DraftKings Fantasy Basketball Main Slate Starts With Eight Saturday Games
The NBA regular season opens its first weekend with an eight-game Saturday slate, featuring five matchups anchoring the primary DraftKings fantasy basketball contest beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET, according to FantasyLabs reporting. Ten teams take the floor in the main player pool, though seven franchises—the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, and Washington Wizards—enter the night playing the second leg of a back-to-back set. Roster management requires close monitoring of late-breaking injury reports as fatigue and rest decisions reshape early-season rotations.
Tyrese Maxey and Tyler Herro Command High Salaries on Saturday
Tyrese Maxey leads all point guards with the highest median and ceiling projections on DraftKings as the Philadelphia 76ers host the Milwaukee Bucks. Maxey carries an $8,200 salary into Saturday’s contest following a 46.2-point fantasy outing in 34 minutes against the New York Knicks on Tuesday and a 34.2-point performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. On the opposing side, Tyler Herro enters at a $7,000 price point for Milwaukee after logging 50.2 fantasy points and scoring 34 points in 34 minutes against the Chicago Bulls on Friday afternoon.
The Bucks-76ers matchup boasts the second-highest over/under total on the slate. Maxey maintains heavy offensive responsibilities alongside new Philadelphia additions, while Herro anchors the Milwaukee perimeter attack following his arrival in the blockbuster trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Marcus Sasser and Naji Marshall Step Up for Dallas
Cooper Flagg’s absence due to a shoulder injury forces major rotation shifts for the Dallas Mavericks against the San Antonio Spurs. Flagg sustained a hard fall after taking contact in mid-air during Friday’s game against the Indiana Pacers and left the floor, with head coach Dusty May noting the rookie will undergo evaluations over the coming days.
Marcus Sasser absorbs primary backcourt value at a $4,400 salary after playing 27 minutes against Indiana, boasting the highest Plus/Minus projection among point guards on the slate.
Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid Highlight Frontcourt Options
Anthony Davis commands the highest median and ceiling projections among power forwards at an $8,700 salary as the Los Angeles visiting team faces the Chicago Bulls. Davis bounced back from a 24.2-point struggle against the Toronto Raptors by previously posting 61.5 DraftKings points against Milwaukee behind 34 points and 12 rebounds.
Joel Embiid anchors the center position at $8,000 for Philadelphia. Embiid delivered 46.25 fantasy points in the season opener against New York and followed with 34.2 points against Cleveland. He plans to play against Milwaukee before sitting out Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons on the second night of a back-to-back.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saturday Fantasy Lineups
Which teams are playing the second game of a back-to-back on Saturday?
The Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, and Washington Wizards all play their second game in two nights on Saturday.
What happened to Cooper Flagg on Friday?
Cooper Flagg suffered a shoulder injury after taking a hard fall in mid-air during Friday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, prompting head coach Dusty May to schedule further evaluations.
How many games make up the main DraftKings slate?
The main DFS slate on DraftKings features five games getting underway at 7:30 p.m. ET out of eight total matchups scheduled across the league on Saturday.
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