Tonight, the NBA presents a playoff matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder. Let’s take a look at this game from a DFS perspective.
Prior to discussing my Draftkings picks for the Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder game, let’s review an important note regarding the rules and scoring for the single game showdown contests.
For those readers who are not aware, the rules and scoring for DraftKings single game showdown contests are vastly different than the traditional classic contests offered by the platform.
If you need to review the specific rules for the single game showdown contests feel free to check out the Draftkings website.
Here are my Draftkings picks for this evening’s Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder matchup.
Draftkings Picks
Captain-Kyrie Irving $11,000
Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Kyrie Irving has been the key addition to the backcourt that the Mavericks have needed to win games in the 2024 Western Conference playoffs.
In the Dallas Mavericks last six games played (all playoff games), Dallas guard Kyrie Irving averaged 26.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.8 steals a game.
Tonight, Kyrie Irving draws an Oklahoma City Thunder defense that struggled to defend the shooting guard position in the regular season. Upon the completion of 82 games in the 2024 NBA regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder ranked a rather low 20th in total Draftkings points allowed (43.1) to the shooting guard position a game.
For the reasons just noted, I am rolling with Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Kyrie Irving as my captain for this one game DFS slate.
Flex Plays
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander $11,400
The Oklahoma City Thunder arrive at tonight’s game with the Dallas Mavericks as the number one seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Having stated that, a big reason why the Thunder have played consistent quality basketball this season is Oklahoma City point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
How well has Gilgeous-Alexander been playing from a statistical standpoint in the 2024 Western Conference playoffs? In the Oklahoma City Thunder’s four games played this postseason, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 27.3 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks a game.
Luka Doncic $14,000
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic has quickly ascended to one of the best players in the NBA. Having stated that, how has Doncic performed from an offensive efficiency standpoint in the 2024 Western Conference playoffs?
In the Dallas Mavericks six games played in the 2024 Western Conference playoffs, Luka Doncic has averaged a whopping 59.4 Draftkings points a game.
More recently, in the Dallas Mavericks 114-101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers four days ago, Luka Doncic posted some outstanding fantasy numbers. Doncic accumulated 28 points, 7 rebounds, 13 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal in the Mavericks series clinching Game 6 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Additional players I like to play well (Draftkings price noted): Chet Holmgren $8,400: Josh Giddey $6,800: Jaylin Williams $2,600.