Draftkings Best NBA Showdown Picks: Cavaliers vs. Magic 4/25/24

The NBA presents a matchup between with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic. Let’s take a look at this game from a DFS perspective.

Before we dive into the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this tonight’s Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic matchup.

Draftkings Picks

Captain-Paolo Banchero $10,000

Yes, I know that Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell will be a popular choice for the captain position for tonight’s one game slate. I certainly understand. However, I am going to pivot to an Orlando Magic player as my captain in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference playoffs. That Orlando Magic player’s name is Paolo Banchero.

How important has Paolo Banchero been to the Orlando Magic this season? Let’s take a look at Banchero’s recent game statistics to answer that question. In the Magic’s last five games played, Banchero has averaged 22.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists a game.

Looking at the data just presented more closely I observed that in his last five games played, Paolo Banchero has averaged a whopping 42.7 Draftkings points a game.

In the Orlando Magic’s most recent game versus the Orlando Magic three days ago, Paolo Banchero played rather well. More specifically, Banchero accumulated 21 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 2 steals in the Magic’s Game 2 loss to the Cavaliers.

For the reasons just stated, I expect Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero to continue his quality play versus this vulnerable Cleveland Cavaliers defense in Orlando later today.

Flex Plays

Jarrett Allen $9,400

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen has been the driving force of this Cavaliers team this season. Let me be more specific. In the Cavaliers last two games played, Allen has averaged a robust 16 points, 18 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks a game. Clearly, the Cleveland big man is the key to this Cavaliers offense in the paint.

Franz Wagner $8,800

In addition to Paolo Banchero, Magic forward Franz Wagner has been a key contributor to this Magic team in 2024. Through 82 games played this season, Wagner has averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals a game.

Franz Wagner will be facing a Cleveland Cavaliers defense that has had issues allowing fantasy points to the small forward position this season. In the Cavaliers last seven games played, Cleveland is ranked 26th in total Draftkings points allowed a game (43.88) to the small forward position.

Additional flex plays I like this evening (Draftkings price noted): Donovan Mitchell $10,600: Jalen Suggs $7,000: Jonathan Isaac $6,000: Moritz Wagner $3,600.