With a spot in the first round of the playoffs on the line, the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers (-8.5) play host to the eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the nightcap of Tuesday's NBA Play-In Tournament doubleheader. After going 18-9 since the All-Star Break, the Lakers sit in a prime position to advance to the playoffs against a depleted Timberwolves bunch missing several key contributors.
For NBA DFS players searching for Showdown lineup advice, we've selected our favorite picks for tonight's Western Conference Play-in with the goal of helping you boost your bankroll. Even though we're expecting the Lakers to notch a multi-possession win, our Showdown lineup features a high-usage Wolf in the Captain slot. We've also selected a couple of cheap guards with upside alongside two superstar centers.
Before we break down all of our picks, here are the most notable scoring rules for DraftKings Showdown contests: Made three-point shot (+0.5 points), rebound (+1.25 points), assists (+1.5 points), steals and blocks (+2 points), double-double (+1.5 points -- max one per player) and triple-double (+3 points -- max one player). Additionally, the Captain pick costs 1.5 times a player's original price, but he also gets his point total multiplied by 1.5.
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NBA DraftKings Showdown Picks: Lakers vs. Timberwolves
$50,000 budget, need at least one player from each team.
Captain (1.5x points, 1.5x salary): SG/SF Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves ($13,500)
At $13,500, Edwards profiles as a solid value play at the Captain spot in a game where he could attempt close to 30 shots. Edwards' most recent matchup against L.A. was one he'll look to make amends for, scoring just 11 points on four-of-16 shooting from the field. Chances are he won't shoot an ice-cold 25 percent from the field again tonight, giving him a chance to post 45-plus DK points before taking his 1.5x multiplier into account. He'll also have a chance to eclipse his season average in rebounds (5.8) given the Timberwolves are down three key frontcourt pieces. They'll rely on Edwards to play extra minutes and exert full effort on both sides of the floor.
MORE LAKERS-TIMBERWOLVES: Betting preview
UTIL: C Anthony Davis, Lakers ($10,800)
While Davis will garner a high roster percentage tonight, he's a must-roster given his dominance against the Timberwolves in two games this season. AD's in line to exploit an inexperienced Timberwolves' frontcourt that's likely going to need reserve center Nathan Knight to play ample minutes. In the two games in which he suited up against the Wolves, Davis averaged 38 points on 56.3 percent shooting from the floor. He's also averaged 11 rebounds while connecting on 20-of-24 free throw attempts. Minnesota's not going to have an answer for AD, so expect the Lakers' offense to feature the big man early and often.
UTIL: PF/C Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves ($8,400)
Alongside Edwards, Towns is going to need to shoulder a heavy scoring load if the Timberwolves have any shot of keeping things close on Tuesday night. Towns will likely attempt close to 20 shots tonight, with close to half potentially coming from three-point territory. With the Timberwolves super thin at the center position with Naz Reid (wrist) and Rudy Gobert (suspension) listed as "OUT," Towns will likely play north of 40 minutes, assuming he stays out of foul trouble and the Timberwolves don't get blown out. That should result in a solid fantasy night from one of the Wolves' go-to scoring options, making him a worthwhile addition to Showdown lineups.
UTIL: PG/SG Austin Reaves, Lakers ($7,000)
Reaves makes for an intriguing value play at $7,000 given the Oklahoma product's averaging 28.8 minutes per game this season and north of 30 minutes per game over his past 15 outings. He's been a reliable floor spacer for L.A., knocking down almost 40 percent of his three-pointers this season. Don't be surprised if he makes three-plus triples tonight. Reaves has attempted 5.25 threes per game over his past four contests and could shoot closer to six in a game that could feature a high number of possessions between two offenses ranking in the top seven of the NBA in pace.
UTIL: PG Mike Conley, Timberwolves ($6,800)
Conley's another cheap guard with upside due to his ability to knock down the three-ball at a respectable clip (38.5 percent). In a game in which the Timberwolves will likely be playing from behind, Conley has a chance to hoist 10-plus shot attempts as the team's third scoring option alongside Edwards and Towns. Even if he doesn't shoot at an efficient clip from the field tonight, Conley's prowess as a passer can lead the seasoned vet to record around eight assists in what should be a fast-paced game.
UTIL: PF Rui Hachimura, Lakers ($3,400)
Hachimura has a chance to lead the Lakers' second unit in scoring, as he's always looking to get shots up when on the floor. He's seen his usage rate spike over the past month, resulting in the fourth-year wing averaging 12.8 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 53.8 percent. At just $3,400, he has an outside shot to post 20-plus DK points, which would put us in a prime position to win some DFS cash in GPP tournaments.
