Many people expected Golden State to take care of business in this series, but I don’t think anyone expected it to be this lopsided. The Warriors are looking for the sweep in this Game 4, and it’s becoming clear that the Mavs are outmatched right now. Luka Doncic is doing everything possible to carry this team, but it’s unfair when the other team has the next four-best players in the series. This is a spot for Dallas to bounce back, though, and they need to save some face before their season abruptly comes to an end.

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Injury Report

• James Wiseman (knee) OUT
• Tim Hardaway Jr.(foot) OUT
• Otto Porter (foot) Questionable
• Gary Payton II (shoulder) OUT

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Core Plays

Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GSW): $37
Chef Curry has been cooking in these playoffs, and he’s playing some of the best basketball of his career right now. The best shooter of all time has at least 37 Yahoo points in 12 of his last 13 games, averaging 45 fantasy points per game in that span. More importantly, he’s playing 35 minutes while taking 20 shots a game. Production is never guaranteed, but it’s much safer when you have that sort of usage to back it. Fading Curry and the next guy is simply the dumbest thing you could do on a single-game slate.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG/SG – DAL): $56
We just discussed how usage gives Curry a nice floor, but that’s even more of the case for Doncic. The Dallas guard leads the NBA in usage, flirting with a 40 percent usage rate in this postseason. That’s led to Luka scoring at least 47 Yahoo points in 22 of his last 23 games. He’s also just shy of a 60-point average in that span, the highest total for any player left. The Slovenian has been even better in these circumstances, averaging over 60 Yahoo points per game in his three elimination games. Just lock Curry and Doncic in and figure things out from there.

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GPP Targets

Andrew Wiggins (SF – GSW): $23
Wiggins made numerous highlight plays in Game 3, making people realize just how good this kid has become. The first-time All-Star has at least 33 Yahoo points in each of his last four games, teasing with a 40-point average in that span. He’s simply making plays on both ends and is guaranteed production because of the 40 minutes he plays to oppose Doncic. It’s tough to fit in Doncic, Curry, and Wiggins, but those guys are the best bet to finish with the three highest point totals on this slate.

Reggie Bullock (SG – DAL): $13
Bullock had one of the ugliest games I’ve ever seen in Game 3, going scoreless on 0-of-10 from the field. What’s important is that he still played 40 minutes and took double-digit shots. That’s what matters because Bullock will not go scoreless on 10 shots every single night. This guy is averaging 22 Yahoo points per game across 40 minutes a night in the postseason, and as long as he does that, he’s still a great value at just $13.

Value Plays

Dorian Finney-Smith  (PF – DAL): $16
Finney-Smith and Bullock just never come off the floor for Dallas. That says something about the Mavericks depth, but it makes both of them brilliant values from a fantasy perspective. DFS is averaging 24 Yahoo points per game across 38 minutes a night in this postseason. Using someone below $20 also makes it much easier to get Curry and Doncic into your build, which is the most important thing on this slate. Using those two and pairing them with two of these sub-$20 players is the optimal lineup building strategy on these types of slates. Picking the right ones is the difference, and DFS is one of the safest options of those cheap players.

Kevon Looney (C – GSW): $15
Looney has been outstanding in this series. The big man is averaging 13.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. That alone is incredible from such a cheap player, but he’s shown us that at times in the regular season. The matchup is the best part of this, though, with Dallas owning one of the worst frontcourts in basketball. That’s led to Loon posting a 32-point average in his last five meetings with the Mavs.

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