Is this the NBA Finals? Two of the best teams in the NBA will battle in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. This could be the best series of the 2023-2024 NBA Playoffs. The Denver Nuggets host the Minnesota Timberwolves for Game 1 on Saturday night. Let’s highlight some players to consider for your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $400K Shootaround [$100K to 1st] (MIN vs DEN)
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Nikola Jokic ($20,700 CP) — What needs to be said? There can be a discussion about salary and DFS Showdown lineup construction. DFS theory and simulations can be debated. That’s great, but the simple fact is that Jokic is a Hall of Famer in his prime. He literally does everything on the court. When the matchups get tougher, he goes harder. Jamal Murray struggled to find his shot for most of the series with the Lakers. The matchup with the Timberwolves will be much tougher and Murray is dealing with a calf strain. The Joker has to take over.
Anthony Edwards ($17,100 CP) — Is this Jordan stuff real? Are the comparisons between Edwards and young Jordan worthy or just the same old “next Jordan” tag that gets thrown around too often. Last season, Edwards willed his team to the playoffs but the Timberwolves’ thin roster did not have the legs to go anywhere. This season he has support — just like Jordan needed. Anthony “Jordan 80s” Edwards scored 56.25, 40.75, 56.75 and 68.75 DKFP in Minnesota’s first-round sweep of Phoenix.
Michael Porter Jr. ($8,200) — The spotlight is on Jokic and Murray. Porter is the star in the shadows. The off-center stage, supporting actor is the real difference maker. Denver’s domination of Hollywood’s team in Round 1 was led by Porter. He scored over 36 DKFP in each game. The Timberwolves have elite defenders, but they will likely match up against Jamal Murray. That puts Porter in a position to be an offensive impetus.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($4,600) — Bench minutes are rare in the playoffs. Bench fantasy points are rarer. Alexander-Walker is a steal on this slate. He averaged over 30 minutes per game in the Timberwolves’ sweep of the Suns. He scored 35.5, 22, 27.5 and 18.75 DKFP in the four games. At this price, he’ll be one of the most popular NBA DFS picks for Saturday’s DraftKings Showdown Slate.
Peyton Watson ($3,000) — This is a punt. Selecting Jokic or Edwards as the Captain’s Pick requires extreme savings. Second-unit players often have diminished roles in the playoffs. That was the case for the Nuggets’ young second-team stars in the first round. The Nuggets ran a tight rotation against the Lakers. They’ll will likely need to run a deeper rotation in this series. Watson is developing as a great defender and provides height against the Timberwolves’ strong front court. The Nuggets may also choose to increase the minutes of Christian Braun ($3,400) if they believe they need additional offense against the best defense in the NBA.
Jamal Murray ($10,600) — Tough choices have to be made, but at the top it’s clear cut. Jokic and Edwards are the spend-up options. There’s no room for Murray. He is an intriguing contrarian play, but that’s a little too cute. Missing on Jokic or Edwards will kill a DFS NBA lineup. Also, picking Murray simply based on NBA DFS game theory ignores the fact that he is not shooting well at the moment and he’s been in and out of practices with an injury.
The Timberwolves are going to steal one on the road. Nikola Jokic is great but he’ll need full support to beat Minnesota. The defending champions have their work cut out for them. The Timberwolves are young, hungry and deep. Great defense goes a long way in the NBA Playoffs. Minnesota could be on their way to their first championship.
Final score: Timberwolves 105, Nuggets 103
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $400K Shootaround [$100K to 1st] (MIN vs DEN)
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is greenflagradio2) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.