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 main slate, $50,000 budget
PG Darius Garland, Cavaliers @ Timberwolves ($7,600). Garland might be asked to shoulder the scoring for the Cavaliers tonight, with Donovan Mitchell (illness) listed as questionable. If Mitchell does not play, we are getting Garland at a tremendous value, especially when you have Luka Doncic, James Harden, LaMelo Ball, Trae Young, Ja Morant, and Damian Lillard in action. The young point guard has played well over the past eight games, averaging 38.7 DraftKings points per game. In Cleveland’s past four games, Garland has scored 30-plus DraftKings points and is averaging 21 points per game on 43.3 percent shooting from the field. He will be facing a T’Wolves squad that played on Friday night and is giving up the 10th-most DraftKings points per game to PGs this season. We don’t envision Garland having much trouble against D’Angelo Russell, who has a DRtg of 116 this season.
SG OG Anunoby, Raptors vs. Hawks ($6,600). To round out our starting backcourt, we will go with the two-way wing in Anunoby. The veteran wing has played exceptionally well this season for the Raptors, averaging 18.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 34.7 DraftKings points per game. The 27-year-old has scored 30-plus DraftKings points in eight-straight games and could make it nine-straight against the Hawks, who are on the second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta is allowing the eighth-most DraftKings points to SGs this season. If you have Anunoby in your lineup, you are looking for him to score in double-figures and stuff the stat sheet.
SF Bennedict Mathurin, Pacers vs. Grizzlies ($4,900). The rookie guard has been the second-best player for the Pacers this season, even though he’s coming off the bench. Mathurin is averaging 17.4 points per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 33 percent from beyond the arc. He’s also producing 25.8 DraftKings points per game, which isn’t too shabby for a rookie. Mathurin will have a tough matchup against the Grizzlies tonight, who have solid perimeter defenders (Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane). However, the Grizz allows the third-most DraftKings points per game to SFs. At a $4900 salary, we are getting a player who can score 20-25 points in a blink of an eye.
PF Evan Mobley, Cavaliers @ Timberwolves ($6,400). We will get Mobley in our lineup, who is having a tremendous second season in the Association. The young forward is almost averaging a double-double with 14.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Mobley is recording 33.1 DraftKings points per game and has scored 30 or more DK points in four consecutive contests. We think the 21-year-old can put together another 30-point effort against the T’Wolves, who allow the sixth-most DK points to PFs. The last time Mobley played against Minnesota, he only had four points and three rebounds in 32 minutes of action.
C Joel Embiid, Sixers @ Jazz ($11,000). Embiid will anchor our DFS lineup as he looks to have another 30-point/10-rebound performance tonight against the Jazz. Embiid had 30 points and 10 rebounds for 47.5 DraftKings points against the Thunder on Thursday night. The star center is averaging 57.5 DraftKings points per game over his past five contests. When the Sixers played the Jazz earlier this season, Embiid had one of the best games ever in his career, with 59 points and eight rebounds. The veteran center might not score 50 tonight but should be successful against the Jazz, who allow the second-most DraftKings points per game to centers.
G T.J. McConnell, Pacers vs. Grizzlies ($4,000). If you are looking for a solid value play at the guard spot, McConnell is a great option tonight against Memphis. As we’ve mentioned, Indiana will not have Haliburton, which means more minutes and opportunities for the veteran point guard. In his past two games against the Hawks and the Knicks, McConnell averaged 36.9 DK points per game and missed out on back-to-back triple-doubles. Therefore, we are just looking for the vet to do a little bit of everything on the floor for a young Pacers team.
F Al Horford, Celtics @ Hornets ($4,800). Horford has a favorable matchup tonight against the Hornets, who have allowed the most DraftKings points per game to centers and the fourth-most DraftKings points per game to PFs this season. The veteran big man did not play in the Celtics’ last game against the Nets but should be ready tonight. Since the calendar flipped to January, Horford has scored 20-plus DraftKings points four times. It would not be surprising to see Horford come close to a double-double, giving us excellent value under $5K.
UTIL Malik Beasley, Jazz vs. Sixers ($4,600). Our final pick for tonight’s main slate will be Beasley, who has scored 20-plus DraftKings points in three-straight games. In Friday night’s win against Orlando, he posted 21 DraftKings points, despite having nine points, two rebounds, and two assists. This season, the Sixers’ defense has allowed the 10th-most DraftKings points per game to SGs. If you have Beasley in your DFS lineup, you’re looking for him to knock down a few three-pointers against a Philly defense that allows opponents to shoot 34.4 percent from three-point range.
