The New York Knicks head back to San Antonio to battle the Spurs in game two of the 2026 NBA Finals. The Knicks stole game one, and threaten to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. With the Spurs facing an 0-2 hole, they’re a very good bet to even this thing up on their home floor.
Jalen Brunson took over down the stretch in game one, but it could be tough to replicate that performance with a hungry Spurs team looking to avoid another loss. Not sure who to Captain or how to build NBA DFS DraftKings Showdown lineups? I’ve got you covered, as I’ll go over the top CPT picks, some GPP pivots, and more. Let’s build!
Best Spurs vs. Knicks Game 2 Captain Picks
- Wemby ($19.2k)
- KAT ($15.9k)
- Stephon Castle ($12.9k)
- Jalen Brunson ($15.6k)
Wemby shot horribly (6 of 21) in game one, but still scored 26 points and generated 51.5 fantasy points. I would expect him to ball out at home in a must-win spot. He’s going to smash here, so the only question will be price.
Can you get away with just rostering Wemby in the Flex? That’ll be the question of the day.
KAT and Brunson are the usual suspects from New York’s side of things. Towns got a nice double-double in game one and was efficient, while Brunson took over late and ended the game with 30 real points. I think both are rock solid options if you think New York wins again or makes the Spurs work hard for the win.
There’s also Castle, who was solid in game one but only got 31 fantasy points. He’s the value among the top spends, and he projects well compared to KAT and Brunson. In terms of the spends, he’s my favorite play, as our lineup tool has him entering game two with the third best projection.
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All of these guys look great on paper. Wemby is going to smash, but he’s expensive as hell and building a winning Showdown lineup with him at Captain might not be easy unless we take some pretty ugly punts.
Castle is my preferred way to spend here out of this group. He had little trouble scoring in game one and rebounded well. If he can heat up a bit more from outside and boost his assist numbers, he might smash.
GPP Picks for the Captain Slot in Game 2
- De’Aaron Fox ($10.8k)
- OG Anunoby ($11.4k)
- Julian Champaigne ($9.9k)
- Dylan Harper ($8.4k)
If you want to open up more room to stack some of the studs, we can go cheaper with some pivots. None of these guys are safe, but they also won’t be nearly as owned in the CPT slot.
Fox was not good in game one (3 of 13), but he logged 37 minutes and the Spurs probably need him to play well to have success in this series. I think he bounces back here and when you consider his likely ownership, he’s a really fun internal leverage play against Wemby and Castle.
FYI, he also is the current Captain pick in our top lineup:
The same goes for Champaigne and Harper, who can take advantage of New York’s tendency to allow a lot of three balls. Champaigne already did that in game one. I think he’s a good play once again based on the matchup, but I prefer Harper who tends to get better usage and offers a higher ceiling.
Let’s not leave out OG, who started cooking late in game one. I have some reservations due to the matchup as a whole, but he smoked San Antonio in the NBA Cup. He’s an interesting GPP play if you think the Knicks can keep this close.
Picking players is only half the battle. The real edge comes from seeing how projections, ownership, salary, and lineup combinations work together.
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Top Knicks vs. Spurs Value Picks for Game 2
- Keldon Johnson ($4.2k)
- Miles McBride ($6k)
- Jose Alvarado ($3.6k)
Landry Shamet played an absurd 33 minutes in game one and he did play well. But his price has gone up ($6.9k) and I don’t feel like paying a premium for him. Instead, I’ll punt with Alvarado (11 minutes in game 1) to free up salary, or I’ll save $900 and roll with Deuce.
Neither of these guys are great plays in the CPT, but they are solid Flex options.
KJ is the guy I’d want to Captain potentially, as his price remains cheap and it’s possible we see more out of him in game two. He didn’t make an impact and struggled with foul trouble in game one, but the Spurs will need his perimeter game.
New York sets up to be a favorable matchup for him, so KJ could be looking at extra burn if he can come in and get hot quickly. He’s risky due to limited minutes, but the upside is there to unlock Flex plays.
We can always look at total punts like Luke Kornet, Harrison Barnes, or Carter Bryant, especially if you think this game blows out.
NBA Finals Game 2 DraftKings Showdown Strategy
I don’t see the Knicks taking a 2-0 series lead, so my natural strategy is to lean into a Spurs win. Of course, that could take different paths. It could still be a competitive game where certain New York plays can thrive in the CPT slot. Or this game is just a housing.
That has me interested in Spurs and Knicks punts more than usual, but overall I am leaning into the Spurs with Fox, Castle, and Harper looking the most appealing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Spurs vs Knicks Game 2 start?
Spurs vs Knicks Game 2 tips off at 8:30 PM ET on Friday night in San Antonio. The Knicks enter the game with a 1-0 series lead after winning Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Who is the best Captain pick for Spurs vs Knicks DraftKings Showdown?
Victor Wembanyama, Karl-Anthony Towns, Stephon Castle, and Jalen Brunson project as the top Captain candidates for Spurs vs Knicks DraftKings Showdown contests. Tournament players may also consider lower-owned options such as Dylan Harper or Josh Hart to gain leverage on the field.
How many players should I use from each team in NBA Showdown contests?
Most NBA Showdown lineups are built using either a 3-3, 4-2, or 5-1 roster construction. The best approach depends on expected game script, projected ownership, and player pricing. Competitive games often produce strong 3-3 or 4-2 builds, while blowout scenarios can favor more aggressive constructions.
Is Victor Wembanyama a must-play in Spurs vs Knicks Game 2 DFS contests?
Victor Wembanyama carries one of the highest fantasy ceilings on the slate due to his ability to contribute points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. While he is not technically a must-play in tournaments, fading Wembanyama is a high-risk strategy given his slate-breaking upside.
What is the best strategy for winning NBA DraftKings Showdown tournaments?
The best NBA Showdown strategy is balancing projection with ownership. Successful tournament lineups often feature a unique Captain selection, correlated roster construction, and at least one low-owned player capable of outperforming salary expectations. Leveraging ownership projections and simulation tools can help identify the highest-upside lineup combinations.
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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