The NBA returns Saturday night with an exciting five-game DraftKings DFS slate tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET.
With every matchup carrying a total above 230 points, there's plenty of fantasy value to uncover across the board. I'm breaking down top elite plays like Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, mid-range standouts such as Franz Wagner and Jamal Murray, plus key value options to help you build winning lineups.
Whether you're targeting high-upside studs or salary-saving sleepers, this slate offers tons of scoring potential.
Visit RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups to find out starters for every game on the schedule!
SLATE OVERVIEW
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All of Saturday's games have totals above 230, so there's attainable fantasy value for every team. I think Denver and Philly are great teams to target, followed closely by Orlando, who have three excellent fantasy targets to choose from. The only team I'm not sold on is Chicago, which has inflated salaries that didn't fit into many of my builds. If I had to mention a team I was light on for you to explore further, it would be Charlotte. There's definitely some quality talent on the team that I've excluded.
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INJURIES
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report. Below are some of the most recent and relevant injuries for Saturday. Keep in mind that this is not a complete list. Use your best judgment when evaluating ongoing injury scenarios elsewhere on the slate.
OKC Jalen Williams (wrist) - OUT
OKC Alex Caruso (concussion) - OUT
OKC Chet Holmgren (back) - QUESTIONABLE
OKC Cason Wallace (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
A Holmgren absence would up the usage of Isaiah Hartenstein ($6,800), which could also get Jaylin Williams ($3,800) off the bench quicker. Williams' continued absence and Wallace's appearance on the report will help out Aaron Wiggins ($5,000) and Ajay Mitchell ($4,600) immediately, and even Brooks Barnhizer ($3,100) will see time if all of these tags hold.
ATL Kristaps Porzingis (illness) - QUESTIONABLE
There's no telling if he'll make Saturday's game, but he wasn't well enough to play Friday. Not a lot changes here, as the team is still getting accustomed to his insertion, but Onyeka Okongwu ($6,500) is worth a shot.
PHI Paul George (knee)
PHI Jared McCain (thumb)
George is still at least a week away from returning, but it's time to sit up and take notice of Dominick Barlow ($3,800). He's now a nightly consideration for the 76ers and could make several of my lineups due to his bargain salary and promise of solid production. He should remain viable until George returns. I'm naming him my budget pick of the night.
IND Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) - OUT
IND T.J. McConnell (hamstring) - OUT
Most of the usage flowed to Ben Sheppard ($3,800) in this scenario, so it makes sense to head his way again. We'll be talking about other key Pacers later in the article.
Since lineups are often in flux at the beginning of the season, I recommend taking a look at our Advanced Lineups page before every game lock to get the latest information on the starting five and notable backups for every game on the slate.
ELITE PLAYERS
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Unsurprisingly, Nikola Jokic ($11,700) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,700) are our five-figure targets at the top of this slate. Neither matchup is especially great, but Jokic has a bit of an edge considering a favorable matchup opposite Nick Richards. Both players have lived up to their lofty expectations so far, but I don't think rostering them is an absolute necessity. We do have several budget opportunities on the slate, so the salaries are certainly doable.
We have five players in the 9k range, and I think all of them are exceptional options. If I had to choose, I would probably take Devin Booker ($9,200) and his dual eligibility, followed by Tyrese Maxey ($9,000).
The $8k range is also full of wealth. I'm a perennial fan of Pascal Siakam ($8,300), who has more responsibility in the offense with Tyrese Haliburton out and Myles Turner in Milwaukee. I also think you can't go wrong with Jaren Jackson ($8,400) or Paolo Banchero ($8,100), and I especially like how Banchero sets up against the Bulls.
Also consider: Jalen Johnson, ATL ($8,500) vs. OKC
EXPECTED CHALK AND MID-RANGE TARGETS
Although I typically use a $6,000 cutoff for this category, this slate is unique due to the wealth of opportunity found in the 5k range. I will include players in that tier as well for this section.
Franz Wagner, ORL ($7,700) vs. CHI
Wagner is the first of two Magic players I will mention in this section, and I'd venture to say that this salary is entirely too cheap. You won't see me complaining about it, however. He's kicked off the season with two excellent games, and I envision the Magic having their way against Chicago.
Jamal Murray, DEN ($7,200) vs. PHX
Murray had a solid first game, and he'll be meeting a Phoenix team after a back-to-back where they were torn apart by the Clippers. The Nuggets are not the kind of team you want to bounce back against, and judging from the opener, Murray is ready to make a statement as one of Denver's top producers once again.
Desmond Bane, ORL ($6,800) vs. CHI
Bane is off to a great start this season, and he's well on his way to a career rebirth in a spot tailor-made for his skill set. I doubt his salary will be below $7k for long, as he will keep posting solid multi-category production in almost every game he plays. He adds the extra ingredient to a team already brimming with star talent. I'm perfectly fine with taking him while he's still cheap.
Obi Toppin, IND ($5,100) @ MEM
We've already mentioned Siakam, but it's hard to ignore what Toppin managed to do in his first game. I didn't expect this kind of involvement from the sixth-year pro, but I should have seen it coming. The loss of Myles Turner has left a gaping hole to fill inside, and Isaiah Jackson and Jay Huff represent a downgrade at the position while they try to develop into the role. The result could mean more time for Toppin, who usually waits for Siakam to sit before making an impact. I also don't mind Bennedict Mathurin ($6,400), but he's a bit pricier.
VALUE PLAYS
Scour our injury report for the best budget pivots, but we also have some bargains under $5k to consider below.
Luguentz Dort, OKC ($4,800) @ ATL
The Thunder will need more help against the Hawks, as a few key players are banged up entering this game and have questionable tags. Dort is historically volatile and can run scalding hot or bitterly cold. Although he's tending to an ankle issue, he should be able to beat 5x value at this salary. He does enough in ancillary categories to combat low shot volume, and added responsibility could earn him some surprise production in this matchup.
Tre Jones, CHI ($4,500) @ ORL
I don't like this spot for Chicago, but sometimes you have to take starters when their salary is this low. With Coby White (calf) sidelined, Jones posted 12 points and eight assists alongside Josh Giddey, and with the first game under his belt, Jones could improve on that number if Orlando allows it. On a slate where we haven't endorsed many point guards, he could come in handy as a salary saver despite the tough matchup.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, CHA ($3,400) @ PHI
I'm not sure who sent the memo, but Kalkbrenner was in almost every winning lineup I saw on Wednesday. The rookie will have his hands full against Joel Embiid during Saturday's game, but it's rare that you'll find a starting center to go at this salary point. I'm not entirely convinced yet, but he's an interesting add that will likely see less ownership against a tough frontcourt foe.
