The New York Knicks hold a 2-0 series lead in the 2026 NBA Finals and will look to take a commanding 3-0 lead at home at the Madison Square Garden on Monday night. It’s anyone’s guess why this game wasn’t on Sunday, but here we are. Wemby and co. should be desperate to get in this series, and a loss here would almost certainly spell disaster for the San Antonio Spurs.
I thought the Spurs would win game two, but at least they were very close and made a game out of it. I think even a loss would bring more of the same, so my natural approach is to lean into Spurs options again tonight. I’ll touch on my favorite studs, top GPP pivots, and values to help you build a winning foundation in NBA DFS Showdown contests at DraftKings. Let’s build!
Best Spurs vs. Knicks Game 2 Captain Picks
- Wemby ($19.5k)
- KAT ($16.2k)
- Jalen Brunson ($15.9k)
These are the main three guys we should be targeting if we opt to spend up at Captain. Wemby leads the way with the best projection per our tool, while he also offers the highest ceiling.
He’s been rock solid with 51 and 54 fantasy points so far, but he needs to be even better. With this series hanging in the balance, Captain-ing Wemby isn’t crazy at all despite the hefty salary. That said, he is not currently in the CPT slot in the top lineup, even though he’s the highest exposed Captain play across 1,000 lineups.
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KAT and Brunson look great once gain. Brunson cooked to the tune of 30 real points in game one, and he offered a more versatile attack in game two. KAT has been the better option so far, but with this series shifting to New York (and Brunson being cheaper), I like the tiny point guard more between the two.
GPP Picks for the Captain Slot in Game 3
- De’Aaron Fox ($11.7k)
- Julian Champaigne ($9.3k)
- Dylan Harper ($8.7k)
- Mikal Bridges ($9.9k)
Here’s a nice four-pack of leverage plays you can Captain or just be aggressive with in the Flex. I really liked Fox as a high upside CPT pick last game and he responded with 20 real points. He didn’t quite get us there, but 34 fantasy points was fine enough. With the series pretty much on the line, don’t be shocked if he has an even bigger game and comes up clutch.
For that same reason, we should consider saving even more money and rostering guys like Champaigne and Harper. Harper offers a better ceiling, but Champaigne is going to get a lot of wide open looks from long range. I actually don’t mind going against the grain here and prioritizing Champaigne’s outside game over Harper here, but both look like rock solid plays.
Mikal Bridges is very interesting, as he is not going to pull much ownership, but is coming off a strong scoring performance where he logged 40 minutes. That type of burn is worth attacking, as most people in this price range would probably rather play Harper or other Knicks.
For what it’s worth, Bridges presently resides in the Captain slot for our top projecting lineup.
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Top Spurs vs. Knicks Value Picks for Game 3
- Landry Shamet ($6.6k)
- Keldon Johnson ($4.5k)
The value continues to be bad for these games. You can take dives with the likes of Carter Bryant, Jose Alvarado, Luke Kornet, etc – it just looks gross. Shamet isn’t super cheap, but the Knicks clearly trust him, giving him 30+ minutes in both games so far in the NBA Finals.
I would rather drop down to KJ, who can heat up in a hurry and did get 15 minutes last game. If we can expect that type of floor time, we can bet on Johnson exploding as a scorer. The matchup ahead of him is good, the dude just needs to hit his shots.
NBA Finals Game 3 DraftKings Showdown Strategy
This is a fine spot to pay up for Wemby, as I find it hard to envision him having a bad game here. That said, the value isn’t very good so starting lineups off with the top studs really stretches you thin.
My preferred strategy is to roll with a mid-range play like Champaigne or Bridges. It might lower my upside a bit, but it still gets me exposure to a solid option and makes for a better build.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best captain pick for Spurs vs Knicks Game 3 on DraftKings?
The best captain pick depends on salary, projected ownership, and game environment, but high-usage stars typically offer the safest combination of floor and ceiling. In NBA Finals Showdown contests, prioritizing players who contribute across multiple categories such as points, rebounds, assists, and defensive stats can create a stronger captain foundation than relying solely on scoring.
What is the best strategy for NBA Finals Showdown contests?
The best NBA Finals Showdown strategy is to build lineups that tell a story. Consider how the game is likely to play out and construct lineups around that outcome. If you expect a competitive game, stacking multiple stars can make sense. If you expect a blowout, secondary players and bench contributors may become more valuable relative to their salaries.
Should I play stars-and-scrubs or a balanced lineup in DraftKings Showdown?
Both approaches can be viable, but contest size often dictates the optimal strategy. Stars-and-scrubs builds generally offer more tournament-winning upside because they allow access to elite fantasy ceilings. Balanced lineups can provide more stability and are often better suited for smaller-field tournaments and cash games.
How important are value plays in NBA DFS Showdown contests?
Value plays are often the key to winning DraftKings Showdown tournaments. Finding lower-salaried players who can exceed expectations creates salary flexibility while helping differentiate your lineup from the field. In a single-game format, one unexpected value performance can be the difference between a min-cash and a tournament-winning score.
Can I use a lineup builder for Spurs vs Knicks DraftKings Showdown contests?
Yes. NBA DFS lineup builders can generate hundreds or even thousands of lineup combinations while accounting for projections, ownership, salary constraints, stacking rules, and player exposure limits. This can help identify tournament-winning lineups that may be difficult to build manually. Try ours for free for 7 days.
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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