The Los Angeles Lakers (1-1) face the Sacramento Kings (1-1) in a Western Conference showdown at Golden 1 Center. The biggest news is that Luka Doncic has been ruled out and will miss at least a week with a finger injury, leaving the entire Lakers rotation underpriced and creating multiple value opportunities. On the Kings’ side, Zach LaVine is listed as questionable, and his potential absence could further open the slate, offering an abundance of value across Sacramento’s roster.

 

 

 

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings Total and Spread

  • Total: 223.5
  • Spread: SAC -2.5

 

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings Injury Updates

 

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings Projected Starting Lineups

Los Angeles Lakers:  

Sacramento Kings: 

 

 

 

DFS Captain / MVP Picks

Austin Reaves, LAL 

(DK CPT $13,500, UTIL $9,000 | FD MVP $17,400, UTIL $11,600)

Reaves has been outstanding through the first two games, thriving as a productive secondary scorer and playmaker alongside Luka Doncic. Now, Doncic is out and Reaves takes over as the unquestioned leader of the Lakers offense. Reaves has a massive floor/ceiling combination and is significantly underpriced for his role tonight. 

Domantas Sabonis, SAC

(DK CPT $15,000, UTIL $10,000 | FD MVP $19,200, UTIL $12,800)

Sabonis sat out the season opener with a hamstring strain but returned in the second game to log 37 minutes, showing he’s back to full strength. He offers elite double-double upside and carries the highest ceiling of any Kings player. As the focal point of Sacramento’s offense, Sabonis’ ability to dominate on the boards and facilitate from the high post makes him a strong play in any format. 

Deandre Ayton, LAL 

(DK CPT $11,400, UTIL $7,600 | FD MVP $11,700, UTIL $7,800)

Ayton hasn't produced much in two games as a Laker, but now Luka Doncic is out and Ayton has a chance to step up as a primary contributor. He should be locked in for 30+ minutes and offers double-double upside in the points and rebounds categories. With increased usage and a larger role, Ayton becomes a high-floor option with meaningful upside for this matchup.

 

 

 

DFS Utility Picks

Zach LaVine, SAC 

(DK CPT $12,900, UTIL $8,600 | FD MVP $13,800, UTIL $9,200)

LaVine offers a strong floor thanks to his high usage rate and consistent workload of around 35 minutes per game. He’s opened the season in impressive form, scoring at least 30 points in each of his first two outings. While his scoring prowess makes him a reliable contributor, his limited production in peripheral categories like rebounds and assists slightly caps his overall ceiling. As a result, LaVine profiles better in a Utility slot rather than a top Captain or MVP slot.

DeMar DeRozan, SAC 

(DK CPT $13,800, UTIL $9,200 | FD MVP $15,000, UTIL $10,000)

DeRozan presents a similar profile to LaVine in that much of his fantasy value comes from scoring. While he did record 6 rebounds and 9 assists in the opener, that performance came with Sabonis sidelined, slightly inflating his playmaking numbers. With Sabonis back in the mix, DeRozan’s production should normalize, but his steady 35-minute workload and consistent usage still provide a dependable floor, making him a strong Utility option. 

Rui Hachimura, LAL 

(DK CPT $9,300, UTIL $6,200 | FD MVP $7,500, UTIL $5,000)

Hachimura has started at power forward and logged 30+ minutes in each of the Lakers’ first two games, highlighted by a 23-point performance against the Wolves in the last outing. With Luka Doncic out, the Lakers will rely more heavily on role players to fill the scoring void, and Hachimura is a prime candidate to step into a larger offensive role. His combination of minutes, usage, and scoring ability makes him one of the most appealing options on the slate. 

Gabe Vincent, LAL 

(DK CPT $6,000, UTIL $4,000 | FD MVP $3,600, UTIL $2,400)

With Doncic sidelined, Vincent is poised to take on a much larger role in scoring, ball handling, and playmaking. His minutes floor is higher, and his upside has increased substantially, making him a significantly underpriced option on this slate. He now has the opportunity to assert himself as a primary contributor and far exceed his typical level of production. 

 

 

 

DFS Dart Throws

  • Jake LaRavia (DK CPT $4,500, UTIL $3,000 | FD MVP $3,900, UTIL $2,600): LaRavia saw a spike to 28 minutes last game, and he could potentially slide into the starting lineup with Doncic ruled out. Whether he starts or not, LaRavia is too cheap for his role.  
  • Marcus Smart (DK CPT $6,300, UTIL $4,200 | FD MVP $4,500, UTIL $3,000): Smart was brought in for his defense, but he could potentially be needed for a much larger offensive impact with Doncic joining LeBron James on the sidelines. 
  • Dalton Knecht (DK CPT $3,000, UTIL $2,000 | FD MVP $1,800, UTIL $1,200): Knecht hasn't had much of a role in two games, but the Lakers will be in search of other sources of offense with Doncic out for at least a week. Knecht has displayed plenty of scoring ability when given opportunities in the past. 
  • Dario Saric (DK CPT $3,600, UTIL $2,400 | FD MVP $2,700, UTIL $1,800): The power forward position is wide open in the Kings rotation with Keegan Murray sidelined. Isaac Jones likely draws the start, but he was limited in his first game of the season. Saric has a chance to earn more playing time with solid performance. 
  • Isaac Jones (DK CPT $4,800, UTIL $3,200 | FD MVP $2,100, UTIL $1,400): Jones was inserted into the starting lineup in his first action of the season last game. He was limited to 14 minutes coming off an injury, but there is a chance he sees an increase in playing time for this one. 
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