Welcome to the Monday NBA DFS slate and today’s NBA DFS picks. 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 two-game playoff slate, but it’s still necessary because any edge helps with late swaps.
Ayo Dosunmu is questionable today, and while I would be shocked if Anthony Edwards plays, the Minnesota star was cleared for basketball activities. 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 DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Core Plays
Victor Wembanyama (C, PF – SAS)
- DraftKings: $10,800
- FanDuel: $12,400
After handling Portland, the Spurs got some rest and take on a shorthanded Minnesota squad coming off an impressive upset of Denver. Rudy Gobert will try to limit the Spurs big man, and I expect him to struggle.
Victor Wembanyama is coming in around 30% rostership, but on a two-game slate, where he’s the clear favorite to lead the slate in scoring, I would expect that number to get closer to 40%, especially on DraftKings.
Wembanyama went over 68 fantasy points in Game 3 against Portland and is capable of doing so tonight as the Spurs continue to lean on his minutes to ensure a series-opening win.
Jalen Brunson (PG – NYK)
- DraftKings: $8,100
- FanDuel: $8,700
After a massive victory over Boston, the Philadelphia 76ers only get one day’s rest before doing it all again, this time in New York. Generally speaking, I’m fading the 76ers tonight. It’s tough to come off a monumental win and then do it all again, while the Knicks have had extra time to rest and gameplan. And this is assuming Joel Embiid is fully healthy and ready to go.
Jalen Brunson was a bit hot and cold against Atlanta, but he frequently played over 35 minutes, and New York’s offense feels at the top of its game right now, scoring 126 and 140 points to close out the Hawks. Brunson feels more like a safe high-floor play than a GPP winner, but I’ll be playing him across both contest types tonight.
NBA DFS Cash Game Targets
Josh Hart (SG, SF, PF – NYK)
- DraftKings: $6,000
- FanDuel: $6,000
Josh Hart is going to dominate rostership, with over 50% of lineups rostering him. It helps that he has dual status, and as I mentioned before, the Knicks’ offense is cooking right now.
Hart should see the floor for 30 minutes, and at $6,000 across the board, that feels like a steal with only four teams in action. I don’t hate him in GPPs, since he went over 40 points in two of the six games against Atlanta.
Stephon Castle (SG, PG – SAS)
- DraftKings: $7,000
- FanDuel: $7,600
Next up as a clear cash play is San Antonio’s Stephon Castle. The shooting guard went over 30 fantasy points in four out of five games against Portland and saw 33+ minutes in as many games.
Castle’s usage has been higher in the playoffs, at a near-29% clip. If Minnesota’s game plan is to do all they can to stop Victor Wembanyama, there are plenty of other producers available, and Castle is a clear go-to option.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
Naz Reid (PF, C – MIN)
- DraftKings: $5,500
- FanDuel: $5,800
It’s going to be difficult to differentiate in GPPs on a smaller slate. If Ayo Dosunmu and Anthony Edwards both end up out, a lot of rostership will fall on Minnesota. Still, don’t sleep on Naz Reid. This Spurs defense has been deadly, ranking fourth in defensive rating after the All-Star break and second in playoff defense.
Where you can beat them is corner threes, a spot that Reid (surprisingly?) likes to take looks from. The Timberwolves big man isn’t expensive, and he’s capable of scoring over 40 fantasy points. Reid will be healthily rostered, but I expect to be overweight on him, regardless of whether Minnesota’s injured players play.
Tyrese Maxey (PG – PHI)
- DraftKings: $8,500
- FanDuel: $9,800
I mentioned how I’m generally out on Philadelphia players tonight, but with only four games, everything is on the table. I expect team exposure to be the lowest on the 76ers tonight, so if you want to get different in large-field GPPs, lean on them more.
It’s a slower-paced game, and their projected team total is the lowest of the slate, but Maxey is still capable of getting over 50 fantasy points and landing in the optimal lineup. He went over 50 in four of the seven games against Boston, so there’s no reason to expect he can’t get there tonight in New York.
NBA DFS Value Plays
Dylan Harper (PG, SG – SAS)
- DraftKings: $4,700
- FanDuel: $4,900
Considering the Spurs have the clear highest total at home with the biggest chance for a blowout, selecting any of their role players in a value spot will be your best option for value tonight. Dylan Harper is my choice.
Harper showed his talent when called upon in Game 3 of the opening series, scoring 27 and putting up 51 fantasy points. Obviously, that is a near 99th percentile outcome, but it’s obviously possible, especially if he ends up playing more than his usual 25 minutes. Your other options here are Devin Vassell or Julian Champagnie.
Terrence Shannon Jr. (SG, SF – MIN)
- DraftKings: $4,600
- FanDuel: $5,700
This is pure speculation, but if Ayo Dosunmu and Anthony Edwards miss tonight’s game, Terrence Shannon Jr. might be the highest-rostered player on the slate. Last time that happened, he started and put up 37 fantasy points at a $3,300 price tag.
Even if just one of Dosunmu or Edwards is out, which I expect to be the case, Shannon will still project to be one of the best value plays of the slate. Obviously, monitor injury news, because if Dosunmu and Edwards start, Shannon might be limited to low double-digit minutes and be just a deep GPP dart throw.