Draftkings Best NBA Showdown Picks: Kings vs. Pelicans 4/19/24

The Sacramento Kings travel to the Smoothie King Center for a matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans. Let’s take a look at this NBA game from a DFS perspective.

Before we dive into my Draftkings picks for the Kings vs. Pelicans 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 Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans matchup.

Draftkings Picks

Captain-Domantas Sabonis $11,200

Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis has certainly been a driving force for this Kings team in 2024. Let’s dive into Sabonis’s recent statistical data to better illustrate my previous statement.

Since the beginning of April, the Sacramento Kings have played nine games. In those nine games just noted, Domantas Sabonis has averaged a whopping 17.6 points, 13.9 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.3 steals a game.

I also like Domantas Sabonis’s matchup tonight. Why? New Orleans Pelicans center Zion Williamson injured his hamstring in the Pelicans loss to the Lakers on Monday. Williamson has been ruled out for tonight’s game versus the Kings. The absence of Zion Williamson in the Pelicans lineup will be a big advantage to Domantas Sabonis’s ability to perform at a high level in the paint.

Flex Plays

De’Aaron Fox $10,400

Talented Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox arrives at tonight’s game with the New Orleans Pelicans playing outstanding basketball from a statistical perspective. In 82 games played this season, De’Aaron Fox averaged 26.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2 steals a game.

It should be noted that De’Aaron Fox draws a New Orleans Pelicans defense that has had clear issues with defending opposing point guards recently.

In the last seven games played in the NBA, the Pelicans are ranked a rather low 22nd in total Draftkings points (53.6) allowed a game to the point guard position.

Additionally, from a DFS strategy standpoint, I like having Sacramento point guard De’Aaron Fox and Kings center Domantas Sabonis in my lineup for this one game slate. Why? I like the Kings to win tonight’s game. In order for the Kings to win, both Fox and Sabonis will need to play well. If Fox and Sabonis play as I expect, both players will post a large number of Draftkings points for my DFS lineup.

Larry Nance Jr. $5,400

I mentioned earlier in this article that New Orleans center Zion Williamson will not play in tonight’s Game due to injury. Williamson’s absence will open the door for other Pelicans players to contribute more offensively.

For me, New Orleans center Larry Nance Jr. is the most likely Pelicans player to benefit the most from Williamson’s absence tonight. In the Pelicans last four Games played, Larry Nance Jr. averaged 28.2 Draftkings points a Game.

Additional flex plays I like (Draftkings price noted): CJ McCollum $9,800: Herbert Jones $7,000: Keegan Murray $7,400: Keon Ellis $6,200.