We have an action-packed eight-game daily fantasy basketball main slate on Saturday night, starting with the Rockets taking on the Pistons at 7 p.m. ET and ending with the Raptors playing in their second game of a back-to-back against the Trail Blazers at 10 p.m. ET. Our FanDuel lineup has a good mix of veteran guards, a couple of rookies, and multiple sub-$6K sleepers in the frontcourt who have high DFS ceilings.
Before we break down all of our selections, here are the most notable scoring rules for FanDuel contests: Made three-point shot (+1 point), rebound (+1.2 points), assists (+1.5 points), steals and blocks (+3 points), field goal made (+2 points) and free throw made (+1 point).
MORE NBA DFS: Saturday DraftKings lineup
Saturday night's FanDuel Picks: NBA DFS lineup for GPP tournaments
Saturday main late swap slate, $60,000 budget
PG D'Angelo Russell, Timberwolves vs. Kings ($7,200). Russell played well in Friday's 11-point win against the Grizzlies. The veteran point guard fell short of a triple-double with 19 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists (42.1 FanDuel points) in 37 minutes. However, Russell has now scored 40-plus FD points in three out of his past five games and averaged 40.34 FanDuel points per game over that period. DFS players will look for Russell to carry this production into tonight's game against De'Aaron Fox and the Kings. This season, the Kings allow the seventh-most FD points to PGs (48.8) and the sixth-most points to the position. If Anthony Edwards (wrist), who is listed as questionable, doesn't play tonight, it will give more scoring opportunities to Russell.
PG Mike Conley, Jazz vs. Mavericks ($5,700). We will save some salary at our second point guard spot with Conley. The veteran point guard is not a scorer at this stage of his career but finds a way to be productive for the surprising Jazz this season. In Utah's last game against the Trail Blazers, Conley posted eight points, five rebounds, and 10 assists. It wasn't a spectacular stat line for the elder statesman, but it was good enough for 32 FanDuel points. The veteran floor general has produced 30 or more FanDuel points in five out of his past six games, which is a tremendous value. DFS players will hope for another 30-point effort against the Mavs tonight, who only allow the fourth-fewest FD points (44.67) to PGs this season.
SG Mikal Bridges, Suns @ Spurs ($7,200). Bridges has scored in double figures in seven-straight games and will look to make it eight against the lowly Spurs tonight. In the Suns' last game against the Mavs, he had 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists for 26.8 FanDuel points. The former Villanova standout is averaging 36.08 FanDuel points per game over his past five games and should play well against San Antonio. The Spurs allow the third-most FD points per game to SGs (44.54) this season and the sixth-most three-pointers made (3.37) to the position. This is an excellent spot for Bridges, who is shooting 40 percent from behind the arc and will let it fly against the struggling Spurs.
SG Malcolm Brogdon, Celtics vs. Lakers ($5,800). The veteran combo guard struggled in the Celtics' last game against the Knicks earlier this week as he produced 10 points (4/14 FG, 2/7 3pt), six assists, and five rebounds (24 FanDuel points). However, Brogdon should bounce back tonight against the Lakers, who allow the 14th-most FD points per game to SGs this season (41.32). The last time the Celtics played the Lakers, Brogdon had five points, six assists, and two rebounds in 21 minutes. With the Celtics not having Marcus Smart (ankle), the 30-year-old combo guard should play more minutes and hopefully have a better shooting performance.
SF Paolo Banchero, Magic vs. Bulls ($7,600). The outstanding rookie forward has been playing well this season for Orlando and could be in the All-Star Game next month. Banchero is averaging 20.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 35.49 FanDuel points per game. The former Duke standout scored 24.5 FanDuel points (19 points/5 rebounds) in Friday night's five-point defeat to the Heat. Banchero will be facing the Bulls tonight, who allow the ninth-most FanDuel points per game to SFs (42.02) this season. We will be looking for Banchero to at least reach the 30-point threshold on the second night of a back-to-back.
SF Eric Gordon, Rockets @ Pistons ($5,100). Gordon will find his way into our lineup as the Rockets will be without Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. due to injury. The veteran wing did not play in Houston's last game against the Cavs, as it was the second game of a back-to-back for them. However, Gordon should see a lot of minutes and hopefully be productive against the Pistons' defense, which allows the 12th-fewest FD points per game to SFs (40.23) this season. Even though it's not a great matchup, Gordon is averaging 14.7 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game this month. At a $5100 salary, DFS players will take anything above 20 FanDuel points.
PF Domantas Sabonis, Kings @ Timberwolves ($9,800). Sabonis struggled in the Kings' last game against the Raptors on Wednesday night as he produced nine points, eight rebounds, and four assists (24.6 FanDuel points). However, we like the star power forward to break out against the Timberwolves, who just played on Friday night and allow the fourth-most FanDuel points per game to PFs (46.81). The 26-year-old Sabonis is averaging 39.3 FanDuel points per game in his past five games and has recorded a triple-double twice. If Sabonis can get a triple-double against Minnesota tonight, he will be one of the highest-scoring PFs on the slate.
PF Patrick Williams, Bulls @ Magic ($5,100). Williams has been one of our favorite plays in NBA DFS this week, as he's been feasting on favorable matchups. The 21-year-old forward has another excellent matchup tonight against the Magic, who allow the 12th-most FD points per game to PFs this season (45.13). Williams will likely be matched up tonight against Banchero, who has been spectacular this year as a rookie but has a defensive rating (DRtg) of 115. DFS players will look for the former Florida State standout to score in double figures tonight and be impactful on the glass.
C Jalen Duren, Pistons vs. Rockets ($6,500). Duren could not get his third-straight double-double against the Nets on Thursday night but still had 17 points and seven rebounds (34.4 FanDuel points). The rookie center is averaging 40.6 FanDuel points per game in his past three matchups and should play well against the Rockets, who allow the 12th-most FanDuel points per game to centers (53.17) this season. Even though this is a good matchup for Duren on paper, the rookie center will have his hands going up against Alperen Sengun, who is playing great this season.
