Welcome to the Monday NBA DFS slate and today’s NBA DFS picks. We’ve finally made it to the conference finals, and we are in for a treat tonight. If you’re going to play NBA DFS, you have to keep lineup announcements in mind and stay tuned for late swaps. That is going to be the easiest way to stay ahead of the field and in the money.
It’s a bit less important on a showdown playoff slate, but it’s still necessary because any edge helps with late swaps when lineups are announced. For example, De’Aaron Fox is questionable. He would obviously make a big difference depending on his availability.
Every player is an option today, so you’ll have to get creative to avoid duplicates. In the end, it’s about making the right decisions, and that’s what I’m here for. Let’s get to the best NBA DFS plays of the slate.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet 
Welcome to the Monday NBA DFS slate and today’s NBA DFS picks. We’ve finally made it to the conference finals, and we are in for a treat tonight. If you’re going to play NBA DFS, you have to keep lineup announcements in mind and stay tuned for late swaps. That is going to be the easiest way to stay ahead of the field and in the money.
It’s a bit less important on a showdown playoff slate, but it’s still necessary because any edge helps with late swaps when lineups are announced. For example, De’Aaron Fox is questionable. He would obviously make a big difference depending on his availability.
Every player is an option today, so you’ll have to get creative to avoid duplicates. In the end, it’s about making the right decisions, and that’s what I’m here for. Let’s get to the best NBA DFS plays of the slate.
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: $16,500
- FanDuel: $22,800
This is your clear number one Captain option tonight, and I’d be shocked if he isn’t the highest rostered player on the slate. The Spurs’ defense has been awesome, and I’m very excited and hopeful for them in this series. But they also haven’t faced the Thunder offense or the newly announced MVP in these playoffs.
Of course, we can look to the regular-season games to get a tentative sense of how they might match up, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander managed 55 fantasy points when he last played San Antonio in January.
Victor Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander should be the highest-projected players on the slate, and the discount you can get on either site is too good to pass up, even with the high rostership.
- DraftKings: $13,500
- FanDuel: $16,500
If you aren’t going to roster Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as your Captain/MVP, I’d still suggest sticking with a Thunder player. We’ll get to Victor Wembanyama in a second, but based on how Oklahoma City is playing, I expect them to roll a bit in this game.
I understand that it’s scary to go against the San Antonio frontcourt, but Chet Holmgren has held his ground against San Antonio. He is playing additional minutes and getting more run these playoffs, scoring over 49 fantasy points in three of his last five games. Holmgren allows you to save some coin while offering a high ceiling.
NBA DFS Core Plays
- DraftKings: $12,000
- FanDuel: $16,200
Victor Wembanyama could arguably have the biggest ceiling of all players tonight. I prefer using him in the utility spot to save a bit of salary and the lack of punt options on either side.
Oklahoma City allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing centers this season. Over their final 30 games of the regular season, they allowed the second-fewest amount of points. Wembanyama is capable of doing his work on anyone, but he never topped 50 fantasy points against the Thunder in the regular season.
I’d head caution in going overweight on Wembanyama, but his talents are undeniable. I’ll be getting to him in a healthy number of lineups, just not more than is needed.
- DraftKings: $8,000
- FanDuel: $6,400
Ajay Mitchell has been awesome in the playoffs with 30+ fantasy points in five of his eight playoff games so far. There’s always a chance San Antonio tries to do everything in their power to stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and make someone else beat them.
I like any number of role players here, and Jalen Williams should be back, but I don’t expect him to be full go. Mitchell’s pricing has risen, but he’s earned additional run and a 28% usage rate during the series against the Lakers, so there are worse ways to go.
NBA DFS Core Plays
- DraftKings: $6,000
- FanDuel: $5,000
For value on the San Antonio side, I’m going with Devin Vassell. With DeAaron Fox’s status up in the air, it’s hard to predict exact minutes, but I imagine Vassell gets a bump.
If Fox is out, Dylan Harper gets a massive bump. Vassell should play around 30 minutes, and the opportunity is what I’m chasing. He doesn’t have a high usage rate, but he’s scored in the double-digits in every playoff game so far and is more than capable of getting to 30 fantasy points tonight.
- DraftKings: $4,000
- FanDuel: $2,600
For the pure value option on the slate tonight, I’m going with Alex Caruso. He’s gone over 20 fantasy points in four of his last six playoff games and is playing 20+ minutes a night.
As this showdown slate goes, that’s pretty solid. Luguentz Dort is another option, but we have rarely seen him deliver ceiling-level performances. At least Caruso reached 30 fantasy points during the regular season. I’d be shocked if he did that, but with a boost at home and some extra rest, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up in the optimal lineup.
