Fantasy Basketball Picks: Top DraftKings NBA DFS Showdown Strategy for Raptors vs. Knicks on 12/9/25
Alex Hunter gives his top NBA DFS lineup advice for Tuesday’s NBA Showdown contest on DraftKings between the Raptors and Knicks.
The Raptors and Knicks will go head-to-head tonight in Toronto for an NBA Cup quarterfinals matchup. The winner of this game will face the winner of Tuesday’s matchup between the Magic and Heat in the semifinals Saturday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Knicks are a 4.5-point favorite over the Raptors for Tuesday’s contest and this game carries a total of 226.5 points. DraftKings is offering huge Showdown contests for this matchup and below, I dive into some of my favorite NBA DFS targets for this Showdown slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st] (NYK at TOR)
Captain’s Picks
Scottie Barnes ($14,400 CPT) – Barnes is the top option from this contest and he is a terrific value as just the third-most expensive player on the slate. Barnes is producing 44.1 FPTS per game this season while shooting a career-best 51% from the field and handling a 24% usage rate. Barnes only scored 36.8 FPTS when he faced the Knicks on Nov. 30th, but this game was in New York and Barnes’ playing time was limited to 31 minutes, given the Knicks ran away with a 22-point win.
Barnes is averaging 33.8 minutes per game this season and tonight figures to be a much more competitive tilt, as New York has struggled on the road this season with a 3-7 record, whereas Toronto is 8-5 at home. The Knicks are just a 4.5-point favorite for this matchup and RJ Barrett (knee) is out for the Raptors. Barnes’ usage rate rises 2.2 percentage points to 26.5% and he supplies 1.34 FPTS per minute with Barrett off the floor this season, and Barnes has 50 FPTS upside tonight.
UTIL Plays
OG Anunoby ($6,600) – In just his second start back from a nine-game absence due to a hamstring injury, Anunoby posted 38.2 FPTS across 28 minutes vs. the Magic this past Sunday, who rank fifth in defensive rating this season. Tonight is a slightly better matchup, with the Raptors ranking eighth in defensive rating and Anunoby should see over 30 minutes tonight in this likely nail-biter. Anunoby is scoring 1.0 FPTS per minute with a 20% usage rate this season, and he is a safe bet for over 30 FPTS, which would have a higher ceiling if Karl-Anthony Towns (questionable, calf) sits.
Mitchell Robinson ($4,600) – Robinson is a viable option if Towns plays, which would become a must if the big man sat. With Towns inactive this past Sunday vs. the Magic, Robinson started at center for the Knicks and finished with 28.8 FPTS across 25 minutes. Prior to this, Robinson had scored at least 19 FPTS in three of his past four, despite Towns playing in all these games, so around 20 FPTS off the bench would be within reach for Robinson even if Towns is active. This season, Robinson is generating 1.0 FPTS per minute.
Brandon Ingram ($8,800) – Just like Barnes, Ingram benefits with Barrett sidelined. With the ex-Knick sidelined for the past eight, Ingram has scored at least 39 FPTS four times, including a 51.25 FPTS outing vs. the Cavaliers. With Barrett off the floor this season, Ingram’s usage rate increases 2.9 percentage points to a team-high 31.1%. New York just held Ingram to 19.75 FPTS a few weeks ago, but this was a product of a blowout and Ingram should redeem himself in a much more competitive setting tonight, possibly with over 40 FPTS.
Fades
Mikal Bridges ($7,200) – With Anunoby back, Bridges is overpriced and worth fading. With Anunoby active this season, Bridges’ production dips to 34 FPTS per game and his usage decreases to 17%. Towns being inactive would be a boost for Bridges, but in that situation, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Anunoby and Robinson would all be stronger values that Bridges.
The Outcome
The Knicks’ road woes are real and a major concern for the team. As noted above, New York is just 3-7 on the road and those three victories came against underwhelming opponents in the Mavericks, Nets and Hornets, all of which are bottom-10 teams in net rating this season.
Ranking 12th in net rating, the Raptors are no slouch, especially at home, where the club is 8-5. While this game is likely to be close, Toronto should get revenge vs. the Knicks tonight and notch a home win, after New York blew them out in Madison Square Garden a few weeks ago.
Final Score: Raptors 115, Knicks 110
