Friday night's DraftKings classic slate is a two-game card: LAL @ GSW and DEN @ PHX. The salary cap is $50,000, and the slate locks at 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT).
The top of our model's ranking is led by Luka Doncic (LAL) at $12,000, with a ceiling of 86.3 against a DraftKings average of 50.9. Nikola Jokic (DEN) costs $12,100 and carries a 75.4 ceiling, with a 51.7 average. Jamal Murray (DEN) at $8,400 has a 71.3 ceiling and a 36.9 average. Yaxel Lendeborg (GSW) at $7,200 shows a 65.9 ceiling, and Stephen Curry (GSW) at $7,800 sits at 63.1.
The value end of the board is where our model finds its edge. DeMar DeRozan (DEN) is just $5,200, yet his ceiling is 64.4, well above his 19.9 DraftKings average. Ryan Nembhard (DEN) is the cheapest name on the list at $3,000, with a 48.2 ceiling. Jalen Green (PHX) at $6,400 has a 52.6 ceiling and a 28.3 average. Those ceilings are upside figures, not forecasts, but at these salaries they give a lineup room to spend elsewhere.
Ownership figures are not available for this slate, so there is no read on where the crowd will land. Keep an eye on the DraftKings status tags before lock. Jimmy Butler (GSW) and Kristaps Porzingis (GSW) are tagged OUT, and Mark Williams (PHX) is also OUT. Gui Santos (GSW), Oso Ighodaro (PHX), Ziaire Williams (LAL), Cameron Johnson (DEN) and Alpha Diallo (DEN) all carry a Q tag.
Our model's top lineup uses $49,600 of the $50,000 cap. It runs Austin Reaves ($8,700) at PG, Christian Braun ($5,100) at SG, Dillon Brooks ($5,400) at SF, Ryan Dunn ($3,500) at PF and Walker Kessler ($7,700) at C. Jamal Murray ($8,400) fills the G spot, Miles Bridges ($6,300) takes F, and Trevon Brazile ($4,500) rounds it out at UTIL.
Set your lineups before the 10:00 p.m. ET lock.
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