NBA $10,000 SATURDAY: TIPS & SELECTIONS

Eight games are on the slate for NBA Saturday, with the highlight a potential Eastern playoff preview between top seed Milwaukee and current eight see Miami.

Elsewhere, Sacramento will fight to keep their playoff hopes alive in a tough battle with Philadelphia and we prepare for a monster night from James Harden as his Rockets play host to Phoenix.

There is $15,000 up for grabs in the Saturday jackpot tournament.

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James Harden – SG/PG – $22,550

The Beard is once again the most expensive player on the slate, and we are all aware of the historic offensive performances he has put up by now. He looks a great option here for two reasons. Firstly, he has been held under 30 points in three straight games, this is the longest streak under 30 for Harden since early November, so odds are that is going to turn around very quickly. Secondly, he gets a home game against Phoenix with the 28th ranked defense in the league. Last time Harden played the Suns, he feasted for 44-8-6.

LaMarcus Aldridge – PF/C – $16,240

It always makes sense to target the Knicks defense, even more so when you have Aldridge on fire averaging a shade under 27 points per game through his last seven contests. LA has scored at least 22 points in each of those games, coincidentally his last performance below that mark came against the Knicks where he scored 18 so expect Aldridge to set matters straight here. He’s racking up points, and boards, and playing the Knicks, it’s a no brainer.

Kemba Walker – PG – $15,540

Coming off a monster 40-10-7 line against Houston, Kemba gets a juicy game against the Wizards 29th ranked defense. Walker has already played Washington once this month, scoring 34 Draftstars points, not huge numbers but in his two prior meetings with the Wizards this year he posted lines of 27-11-5 and 47-4-4. The Wizards allow the fifth most triples per game in the NBA, Walker meanwhile makes the fifth most of any player in the league.

Elfrid Payton – PG – $13,090

With Jrue Holiday still out of the lineup, Payton continues to be more involved for New Orleans. He’s put up triple-doubles in back to back games, each of which was accompanied by a steal and a block. He doesn’t typically put up huge points, but he really contributes across the board and regularly flirts with triple-doubles so the fact he has strung two together has not come as a huge surprise.

Ian Clark – SG – $5,000

If you need a basement price option, Clark has found himself becoming an increasingly bigger part of the Pelicans rotation, and has put up double digit points in three straight games. He has averaged 22.5 minutes a game during that time. With injuries trimming their roster, and playoffs now a bridge too far, New Orleans have little left to play for so it makes sense to continue to give the likes of Clark minutes. Portland may not be pushovers defensively, but they aren’t dominant either, particularly at the guard spots.

Enter the NBA $15,000 Saturday tournament.

NBA SCORING SYSTEM

Point Scored = 1 point

Missed Field Goal = -0.25 points

Missed Free Throw = -0.25 points

Assist = 1.5 points

Rebound = 1.25 points

Turnover = -0.5 points

Steal = 2 points

Block = 2 points

3 Point Made Bonus = 1 point

Double-Double = 2 points

Triple-Double = 2 points

By NBA