This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
We have a single-game Showdown on DraftKings for Saturday. The Nuggets take on the Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals with tip-off set at 9 p.m. EDT. The Lakers will have the opportunity to close out the Nuggets after a Game 4 victory that put them up 3-1 in the series. Hoping to extend their time in the bubble, the Nuggets will continue to lean on Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray but it may not be enough with LeBron and company one win away from a trip to the NBA Finals.
Slate Overview
DEN vs. LAL (-6), O/U 214.5
At this point in the playoffs, there isn't much guesswork when it comes to who coaches are relying on, and in this series, it's been a one-two punch for both teams with the Lakers tandem of LeBron James and Anthony Davis winning the battle of the stars so far. That duo has combined for over 50 percent of the team's usage through the playoffs. If I were a betting man, which I am, I expect the Lakers to finish off the Nuggets here and earn a trip to the NBA Finals to face either the Heat or the Celtics for the Championship.
Injury Situations to Monitor
LeBron James, (groin) Probable
James has been listed on the injury report in every game of the post-season but it's yet to cause him to miss any time. That should be the case here as well. Barring any new developments, he should be good to go.
Anthony Davis, (ankle) Questionable
Davis is dealing with an ankle issue but is expected to play.
Danny Green, (finger) Probable
Green is listed as probable despite an injury to his finger. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope may be relied on more if Green is limited in any way.
Alex Caruso, (wrist) Probable
It doesn't appear Caruso is in jeopardy of missing any time, but it's always a good idea to check injury news before lock.
Elite Plays
Anthony Davis, LAL vs. DEN ($11,800) Captain: ($17,700)
It's really a coin flip between Anthony Davis and LeBron James. You always get the triple-double upside with James, but so far, it's been Davis who has been the better fantasy producer. He's been commanding 30 percent of the usage since the playoffs began and has scored over 50 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games. He's normally a lock for a double-double and rarely leaves the court, logging close to 40 minutes on multiple occasions.
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. LAL ($11,600) Captain: ($17,400)
You can save some salary by going with Jokic, as he's been a force for the Nuggets that has helped them reach this point in the playoffs. From a usage standpoint, it's been about equal between him and Jamal Murray, with Jokic absorbing 27.4 percent of the share. His ability to score, rebound and dial-up assists with the occasional step back three-pointer make him a versatile player that should thrive in the captain spot.
Expected Chalk
Jamal Murray, DEN vs. LAL ($10,000)
Much like James and Davis, it's been the Jokic and Murray show throughout the post-season. He has claimed nearly the same usage as his teammate with 27.6 percent of the pie and offers a different skill-set with the ability to add steals and knock down multiple shots from behind the arc. He's mostly scoring dependent but can rack up rebounds and assists, and he logs heavy minutes, playing over 40 in three of four games in the series.
Michael Porter, DEN vs. LAL ($7,200)
Despite him being wildly inconsistent, you're really just paying for the ceiling in hopes he can replicate a few of the performances he's flashed during this post-season so far. Normally playing around 20 minutes, he can score in hurry and grab rebounds, giving him double-double upside in any match. His main deficiency is on the defensive end, which has made him a liability on most occasions, limiting his playing time. The Nuggets will need all the scoring they can get to come away with a victory here, so taking a shot on MPJ to provide some of that help makes a lot of sense in this format.
Key Values
Dwight Howard, LAL vs. DEN ($4,200)
Howard received the start in Game 4 and didn't disappoint. Playing 23 minutes, the big man poured in 12 points and 11 rebounds in a strong double-double effort to help Los Angeles secure the win. He should draw the start again here, making him a solid value if he continues getting the playing time with his ability to stuff the stat sheet and make things more difficult on Nikola Jokic in the paint.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, LAL vs. DEN ($5,400)
At this price point, you're really just looking for a player to flash some upside, and you can get that with KCP. He continues to launch from three-point land, taking at least five attempts from behind the arc in all four games. He's mostly scoring dependent but can record the occasional steal and block, padding his overall floor. Danny Green is also dealing with a finger issue, so KCP could be in line for some extra run and additional scoring opportunities.
