The NBA Playoffs continue Tuesday with a three-game slate. Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Tyrese Maxey ($8,800)
Maxey was held to just 33.25 DraftKings points in Game 1 vs. the Celtics, but there is definitely hope that he can bounce back. Prior to this, Tyrese Maxey was averaging 56.1 DraftKings PPG in his first four matchups of the season with Boston. Joel Embiid (appendix) also remains out, and with him inactive, Maxey is leading the 76ers with 45 DraftKings PPG and a 31% usage rate (37 games). Maxey should do everything he can to possibly even this series in Boston tonight, and this is a very low price for the All-Star, who was priced over $10,000 on DraftKings just a few weeks ago.
Value
Luke Kennard ($5,100)
Kennard is unavoidable tonight with both Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) still out. With these two sidelined, Kennard has topped 30 DraftKings points in four of his last six. In Sunday’s Game 1 win over the Rockets, Kennard finished with 37.5 DraftKings points in 38 minutes. The veteran shot 9-of-13 from the field and saw a 24.5% usage rate. The Lakers need Kennard’s offense to stay afloat right now, and his large role is guaranteed to continue tonight.
Fast Break
Amen Thompson ($7,700) – If Kevin Durant (knee) remains out, Thompson will warrant consideration. The 23-year-old finished with 43.25 DraftKings points in a whopping 43 minutes with Durant out in Game 1, and Thompson is generating 38 DraftKings PPG in the five he has played without Durant this season.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Jaylen Brown ($8,900)
With the Celtics running away with a 32-point win in Game 1, Jaylen Brown only finished with 39.5 DraftKings points in 30 minutes. Boston is favored by 14.5 points for Game 2, so another blowout is possible, but if the 76ers can put up any type of fight, Brown should see more than 30 minutes and outproduce this salary, which is very low for the All-Star. Brown was just priced up to $9,900 in his second-to-last game, and in four of his last eight, Brown has eclipsed 50 DraftKings points. The wing is scoring 1.4 DraftKings PPM with a 36% usage rate this season, and he is amassing 42.5 DraftKings PPG in five matchups with the 76ers.
Value
Marcus Smart ($4,800)
Just like Kennard, Smart is a tough value play to pass up on with Doncic and Reaves unavailable. Smart finished with 33.5 DraftKings points across 33 minutes in Game 1 vs. the Rockets, and he led the Lakers with a 30% usage rate. That number is likely to drop in Game 2, but Smart should still see a healthy usage rate and near 35 minutes of work. With Doncic and Reaves off the court this season, Smart is producing 0.9 DraftKings PPM with a 21% usage rate.
Fast Break
Reed Sheppard ($4,900) – Sheppard will be a great bargain if Durant is out again. With the former MVP inactive for Game 1 vs. the Lakers, Sheppard scored 34.75 DraftKings points in 35 minutes with a 27.4% usage rate. Following this, the former lottery pick is amassing 35 DraftKings PPG with Durant out this season (five games).
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with our Sleeper promo code.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Deni Avdija ($9,200)
Deni Avdija has been unstoppable and is a must-play. The first-time All-Star scored 72.25 DraftKings points in the Play-In win vs. the Suns to make the postseason, and in his playoff debut, Avdija scored 55.5 DraftKings points vs. the Spurs on Sunday. The forward has exceeded 50 DraftKings points in six of his last eight, and he should surpass this threshold again in Game 2. Avdija logged 39 minutes in Game 1, and he should barely leave the floor again as the Trail Blazers look to even this series. This season, Avdija is scoring 1.4 DraftKings PPM with a 29% usage rate.
Value
Rui Hachimura ($4,700)
Continuing with the shorthanded Lakers, Hachimura is the No. 1 value on the slate in our projections. The ex-Wizard led the Lakers with 41 minutes in Sunday’s Game 1 win over the Rockets, resulting in 26.5 DraftKings points. Hachimura has scored at least 24 DraftKings points in four of his last five with Doncic and Reaves sidelined, and with these two off the floor this season, Hachimura is generating 0.8 DraftKings PPM with a 19% usage rate.
Fast Break
Devin Vassell ($5,000) – Vassell has scored at least 27 DraftKings points in five of his last seven, and he hasn’t scored less than this number in three matchups with the Trail Blazers this season. Vassell was priced up to $6,000 in his second-to-last start, so he is a steal at only $5,000.
Tar Eason ($4,500) – Eason will be a core play if Durant is inactive. Eason is producing 29.4 DraftKings points in 24.9 minutes per game with Durant out (four games).
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
LeBron James ($9,600)
As expected with Doncic and Reaves out, LeBron James put the Lakers on his back in Game 1 vs. the Rockets and finished with 55.5 DraftKings points in 38 minutes. James was two rebounds shy of a triple-double, and him reaching that feat soon feels inevitable. James has scored at least 55 DraftKings points in four of his last five thanks to Doncic and Reaves being out. With both off the floor this season, James is leading the Lakers with 1.6 DraftKings PPM, which is attributed to his usage and assist rates skyrocketing 8.2 and 17.1 percentage points, respectively. James warrants a salary near $11,000 as Los Angeles’ centerpiece, and he is an elite value at only $9,600.
Value
Jabari Smith Jr. ($6,000)
With or without Durant, Smith Jr. is a strong target. The forward posted 37.5 DraftKings points in Game 1 vs. the Lakers and has topped 30 DraftKings points in five of his last seven. Game 1 wasn’t the first time this season that Smith Jr. has thrived vs. Los Angeles, either, as he has scored at least 30 DraftKings points in all four of his matchups vs. the Lakers. Los Angeles ranks 20th in defensive rating this season, and Smith Jr. clearly knows how to expose this soft unit.
Fast Break
Jayson Tatum ($9,500) – Tatum fully looks like himself again. The superstar flirted with a triple-double in Game 1 vs. the 76ers and finished with 54.75 DraftKings points. Only once in Tatum’s last 10 has he failed to crack 50 DraftKings points, and he is underpriced at $9,500.
Sam Hauser ($4,200) – Hauser scored 27.75 DraftKings points across 28 minutes in Game 1 vs. the 76ers, and chasing this outing is a viable move with Hauser so cheap.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Victor Wembanyama ($11,500)
Victor Wembanyama’s 47.25 DraftKings point showing in Game 1 was a letdown fantasy-wise, but he still shot 61% from the field and did this damage despite only grabbing five rebounds, which was a rare sight for the big man, who had grabbed at least 13 in eight of his last 10 before this. Wembanyama should come back to life as a rebounder tonight, and he has a ceiling worth perusing in GPPs. Before Game 1, the MVP candidate had scored over 70 DraftKings points in four of his previous six. Building most of your lineups around a few $9,000 players is the best route for this slate, but having some exposure to Wembanyama in GPPs is a smart move.
Value
Deandre Ayton ($5,100)
Ayton has notched back-to-back double-doubles of 43.5 and 37.75 DraftKings points, but his salary has dropped $400 since Game 1 vs. the Rockets. This decrease doesn’t make any sense, and Ayton is a value play that must be rostered tonight. In Game 1, the big man saw a 20% usage rate and logged 35 minutes. Ayton is scoring 1.1 DraftKings PPM with Doncic and Reaves off the floor this season, and he should destroy this price tag if the big minutes continue as expected.
Fast Break
Neemias Queta ($5,800) – Queta only scored 19 DraftKings points in Game 1 vs. the 76ers, but he did this despite only playing 15 minutes due to foul trouble. The center had scored over 30 DraftKings points in four of his previous six heading into this, and he destroyed the Embiid-less 76ers for a career-high 60.75 DraftKings points last month. Queta is only slated for 8% ownership on DraftKings in our projections, and this is a terrific time to buy low on him in GPPs.
Robert Williams ($3,800) – Williams is healthy right now, and it has shown, with the veteran scoring at least 25 DraftKings points in three of his last four. Williams ranked second for the Trail Blazers in plus/minus in Game 1, and with 15-20 minutes off the bench tonight, the big man should surpass 5x value. This season, Williams is supplying 1.3 DraftKings PPM.
Pictured: Victor Wembanyama
Photo Credit: Imagn
