3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 2/13/18

Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets

DraftKings Salary: $8,900

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will play host to the San Antonio Spurs, who are traveling from Salt Lake City to Denver in what will be the second half of a back-to-back and their third game in four nights as part of a West Coast road trip.

Of Jokic's top-11 scoring games on DraftKings, 10 have come at home. It is clear that a big part of Jokic accessing that top-end upside is feasting on opponents traveling to the Pepsi Center. Five of those 10 home explosions were against opponents who were on the second half of a back-to-back -- a truly unfair advantage given the fatigue and altitude in Denver.

Another factor working in Jokic's favor is the absence of LaMarcus Aldridge, who is San Antonio's strongest interior defender and rebounder. Per NBAwowy.com, San Antonio has a 52.5% rebounding rate with LMA on the floor, as opposed to a 49% rebounding rate without him. In 231 minutes with Pau Gasol and Davis Bertans as their frontcourt, that rebounding rate has fallen even further, to 48.3%, which would rank 26th over the course of the full season.

Towns is the safer option of the two, as the Nuggets could definitely blow out a depleted and fatigued San Antonio squad. However, Jokic's upside in is quite tantalizing and he may carry lower ownership than he should because of the matchup against San Antonio. Our projections love him, too, listing him as the best value among all players priced above $6,000. Be sure to get some exposure to Jokic tonight.