The 2026 Western Conference Finals open with a high-upside DFS environment as the San Antonio Spurs take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in a showdown loaded with star power, pace, and fantasy-friendly usage.
With elite options on both sides and several key value pieces likely to see expanded playoff minutes, this slate offers multiple viable lineup builds whether you’re chasing cash game stability or large-field GPP upside.
Finding the right Captain choice will likely decide tournaments tonight, especially with players like Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carrying massive ceilings. In this breakdown, we’ll go over the top CPT candidates, favorite value plays, roster construction strategy, and the best leverage spots to help you attack DraftKings Showdown contests for Spurs vs Thunder. Let’s build.
Best Spurs vs. Thunder Captain Picks
- Wemby ($12k)
- SGA (11k)
- Chet Holmgren ($9k)
The list of possible NBA DraftKings Showdown Captain picks doesn’t end here, but these are the best plays in terms of floor, ceiling, and overall projection.
Wemby is the most expensive option on the slate, but he also bests SGA in raw projection by nine fantasy points. He’s been fantastic when playing big minutes, as he generated 60+ fantasy points in three different games against Minnesota in the previous series.
Wemby has also been pretty good against OKC, notching a double-double in two of his last three games. He hasn’t been needed in those games, though, as he hasn’t hit even 29 minutes the last five times he’s run into OKC. Given the magnitude of this game and series, 35+ minutes is well in play.
SGA is the better value by comparison, as we know he can hit 60+ when he’s cooking. He’ll be at home, too, while we can pay $1k less to get production that might be similar. That’s one reason why the top lineup (as I write this, at least) has SGA – but not Wemby.
This isn’t any easier of a matchup for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but it’s still one he’s excelled in. This season alone he’s scored 29+ points in three of four meetings with San Antonio, while he’s poured in 29+ in four of his last five run-ins with the Spurs overall.
Both of these studs have a clear path to hitting their ceiling. The questions are; do you pair them, and do you need one in the CPT slot? If so, which one?
I’ll also mention Chet Holmgren, seeing as he is currently the occupant of the Captain slot in the best EP lineup via our lineup builder tool. That makes some sense, as he owns the third best projection of this slate.
Check out our lineup tool to make sure you’re getting an updated look at the best lineups to use tonight.
Back to Holmgren, who hasn’t exactly lit it up in this matchup on the year. However, Jalen Williams will probably be limited in his return to action, and we know OKC needs Holmgren to step up his game in this spot.
Holmgren has been fantastic of late, too, dropping 49+ fantasy points in three of his last five games. In a setting that should be competitive (and close), we might have a real shot at tapping into Chet’s ceiling.
GPP Picks for the Captain Slot
- Stephon Castle ($8.2k)
- Dylan Harper ($6.4k)
- Ajay Mitchell ($8k)
Castle is interesting leverage on Wemby, or he’s just a good play in place of him. Wemby could easily crush here, but he also could just be one of the guys or the Spurs could struggle. If either scenario plays out, we could get more production out of the guards.
It starts with Castle, who is coming off quite the explosion, as he dropped 57 fantasy points on Minnesota in a series-clinching win. Running that back is far from a guarantee, but clearly he has the upside to deliver.
I also like Harper as a discounted version of Castle. He should continue to see 25+ minutes off the bench no matter how this first game plays out and he’s been fantastic throughout the playoffs.
Ajay Mitchell may be even more compelling, and a lot of it has to do with his price. The return of J-Dub is going to keep his overall ownership in check, and nobody will want to Captain him. The price and possible role dip aren’t ideal, but he’s been running hot and that makes now the perfect time to strike.
Top Spurs vs. Thunder Value Picks
- Jaylin Williams ($1.6k)
- Lu Dort ($3.6k)
- Alex Caruso ($4k)
- Keldon Johnson ($4.4k)
All of the value is pretty thin going into game one. J-Dub’s return complicates things for the Thunder, while San Antonio may not offer many dives if De’Aaron Fox is a full go.
I think Dort is probably the safest value in terms of minutes. He can still do absolutely nothing while he’s out there, but given San Antonio’s strong guard play, he’ll be needed. I’d start there, but I assume the field will agree.
Caruso is a solid pivot. His minutes are less safe, but he’s also a defensive ace and can hit from long range. One of these guys is going to connect and pay off, but probably not both.
Jaylin and KJ aren’t guaranteed significant run. KJ played just 10 minutes last game and has to hit his shots to get extended burn. Jaylin’s role is super sketchy with J-Dub back. He could be used for his size, but he needs J-Dub to be limited or one of Chet/Hartenstein to struggle with foul trouble.
NBA DraftKings Showdown Strategy for Game 1
Right now our lineup builder likes a non-Wemby lineup. If we go and look at player exposures, though, Wemby tops the list. SGA is right behind him.
I definitely think we can fade one of them or not Captain them to get different, but I’ll be starting most builds with both of them in my lineup. I think one of them should be Captain’d quite a bit, but I’ll still take stabs at low-owned mid-range guys and punts.
Chet looks quite interesting as SGA leverage, while Castle is strong Wemby leverage. Remember, if you’re not using it yet, our lineup tool is free for 7 days and it’s quite awesome. Give it a go.
Playing DFS since the days of DraftStreet, Kevin knows the ins and outs of DFS, specifically for NFL and NBA. He’s also been helping people win in fantasy football leagues for 15+ years and is one of many experts featured at FantasyPros.
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