NBA Cup Opens With High-Value DFS Options Amid Star Matchups
Mike McClure identifies Dennis Schroder and Brandon Miller as key plays for the 10-game slate starting Friday.
By Fatou Kim ·
The NBA Cup competition kicks off Friday with a slate of 10 games, creating a wide range of options for daily fantasy basketball participants. The opening day features several high-profile matchups, most notably the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Golden State Warriors. That game pits Luka Doncic against Stephen Curry, while other marquee names like Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo also appear on the schedule. For fantasy players, the key challenge is distinguishing between players who justify their high salary caps and those who offer better value.
Mike McClure, a professional DFS player with over $2 million in career winnings, provides a data-driven approach to these lineups. As a predictive data engineer at SportsLine, McClure uses a model that simulates every minute of each game 10,000 times. This process accounts for specific factors such as head-to-head matchups, recent statistical trends, and injury reports. The goal is to identify the most efficient players on platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel.
One of the top recommendations for Friday is Charlotte Hornets guard Dennis Schroder. He is listed at $5,400 on DraftKings and $5,000 on FanDuel. Schroder is one of four Charlotte players averaging double-digit scoring this season. In the team's first five games, he has posted averages of 14 points, 4.8 assists, and four rebounds while playing 32.4 minutes per night.
McClure pairs Schroder with teammate Brandon Miller, a forward who leads the Hornets in scoring. Miller carries a salary of $7,800 on DraftKings and $8,100 on FanDuel. He is averaging 25.6 points per game along with 6.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and one block in 33.8 minutes of action. Miller has scored in the 30s in his last three outings, including a 39-point effort in a 110-103 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday.
Other notable players mentioned in the context of Friday's action include Cade Cunningham, LeMelo Ball, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Jayson Tatum, Cooper Flagg, and Pascal Siakam. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the most expensive player on both major DFS platforms for his game against the Miami Heat. The selection of these players hinges on finding the right balance between elite talent and cost efficiency in the opening round of the tournament.
The 10-game slate requires careful lineup construction to maximize points per dollar spent. McClure’s strategy focuses on optimal matchups that could lead to high statistical outputs. Participants are advised to review player rankings and stack options before locking in their lineups for the day's contests. The data indicates that certain players are positioned to perform at a higher level than their salary suggests due to favorable opponent conditions.
