Kings duo leads DFS value list as NBA slate shrinks

SportsLine analyst Mike McClure has identified Zach LaVine and Darius Acuff Jr. of the Sacramento Kings as the primary value plays for Thursday's daily fantasy basketball contests. The recommendation comes as the NBA schedule contracts to just three games, limiting the available player pool for DraftKings and FanDuel lineups.

LaVine is the focal point of the suggested strategy. The former 13th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft carries a salary of $6,600 on DraftKings and $6,300 on FanDuel. He has averaged 27.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and one steal across four games this season. His recent form includes a 37-point, five-assist performance in a 123-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.

McClure pairs LaVine with rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. in a stack. Acuff, the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, is priced at $7,100 on DraftKings and $6,500 on FanDuel. The young guard has averaged 21.5 points, 4.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds in four games. He recorded 33 points, four assists and two rebounds in a 128-120 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.

The analyst's model simulates every minute of each game 10,000 times to account for matchups, statistical trends and injuries. McClure, a professional DFS player with more than $2 million in career winnings, uses this data to isolate optimal lineups. He notes that identifying high-cost players who justify their salary is a core component of tournament strategy.

Thursday's slate features the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the Atlanta Hawks. Donovan Mitchell and C.J. McCollum are the headline starters in that Eastern Conference matchup. Other players appearing on the broader list of top options include James Harden, Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Ty Jerome, Dyson Daniels, Jrue Holiday, Evan Mobley, Zion Williamson and Jarrett Allen.

Ty Jerome is the most expensive player on both platforms for the Memphis Grizzlies versus Portland Trail Blazers game. McClure advises players to review his specific rankings and stacks before locking in lineups for the limited schedule. The full list of recommended picks and optimal lineups is available exclusively through SportsLine.