nembhard has been fantastic, leading all Indiana Pacers starters with a 27.5% usage rate. He’s also pacing the team with 20.5 points per game while adding 1.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists, showcasing a strong command of the offense.
Nembhard will face a Toronto Raptors defense that has been middle of the pack this season, so the matchup isn’t necessarily a smash spot — but his price point and role make him very appealing. Given the workload he’s carrying and the likelihood that Indiana leans on him to keep this game competitive, Nembhard brings legitimate upside on tonight’s slate.
Kon Knueppel (SG, SF – CHA)
- DraftKings: $6,600
- FanDuel: $6,100
Kon Knueppel faces a tough matchup tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who rank first in defensive efficiency. Despite the challenge, he offers tremendous upside, particularly with LaMelo Ball potentially sitting after playing 27 minutes last night following a five-game absence.
Knueppel has been excellent over his last six games, averaging 23.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and one steal per contest. With the possibility of expanded minutes and usage, he could see a major boost in fantasy production if Ball is held out, making him a strong consideration on this slate.
NBA DFS Value Plays
Jonas Valanciunas (C – DEN)
- DraftKings: $3,500
- FanDuel: $4,100
If Nikola Jokic is ultimately ruled out, Jonas Valanciunas becomes an outstanding value play, as he’s expected to see a significant bump in minutes. While Valanciunas has been limited this season, he’s consistently produced whenever given the opportunity. Over his last four games, he’s averaging just 13.9 minutes but still contributing 10 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.8 blocks per contest.
Those numbers highlight how effective Valanciunas can be in a small role, and any increase in playing time would put him in a position to smash his salary expectations. If he pushes into the low-20s in minutes, he carries strong point-per-minute upside and becomes one of the slate’s top value targets.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG, SF – DEN)
- DraftKings: $3,900
- FanDuel: $3,900
Christian Braun (ankle) will miss at least the next two weeks, putting Tim Hardaway Jr. in a position to take on an expanded role. Hardaway started the second half of Wednesday’s contest against the Los Angeles Clippers after Braun went down and finished with 12 points, one rebound, three assists and one steal.
With Braun sidelined, Hardaway has a clear path to around 30 minutes this evening, and that type of workload gives him solid upside. He’s a streaky scorer who can heat up quickly, so if his shot starts to fall early, he’s capable of delivering strong fantasy returns at his current price.
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