This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
We're set for a potential series-ending Game 6 matchup Saturday night at State Farm Arena, with the Hawks looking to stave off elimination against the Bucks. It's conceivable both teams will be missing their top stars once again. Atlanta's Trae Young (foot) would appear to have a better shot to play than Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee), who's listed as doubtful.
With just one game on the ledger, we're dealing with DraftKings' Showdown contest rosters, which are comprised as follows:
· Captain's Spot- (Garners points at 1.5x the normal rate)
· Five Utility spots- (Garner points at normal rate)
With players carrying markedly higher salaries when being rostered in the Captain Spot, there are definitely strategic elements particular to single-game lineups. Picking the right player for that multiplier spot becomes particularly key to success, as the higher salary that player carries naturally affects the composition of the rest of your roster.
Slate Overview
Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks (Projected total: 216.5 points):
This relatively modest total isn't necessarily surprising when considering the potential absences of each team's biggest star. However, it's worth noting the two clubs combined for 235 points without either player present in Game 5, as the likes of Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams and Bogdan Bogdanovic all proved capable of picking up the slack on their respective clubs. Nevertheless, Games 2-4 did fall short of this projected total, so the precedent is there for it to be within a reasonable range of outcomes.
Injury Situations to Monitor
NOTE: Injury reporting is especially fluid in the NBA, where the status of multiple players can change during the course of a day. Therefore, although the following serves as a foundation for the latest injury report as of the time the article is written (usually late morning Eastern time), check back throughout the course of the day with RotoWire for the latest news regarding the status of all players on that night's slate.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (knee)/ Status: DOUBTFUL (UPDATE: NOW CONFIRMED OUT)
If Antetokounmpo sits out Saturday as is likely, the likes of Middleton, Portis, Holiday and Lopez are all expected to enjoy significant boosts in usage once again.
Trae Young, ATL (foot)/ Status: GTD
If Young were to miss his third straight game, the likes of Bogdanovic, Clint Capela, Kevin Huerter and Danilo Gallinari would be counted on more offensively, while Williams would be expected to draw another start at point guard.
Other injuries to monitor:
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL (knee)/ Status: PROBABLE
Elite Players
There are three players with five-figure (non-Captain's spot) salaries on the slate – Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,800), Khris Middleton ($10,400) and Trae Young ($10,200).
As already discussed, it's likely Antetokounmpo doesn't play, and there appears to be a 50/50 chance that Young sits again as well. Meanwhile, Middleton makes for an excellent consideration for either a Captain's or a Utility spot, as he exploded for 62.3 DK points in Game 5 without Antetokounmpo, his second tally of greater than 60 in the series and third overall of the postseason. Given the expected responsibility on his shoulders again Saturday, Middleton is arguably the safest option on either squad, despite the fact he's had trouble with his shot on the road more often than not during these playoffs.
Additionally, one player with a four-figure salary capable of delivering an elite score is Jrue Holiday ($9,600). The veteran point guard has eclipsed 50 DK points twice in the series, including a haul of 56.0 in Thursday's Game 5 without Antetokounmpo on the floor. Holiday is also shooting better than he did at times in the semifinal round against the Nets, as he's drained 46.0 percent of his attempts versus Atlanta, including 38.2 percent from behind the arc.
Expected Chalk
With only one game on the ledger, all of the players just mentioned in the previous section will certainly be very popular. Additionally, the Hawks' Bogdan Bogdanovic ($8,800) and Lou Williams ($5,200), along the Bucks' Brook Lopez ($7,200), should also be in plenty of lineups after their performances in Game 5.
Key Values
Note: On a multi-game slate, I typically try to highlight players that would be considered under-the-radar plays in this section. Naturally, with such a limited player pool, there will be very few low-rostered players that are likely to also be viable from a DFS perspective, so I'll instead focus on two of the best candidates to provide a strong return relative to salary.
Bobby Portis, MIL ($6.200)
Portis stepped right into the power forward role in Antetokounmpo's stead in Game 5 and thrived, posting 43.0 DK points across 36 minutes. The big man encouragingly put up 20 attempts in the contest and drained nine of them. Portis was also a force on the boards (eight rebounds) and defensively (three steals), and if he can come close to replicating his well-balanced line Saturday, he'll have a very good chance of delivering at least a 5x return. As it is, Portis has already accomplished that feat on 20 occasions this season and postseason despite only drawing starts in six of those contests.
Danilo Gallinari, ATL ($3,800)
Gallinari sports a very appealing salary for a player who has tallies of 26.5 and 24.8 DK points in two of his last three games, and who's eclipsed 20 DK points on nine occasions already this postseason. The veteran is shooting a solid 46.9 percent during the current series, including an impressive 40.0 percent from three-point range. His role off the bench is secure, and if Young is out again, Gallinari becomes an even more attractive play as a veteran with three-point prowess in an elimination game for Atlanta.
Other value play to consider: Lou Williams, ATL ($5,200) *if Young is out*
