DraftKings, your paradise of DFS nirvana, has done it again with a new contest called NBA Starting 5. You select one point guard, one shooting guard, one small forward, one power forward and one center. There is no salary cap. The only stipulation is that you must select players from at least two different teams.

For Saturday’s Starting 5 slate, there were five games, but the Clippers/Hornets and Lakers/Spurs games were postponed due to the fires in Los Angeles, making it a three-game slate.

No teams are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.

As for injuries, Deandre Ayton, Jeremy Sochan, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Josh Richardson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Johnny Juzang and Brice Sensabaugh are questionable. Tari Eason, Ochai Agbaji and Royce O’Neale are doubtful. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.

On DraftKings Sportsbook, DET is -5.5 over TOR at home with the total at 230.5. MIN is -1 over MEM at home with the total at 228. MIA is -3.5 over POR on the road with the total at 216.5. LAC is -9.5 over CHA at home with the total at 219.

Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $4K Zone [$1K to 1st]

Point Guard

Cade Cunningham is the no-doubt alpha for the Pistons offense. He’s leveled up in his fourth NBA season, proving he was worthy of the number-one selection back in the 2021 draft. Now with Jaden Ivey done for the season, he’s had to shoulder more offensive responsibility, but he’s brushed that off like dandruff. In three of the last four games, Cunningham has put up over 55 FPTS with a high of 63.5. He only put up 26.75 FPTS in the other contest due to playing just 23 minutes in a blowout. Toronto is 28th in defensive efficiency, so it’s a nice matchup for the star guard.

Shooting Guard

Anthony Edwards flipped a switch recently. Over the last four games, he’s exceeded 50 FPTS three times, with two of those showings over 60. He “only” put up 40.25 FPTS in the last game against a Magic team that is second in defensive efficiency. Saturday’s matchup is also a tough one, as Memphis is fourth in defensive efficiency, but they are playing at the fastest pace in the league.

Small Forward

With Jimmy Butler out, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has benefitted tremendously. He’s played 36, 29 and 46 minutes while putting up 43.25, 24.75, and 61 FPTS. He should play minutes in the mid-30s and the matchup is a good one, as Portland is 26th in defensive efficiency.

Power Forward

Jaren Jackson Jr. has put up at least 40 FPTS in each of the last five games with two over 65 FPTS. Most of those games were without Ja Morant, but he finished with 52 FPTS in the most recent contest with Morant. He has not played Minnesota yet this season, but he should get plenty of good looks from downtown with Rudy Gobert playing drop coverage.

Center

My initial choice was Victor Wembanyama, but that game got postponed. As much as Bam Adebayo has struggled and been inconsistent this season, I think he has a chance to put up the most points at the position. He’s gone over 43 FPTS in two of the last three games, stuffing the stat sheet.

What is the DraftKings NBA Starting 5 Game Style?

• The Fantasy Sports NBA Starting 5 Game Style is a type of contest in which participants draft lineups by selecting one point guard, one shooting guard, one small forward, one power forward and one center. NBA Starting 5 is scored the same way as classic NBA DFS contests.

Important Information:

• Fantasy Sports NBA Starting 5 contests require no salary cap balancing.
• NBA Starting 5 contests span multiple games, and Fantasy Sports participants must select athletes from at least two different teams.
• Participants will see all five positions on the draft screen and must pick one athlete per position. 

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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.