NBA DFS Lineup Picks & Advice: Monday (5/5)

Welcome to the Monday NBA DFS slate. I hope you’ve had a profitable season and a good start to the playoffs so far as we enter the second round. If you’re going to do NBA DFS you have to keep in mind lineup announcements and stay tuned for late swapping. That is going to be the easiest way to stay ahead of the field and in the money. It isn’t as clear of a strategy within the playoffs but still, the point stands.. In the end, it’s about making the right choices, and picking your spots, which is why I’m here. Let’s break down the top plays for this slate.

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer

NBA DFS Core Plays

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC)

DraftKings: $9,500
FanDuel: $10,400

It’s usually a good sign when a player is almost $1k cheaper on one site over another. Shai opens the series against Denver at the lowest price he’s been all playoffs. After the All-Star break, Denver ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency and 13th in pace of play. A 225 total is promising based on how playoff totals have been so far and OKC gets Denver off a quick turnaround at home. This is a game I imagine OKC to absolutely dominate. SGA’s usage has been near 35% all season and in playoff games so far. He’s a bit cheaper due to the lack of options here but still is a great option and projected over 50 fantasy points with near 30 percent ownership which I will be buying in on.

Karl-Anthony Towns (C – NYK)

DraftKings: $8,000
FanDuel: $8,500

My center of choice tonight has got to be Karl-Anthony Towns. This is a step-up in class for sure compared to Detroit but KAT’s price has dropped too far to not invest in him here as New York opens the series in Boston. He didn’t have the best series against Detroit but he averaged over 40 fantasy points a game against the Celtics this season and has done better on the road this season. His usage rate is due for a major boost closer to his 27 percent seasonal averages. He will be on the court for about 37 minutes. At a pricetag of $8k, I’m feeling great for KAT tonight.

Jalen Williams (SF/PF – OKC)

DraftKings: $7,300
FanDuel: $8,100

I expect Oklahoma City to get the brunt of ownership tonight and Williams has been the model of consistency within the playoffs this year. He’s played 37 minutes a night in full games, and should do so again tonight. His usage has also stayed steady above 25 percent in the playoffs as he had all season. Williams and OKC are well-rested, at home, and playing a Denver team team that has been susceptible to opposing small forwards.

NBA DFS Cash Game Targets

Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS)

DraftKings: $9,000
FanDuel: $9,800

Tatum has been the king of consistency and he showed out in the most recent two playoff games with 60-plus fantasy point outings. Boston also has a bit of rest advantage but New York is a surprisingly friendlier DFS option than you’d think. Their defense is good but doesn’t compare to Orlando’s over the second half of the season and now Boston isn’t playing the only other NBA team that’s as slow as them. Tatum’s usage only grew in the playoff games s even a 35 percent usage over 39 minutes would be solid for your cash lineups.

Chet Holmgren (PF/C – OKC)

DraftKings: $6,700
FanDuel: $7,500

This is another cheaper option I’ll be going to within my cash lineups. I’d project him around 36 points tonight and he’s going to get he fair share of ownership, with early projections looking around 43 percent. His price is cheap and he should see the court around 32 minutes. The Nuggets have been solid against opposing centers but with Harenstein down low playing 26 minutes, it should open up plenty of opportunity for Holmgren to cook. Denver’s defense ranked in the bottom seven of the league after the All-Star break and they will have their hands tied against the OKC offense.

NBA DFS GPP Targets

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN)

DraftKings: $11,000
FanDuel: $11,600

His ownership is changing as we speak but right now Jokic is lining up to be a solid GPP option at under 20 percent owned. He’s the priciest option of course and going against the best defense in the league but he’s still Nikola Jokic. No one on this planet has the ceiling he does game in and out, even on the road against Oklahoma City. He’s in the GPP category as a high risk, high reward type player and that’s of course what you’re going for when putting him in your lineup. Finding cheaper punt options you may be able to afford with Jokic in your lineup might be a bit more difficult but if you can manage it, you should have leverage over the field.

Derrick White (PG – BOS)

DraftKings: $6,500
FanDuel: $7,000

Considering he’s $6,500, Derrick White around 19 percent owned is quite low for a slate like tonight’s. The Celtics starters have played significant minutes in the post season with White just shy of 40 in two of the final playoff game. He’s obviously not the prime usage guy on the Celtics but he has shined in games already, going over 34 fantasy points in four of the five games. When needed, White has stepped up in a way that would be delightful for fantasy tonight, as a 40 point effort would be ideal in this spot.

NBA DFS Value Plays

Michael Porter (SF – DEN)

DraftKings: $5,100
FanDuel: $5,300

I’ve dubbed Porter a value and have been wrong in the past. Tonight, I’m going back to the well with him as a cheap GPP option. He’ll play for 32-34 minutes and is only due more scoring and output. It’s a riskier play and against the league’s best defense on extra rest. But the opportunity will be there for Porter and can easily return the most value among any player on tonight’s slate. Your Denver spend down options are the clear go-to, so Christian Braun as a guard-forward option, Russell Westbrook and Aaron Gordon are all fine options.

Alex Caruso (PG/SG/SF – OKC)

DraftKings: $4,000
FanDuel: $4,800

As long as OKC is in the playoffs, odds are Alex Caruso will be a solid value option across the DFS landscape. He’s expected to play around 24 minutes and can easily play more. He’s tallied 31-plus points in two of the final three playoff games and he’s capable of 30 fantasy points tonight against Denver. Obviously, getting over 7.0X ROI value is ideal but even without reaching that value he still makes for a great spend down option.