The NBA Finals return to San Antonio with the Knicks holding a 3-1 series lead, putting the pressure squarely on the Spurs in a must-win Game 5. That creates an intriguing DFS environment for DraftKings Showdown contests, where every roster decision is magnified and identifying the right Captain can make or break your night.
In this post, I’ll break down the best Spurs vs Knicks DraftKings Showdown picks, including top Captain options, core plays, value targets, and strategy notes to help you attack both cash games and large-field GPPs. Let’s build!
Best Spurs vs. Knicks Game 5 Captain Picks
- Wemby ($20.1k)
- Jalen Brunson ($16.5k)
- KAT ($15.3k)
From a spending, projection, and ceiling perspective, these are easily the three Captain picks we should get the most exposure to. Wemby is pricey as heck, but he’s the first guy based on floor and upside. He has only tapped into his ceiling once in this series, but he’s safely cleared 50+ fantasy points in all four games of the NBA Finals.
We can and should still target Wemby due to the upside, though. The series shifts back to Texas and the Spurs are facing elimination. I think a 70-burger from Wemby could be in order, and he grades out as the best play of the slate.
Wemby currently does not appear in the #1 lineup per our lineup tool, but he still is in the CPT slot in 382 out of 1,000 lineups (that leads the slate). Want extra advice, projections and sims? You should give our DFS optimizer a shot.
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Brunson is the next guy in line, as he is shooting a ton and scoring the ball extremely well. It’s pretty obvious he is gunning for NBA Finals MVP and assuming New York wins, I think he gets it. He has scored 30+ real points three times in this series and is coming off a series-high 36.
Brunson has not been as efficient as you’d like, but he put up 58.5 fantasy points last game. With the series there to be won, he comes in with the second best projection and saves you a ton of cash as a leverage Captain pick.
KAT is even more compelling based on projection and expected ownership. People might sour on him because he’s been pretty weak the last two games, but game four was all about foul trouble. If he can get back to dominating like he did in games one and two, he could be an exceptional value.
Wemby is the top spend and Brunson is the pivot, but KAT could go overlooked and we should be willing to take advantage of that.
GPP Picks for the Captain Slot in Game 5
- De’Aaron Fox ($11.1k)
- Josh Hart ($10.5k)
- Dylan Harper ($10.2k)
- Julian Champaigne ($8.4k)
I am leaning into the Spurs in this one. True, they could be dead men walking after blowing game four, but they’re at least back at home and they still cooked New York for a half last game. The matchup is still the same, so targeting perimeter-oriented players on San Antonio continues to be The Way.
Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell are absolutely in the mix, and I won’t ignore Knicks like Mikal Bridges or game four hero OG, either. But Fox is a guy nobody will want to play and we know there’s upside there. And Hart is a do-it-all guy that can get big minutes and crush, and yet he shouldn’t be owned.
I’ll mix both in, but my favorite GPP Captain pick has to be Champaigne. New York allows threes at will and the Spurs exploited that in the first half last game. Champaigne never got to be part of the fun, but we know he can slay from long range. With the season on the line, I think he blows up and keeps the Spurs alive.
Want the safest contrarian CPT play? It’s Harper. He comes off the bench, but he continues to log 30+ minutes and get strong usage. He has played very well and there’s always a possibility he starts cutting into Fox’s minutes more.
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Top Spurs vs. Knicks Value Picks for Game 5
- Keldon Johnson ($3.9k)
- Jose Alvarado ($3.6k)
The value stinks. You can bet on foul trouble or someone getting hot and roll with punts like Carter Bryant, Miles McBride, or Jordan Clarkson. They’re just super thin.
Alvarado is actually getting minutes, he can get steals, and he came up clutch late last game. At this price, I’m fine with turning to him if he can keep getting about 15 minutes off the bench.
KJ continues to be the most palatable value play. He’s been pure butt in this series, but we know he can extend his time on the floor if he can simply heat up offensively. He has scored a combined 15 points in this series, but with his team’s season hanging in the balance, I think there’s a reasonable chance he finally shows up at home.
NBA Finals Game 5 DraftKings Showdown Strategy
Call me crazy, but my DraftKings NBA Showdown strategy continues to be to not Captain the expensive guys. It’s not that they’re not worth it – and you absolutely should play them in large field GPPs – but the value is simply abhorrent.
The easier path to a strong build is targeting mid-range guys who can explode and help me piece together a better lineup. For that reason, I’d prioritize my GPP picks and look to the Knicks studs ahead of Wemby.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best captain pick for Spurs vs Knicks Game 5 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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