Draftkings Best NBA Showdown Picks: Mavericks vs. Thunder 5/15/24

The NBA presents a playoff matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Let’s take a look at this game from a Draftkings perspective.

Before we dive into the Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single Game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this evening’s Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder matchup.

Draftkings Picks

Captain-Luka Doncic $13,400

Dallas point guard Luka Doncic has certainly been the leader in the backcourt that the Mavericks have needed to win playoff games this season. Having stated that, how has Luka Doncic been playing recently?

In the Dallas Mavericks last three games played in the 2024 Western Conference playoffs, Luka Doncic averaged 23 points, 12.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 2.3 steals a game.

It should be noted that the Dallas Mavericks have officially listed Luka Doncic as questionable for tonight’s Game. I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one Game Draftkings slate.

In conclusion, if available to play, I fully expect Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic to continue his outstanding play versus the Oklahoma City Thunder later today.

Flex Plays

Kyrie Irving $10,200

Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving arrives at tonight’s playoff game with the Oklahoma City Thunder playing outstanding basketball. Let’s take a look at Kyrie Irving’s recent game data to get a better understanding of his play on the basketball court.

In the Dallas Mavericks last five Games played in the 2024 Western Conference playoffs, Kyrie Irving has averaged a robust 18 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.4 steals a Game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the Dallas Mavericks last five eight Games played (all playoff Games), Kyrie Irving is averaging 32.2 Draftkings points a Game.

More recently, in the Dallas Mavericks 100-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder two days ago, Kyrie Irving posted some quality DFS numbers. Let me be more specific. Kyrie Irving accumulated 9 points, 1 rebound, 9 assists, and 1 steal in the Dallas Mavericks loss to the Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Later today, Kyrie Irving draws an Oklahoma City Thunder defense that struggled to defend the shooting guard position in the regular season. Upon the completion of 82 games in the 2024 NBA regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder ranked a rather low 20th in total Draftkings points allowed (43.1) to the shooting guard position a game.

In summary, I am rolling with Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving as a flex play on this one game DFS slate.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander $12,400

How well has Oklahoma City point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander been playing in the 2024 Western Conference playoffs? In the Oklahoma City Thunder’s six games played this postseason, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 26.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks a game.

Considering the elevated importance of tonight’s Game 4 of the Western Conference playoffs, I expect Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to play his best game of the 2024 playoffs.

Additional players I like to play well (Draftkings price noted): Chet Holmgren $8,800: Dereck Lively II $4,400: Tim Hardaway Jr. $3,400.