We have a five-game NBA DFS main slate on Saturday, including a primetime matchup between the Sixers and Bucks on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET. It starts with Trae Young and the Hawks playing Jimmy Butler and the Heat at 8 p.m. ET and wraps up with the Timberwolves playing the Kings at 10 p.m. ET. Our DraftKings lineup has a good mix of veterans and multiple value sleepers under $6K who are the type of low-risk, high-reward options that are key in daily fantasy basketball tournaments. (UPDATE)
Before we break down all of our picks, here are the most notable scoring rules for DraftKings 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).
Saturday night's NBA DraftKings Picks: NBA DFS lineup for GPP tournaments
Saturday night main slate, $50,000 budget
PG Darius Garland, Cavaliers vs. Pistons ($8,800). The fourth-year point guard had an excellent game on Wednesday night against the Celtics. It wasn't a great matchup on paper for Garland, but he shined with 29 points (12-21 FG, 5-9 3pt), nine assists, four steals, and three rebounds (54.8 DraftKings points). It was the first time he scored 50-plus DK points in a game since Feb. 2 against the Grizzlies (52.5). The former first-round pick is recording 44.1 DraftKings points per game in his past five games and has a chance to have another quality performance against the Pistons tonight. Detroit allows the sixth-most DraftKings points per game to PGs (47.30) this season.
SG Jalen Green, Rockets @ Spurs ($6,200). The second-year guard has put together solid back-to-back games against the Nuggets and Grizzlies after missing two games with a groin injury. Green posted 20 points on 7-of-18 from the field and 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range. He also recorded three boards and three assists, scoring 31.8 DraftKings points. DFS players hope this is a good sign of things to come for Green, who is a volume scorer on a Rockets' team struggling to find their identity. Green should score 30 DK points again tonight against the Spurs, who will be without Malaki Branham and Keldon Johnson. San Antonio is allowing the second-most DK points per game to SGs (45.53) this season and the most overall points to the position. Green is only averaging 13.5 points per game on 27.6 percent shooting from the field in two games against the Spurs this season. However, we aren't expecting a third poor shooting performance from the former NBA G League Ignite star.
SF Khris Middleton, Bucks vs. Sixers ($6,500). Middleton is still coming off the bench for the Bucks but has been productive, which is great to hear for DFS players. The veteran forward has scored in double figures in nine-straight games and averaged 31.97 DraftKings points per game. Middleton has scored 30-plus DK points in four out of his past five contests and will face the Sixers tonight. Philadelphia allows the fewest DK points per game to SFs (38.01) this season, which does not bode well for Middleton. However, his game isn't solely reliant on scoring as he contributes with rebounding and dishing out assists. At a $6,500 salary, we will take our chances on Middleton to give us at least 25-30 DK points.
PF Jeremy Sochan, Spurs vs. Rockets ($5,400). The rookie forward had a breakout game against the Pacers on Thursday night, recording 22 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists (47.8 DraftKings points). The Spurs needed it as they were down a few players and ended up coming away with the win. The rookie has scored in double digits in five out of his past six games. He's also averaging 31.2 DraftKings points per game over that span. He will now play the Rockets tonight, who are ranked middle of the pack against PFs (45.81), but 20th against PFs (OPRK). If Sochan can score 10 or more points and grab at least five-plus rebounds, he should outplay his salary.
C Domantas Sabonis, Kings vs. Timberwolves ($10,000). We will spend a good portion of our salary cap on Sabonis, who has a favorable matchup against the Timberwolves frontcourt tonight. The 26-year-old center is coming off consecutive 50 DK point performances against the Clippers and Thunder. In Friday night's game against the Clippers, Sabonis posted 23 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists for 50 points. The All-Star big man is averaging 50.4 DraftKings points per game in his past five games and 41.9 DK points per game in his last two meetings against Minnesota. It would not be shocking to see Sabonis produce 40 or more DK points tonight against Gobert and the Timberwolves, who allow 53.43 DK points per game this season.
G Devonte' Graham, Spurs vs. Rockets ($4,500). Graham has been one of our favorite sleeper options in NBA DFS lately, as he's been getting consistent and performing for the Spurs. The veteran combo guard has scored in double figures in six-straight games, which includes San Antonio's last game against the Pacers on Thursday night. Graham had 18 points (5-10 FG, 5-10 3pt), six rebounds, and four assists for 35 DraftKings points. The 28-year-old Graham will see a lot of minutes tonight against the Rockets, as San Antonio will be without Branham and Johnson.
F De'Anthony Melton, Sixers @ Bucks ($4,000). In Thursday's night loss to the Mavericks, the versatile guard stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals for 40.8 DK points. It was one of Melton's best outings in the past few weeks, leading us to tonight's game against the Bucks. Milwaukee is ranked fourth against SG/SFs (OPRK) this season. However, we aren't looking for him to score 15-20 points against the Bucks. We need Melton to stuff the stat sheet on both ends, which he can do.
UTIL Naz Reid, Timberwolves @ Lakers ($4,400). Reid will be in the UTIL spot for the second-straight night after scoring 32.5 DraftKings points (15 points, eight rebounds, and two assists) against the Lakers on Friday night. The backup big man has now scored in double figures in four consecutive games and has been one of the T'Wolves' most consistent options off the bench. When Reid went up against the Kings in late January, he averaged 14.6 DraftKings per game (two games). DFS players hope to see Reid score 15 or more DraftKings points against a Sacramento squad ranked 14th against PF/Cs (OPRK) this season.
