Welcome to the Thursday NBA DFS slate and today’s NBA DFS picks. It’s been a fun playoffs so far, and both conference finals have been delights to watch.
For DFS, you always have to stay in tune with news, injuries and lineup announcements. It’s a bit less important on a showdown playoff slate, but it’s still necessary because any edge helps, and you never know what might pop up.
Every player is an option today, so you’ll have to get creative and risky, especially in GPPs. In the end, it’s about making the right decisions, and that’s what I’m here for. Let’s get to the best DFS plays of the slate.
Generally speaking, build lineups based on narrative. If you think Cleveland bounces back, there will be a lot of value on their utility players, and you’ll get plenty of leverage. If you think Cleveland is checked out and the Knicks blow them out of the water, there are plenty of punt options available. Build your lineups accordingly based on different ways the game can go.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Welcome to the Thursday NBA DFS slate and today’s NBA DFS picks. It’s been a fun playoffs so far, and both conference finals have been delights to watch.
For DFS, you always have to stay in tune with news, injuries and lineup announcements. It’s a bit less important on a showdown playoff slate, but it’s still necessary because any edge helps, and you never know what might pop up.
Every player is an option today, so you’ll have to get creative and risky, especially in GPPs. In the end, it’s about making the right decisions, and that’s what I’m here for. Let’s get to the best DFS plays of the slate.
Generally speaking, build lineups based on narrative. If you think Cleveland bounces back, there will be a lot of value on their utility players, and you’ll get plenty of leverage. If you think Cleveland is checked out and the Knicks blow them out of the water, there are plenty of punt options available. Build your lineups accordingly based on different ways the game can go.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Captain/MVP Plays
- DraftKings: $15,000
- FanDuel: $18,900
I would put a lot of money on Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns being the highest-rostered captain on today’s slate. Donovan Mitchell is close, but considering how bad the Knicks’ offense was in Game 1, and the fact that they still pulled off the victory, it is a little frightening for Cleveland backers.
Towns almost didn’t need to show up in the 76ers series, so his minutes and numbers have looked low in the last five games. But he’s due for positive regression, and I expect everyone to roster Brunson after his Game 1 performance. Of course, I will have plenty of him, but I have to imagine Cleveland will do all they can to make sure they aren’t beaten by the Knicks guard again.
- DraftKings: $14,100
- FanDuel: $16,500
The debate on the other side of the ball is whether to go with James Harden or Donovan Mitchell. While I think Mitchell is more likely to be in the optimal lineup, Harden is being overlooked.
Yes, Harden did have six turnovers in Game 1 and went 1-of-8 from deep, but that’s exactly why I’m buying the dip, especially if he’s only 7% rostered in the captain spot, like he’s projecting. He’s more of a mass-entry GPP play rather than in single entries and smaller fields, but that’s what I assume most of you will be playing. There’s a chance Harden completely bombs again, but that’s the risk you have to take.
NBA DFS Core Plays
- DraftKings: $7,600
- FanDuel: $7,600
Another deeper GPP option is Jarrett Allen. We saw how efficient he was in Game 7 against Detroit, scoring 36 fantasy points in just 25 minutes of play. That’s the kind of ceiling efficiency to target, despite the solid interior defense New York boasts.
A ton of the rostership is condensing around the Cleveland big three, so I expect to be overweight among the utility players surrounding the frontcourt duo and Evan Mobley. I will be getting plenty of exposure to Mobley.
- DraftKings: $2,600
- FanDuel: $1,400
Your first punt option is Landry Shamet. We saw him play 17 minutes to open the series, and he provided some value. Jordan Clarkson is in the same boat here as a punt play with his pricing, but Shamet doesn’t seem to be getting as much love despite projecting better.
There’s trust with Shamet on the court from Mike Brown, and on the chance that New York blows Cleveland out of the water, Shamet will get a lot more run.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
- DraftKings: $5,600
- FanDuel: $3,600
Max Strus has been holding his own in the playoffs, but his price has risen as a result, and we’re seeing people move off him. As I mentioned at the top, Cleveland is very likely to pull off an upset, and someone beyond the two guards steps up.
Strus had multiple games scoring over 30 fantasy points against Detroit. He’s capable of reaching that number tonight if he can get hot from deep, which he is more than capable of doing.
- DraftKings: $3,000
- FanDuel: $1,600
Finally, for another value spot, we have Dean Wade. He will likely start again and can see up to 30 minutes of playing time. Even with the lower usage rate, his price is too good to pass up.
Wade is a capable shooter, and when he gets the ball, it will likely be for open looks, either because the stars are double-teamed or because they are pushed off the ball.
