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

The New Orleans Pelicans Travel to the Paycom Center for a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Let’s take a look at this NBA Game from a DFS perspective.

Prior to discussing my Draftkings picks for the Pelicans vs. Thunder 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 New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder matchup.

Draftkings Picks

Captain-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander $11,400

Talented Oklahoma City point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been the driving force for this Oklahoma City Thunder team this season. Having stated that, how has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander been playing recently?

Since the beginning of April, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has played five games for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In those five games just noted, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a whopping 26.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists a game. It has to be said, those are some quality offensive numbers from the Oklahoma City point guard.

In Oklahoma City Thunder’s 94-92 win over the New Orleans Pelicans three days ago, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted some outstanding fantasy numbers. Let me be more specific. Gilgeous-Alexander accumulated 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, in the Oklahoma City win over the Pelicans.

In conclusion, I fully expect Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to continue his quality play versus this vulnerable New Orleans Pelicans defense later today.

Flex Plays

Jonas Valanciunas $7,400

New Orleans Pelicans center Jose Valanciunas has a real opportunity to be a key contributor for this Pelicans team in this evening’s matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Why? Last week, the Pelicans lost talented center Zion Williamson to injury. The unfortunate injury to Ingram has allowed other New Orleans Pelicans players (including Larry Nance) an opportunity to play more minutes.

How has Jose Valanciunas played from a DFS perspective lately? In the New Orleans Pelicans last two games played, Valanciunas has averaged 43.5 total Draftkings points a game.

I absolutely love Jonas Valanciunas’s Draftkings price of only $7,400. I think Jonas Valanciunas’s low price point presents the best fantasy value of any other player on this one game slate.

C.J. McCollum $9,800

I mentioned earlier in this article that New Orleans Pelicans center Zion Williamson will be absent from the Pelicans lineup tonight due to injury. I think Pelicans guard C.J. McCollum will prosper in the Pelicans offense without Williamson in the paint.

How has New Orleans point guard C.J. McCollum performed from an offensive efficiency standpoint recently? In the New Orleans Pelicans last five games played, McCollum averaged 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists a game.

Additional flex plays I like: Chet Holmgren $9,000: Brandon Ingram $9,400: Trey Murphy $8,400: Larry Nance $6,000: Luguentz Dort $5,200.