Monday features a small two-game NBA Playoffs main slate starting at 8 p.m. ET.
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
Despite being $400 cheaper than his competitor tonight, Jalen Brunson has by far the highest projected ceiling at the point guard position. The Knicks dominated the Hawks in their series closeout victory Thursday night, 140-89, giving Brunson ample time to rest. He should be more than ready for round two.
Brunson was night and day better in round one when playing at home. He averaged 32 points, 7.3 assists, and 48.6 DraftKings points per game at home, compared to 20.7 points, five assists, and 32.7 DraftKings points per game on the road. Luckily for him, the Knicks open up at home tonight as 7.5-point favorites.
Brunson has the second-highest projected usage rate on this two-game slate at 32.8%. His cheap price tag of $8,100 is giving Brunson the highest projected Plus/Minus at this position and the second-highest on the slate. Among the pay-up options, Brunson is the best from a ceiling and value perspective.
Value
Rookie VJ Edgecombe was a valuable piece in the 76ers advancing to the second round of the playoffs. He scored 23 points while making five 3-pointers in Game 7 in 44 minutes. Edgecombe is projected to play 40 minutes tonight with a 20% usage rate, which is incredibly valuable at his $6,300 mid-range salary.
With point guard and shooting guard eligibility, Edgecombe is one of the best value plays on the slate. He posted a points-and-rebounds double-double in two of the first three games last series. He is an energetic rookie with a ton of potential, and Edgecombe will have plenty of opportunity to provide value.
The 76ers have the second-lowest implied team total on the slate at 103 points, but that is mainly due to the slow pace they played with last series. This will likely be a grind-it-out series against the Knicks, but Edgecombe is still simply too cheap compared to when he started the postseason and is a strong value option.
Fast Break
Tyrese Maxey, the highest-priced point guard on the slate at $8,500, scored 30 points in back-to-back games for the 76ers and nearly had a triple-double in the closeout Game 7 with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, accumulating 56.2 DraftKings points. He had over 50 DraftKings points in four of his last six games and averaged 30 points per game in his four games against the Knicks this year while shooting 51.2% from the field and 50% from distance. He is a strong pay-up option even with Joel Embiid healthy.
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
The biggest news on this two-game slate is the status of Timberwolves’ star Anthony Edwards. He has notoriously healed quickly and was upgraded to questionable for tonight’s game. Edwards suffered a knee injury nine days ago and is fighting to get back onto the court for Game 1 of the second round.
The Timberwolves are 13-point road underdogs but have playoff experience and played amazingly with and without Edwards in the lineup last series. Even projected to play 34 minutes tonight, Edwards does not look great in our NBA Model. However, it is difficult to fully count him out, given his immense talent.
Edwards dealt with pain in his other knee during the Nuggets’ series but had back-to-back performances in Games 1 and 2 in Denver, averaging 26 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 51.3 DraftKings points per game with one double-double. If he is able to play, Edwards is going to easily be the best contrarian option tonight.
Value
Josh Hart erupted with two points-and-rebounds double-doubles in Games 1 and 2 and then played very consistently the rest of the series with 20+ DraftKings points in every game. He has a mix of consistency and a splash of ceiling with his ability to score fantasy points in a variety of ways and playing big minutes.
Hart averaged 10.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last series and has a great chance to build on that against the 76ers, who ranked 14th out of 16 teams in rebounding percentage in round one at 47.8%. Hart also averaged 10 rebounds per game in his three games against the 76ers during the regular season.
With shooting guard and small forward eligibility, Hart is easy to fit into multiple lineup builds at his $6,000 price tag. Hart is known for picking up his play in the postseason. He didn’t shoot the ball well during the last series but should have plenty of opportunity against the 76ers’ lackluster defense tonight.
Fast Break
Stephon Castle averaged nearly 20 points per game for the Spurs in round one while shooting over 40% from behind the arc. Priced at $7,000, Castle currently has the highest projected ceiling at the shooting guard position with a respectable 25% usage rate. Not only does Castle have a high ceiling projection, but he also has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at this position. He has a mix of upside and value at his salary, and the Spurs have the highest team total on the slate, making Castle a great play.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Looking for boom-or-bust potential, Jaden McDaniels is the best option. He backed up his trash talk in convincing fashion with a 32-point, 10-rebound double-double in the closeout Game 6. He added three assists, two steals, and one block for 57 DraftKings points for his second double-double of the series.
If Edwards is unable to play, McDaniels will look even better tonight. During the regular season, with Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo off the floor, McDaniels led the Timberwolves with a +4.23% usage rate boost and a +5.98 Plus/Minus. He is worth getting exposure to despite the Timberwolves’ low team total.
McDaniels has seen his salary skyrocket quickly to $7,200 given his recent play and the Timberwolves’ injuries, but his ceiling potential is impossible to ignore. McDaniels’ outlook basically comes down to whether Edwards is able to suit up or not. If Edwards plays, his value decreases, but if he is out, McDaniels is an elite option.
Value
Currently projected for the highest Plus/Minus on this two-game slate is Spurs’ forward Devin Vassell. His salary has dipped to $5,200 despite playing a consistent role for the Spurs. He is a starting small forward that will play close to 35 minutes, which will give him more than enough playing time to pay off his salary.
The young sharpshooter scored double-digit points in every game for the Spurs this postseason and had one points-and-rebounds double-double. He has also been a lightning rod defensively with seven steals and six blocks in the Trail Blazers series. Vassell can capture fantasy points on both ends of the court.
The small forward position lacks options, especially if Edwards plays tonight. That is why Vassell looks even better at his cheap price tag. The Spurs have the highest team total on the slate, and Vassell is projected to play 34 minutes. What is not to love about a value play like that on such a small slate?
Fast Break
Paul George struggled in Game 7 against the Celtics but did not deserve such a decrease in his salary. He is now priced in the mid-range at $6,600 despite starting round one with an $8,100 price tag and having five straight games with 30+ DraftKings points. During that five-game stretch in the middle of the series, George averaged 18.4 points and two steals per game. He can deliver fantasy points on both ends of the court and will be a valuable part of the 76ers’ success if they are able to pull off the Game 1 upset tonight.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns’ last four games included 50+ DraftKings points in each game with two double-doubles and two triple-doubles. His scoring has taken a little bit of a hit, but Towns is filling up the scoresheet in a variety of ways and is still priced at a respectable $8,600 for Game 1 against the 76ers.
Towns and Embiid have a lot of beef going back to his Timberwolves days and will now match up in the playoffs for the first time ever. As previously mentioned with Hart, the 76ers have struggled rebounding the ball in the playoffs, which will be an advantage for Towns, who averaged 11.9 rebounds per game.
Towns is the clear best power forward option and has the fourth-highest projected ceiling on this slate with power forward and center eligibility. Even if his scoring has dipped, Towns is playing the best all-around game of his career. This is a huge series for Towns to assert his dominance against Embiid.
Value
OG Anunoby has been one of, if not the best, players for the Knicks in the postseason. In their last six-game series, Anunoby averaged 21.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 41.2 DraftKings points per game with two double-doubles. He shot a blistering 61.1% from the field and 56.7% from downtown during that time.
Anunoby’s salary has risen recently, but he is still priced under $7,000 tonight. He is another Knicks player that has a chance to capture a points-and-rebounds double-double against this weak 76ers rebounding frontcourt. There are plenty of Knicks options tonight, but Anunoby is arguably one of their best plays.
Despite winning their first series, the 76ers had the 13th-best defensive rating out of 16 teams in the playoffs. The Celtics found plenty of success on the perimeter, and Anunoby will have an opportunity to continue his red-hot shooting from long distance. This is a fantastic matchup for Anunoby tonight.
Fast Break
Julius Randle is another player who will benefit if Edwards is unable to play in tonight’s game. Randle has a mismatch against the Spurs at the power forward position due to his size and strength. He is projected to have a 25% usage rate, but that would increase if Edwards is out. Even if his efficiency is low, Randle is going to be aggressive in this spot, making him a player worth targeting. Similar to McDaniels, if Edwards is able to play, Randle’s value decreases significantly, but if Edwards is out, Randle becomes an elite play.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Leading this small two-game slate in projected ceiling is none other than Spurs’ superstar center Victor Wembanyama. After missing one game last series with a concussion, Wembanyama returned the last two games and averaged 22 points, 13 rebounds, 6.5 blocks, two steals, and 60.5 DraftKings points per game.
Rudy Gobert was a menace defending Nikola Jokic last round, and his job does not get any easier in the second round with Wembanyama. He did not have his usual peripherals against the Timberwolves during the regular season, but Wembanyama averaged 34 points per game while shooting 48.8% from the field.
Wembanyama is also projected for the highest usage rate at 32.8%. Despite being $2,000 more expensive than everyone on the slate, there is enough value to get exposure to Wembanyama’s fantastic ceiling. The matchup may be difficult, but Wembanyama is a unicorn and will find a way to provide ample upside.
Value
Rudy Gobert had a near triple-double last game with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. He added two blocks and one steal, accumulating a series-high 45.8 DraftKings points. Priced in the mid-range, Gobert is a strong value play with his 36-minute projection and need defensively against Wembanyama.
Gobert has been playing against Wembanyama for awhile now, given they are both from France. He knows Wembanyama’s tendencies; it just comes down to whether or not he can stop him. If fading Wembanyama, it is mainly due to Gobert’s amazing defense, which in turn makes him a valuable play.
The center position is loaded on this small slate, but Gobert provides a double-double ceiling at a mid-range salary of $6,500. He struggled scoring the ball against the Spurs during the regular season but dominated the glass, averaging 11 rebounds per game in their three meetings. He is a great center option.
Fast Break
Joel Embiid came back late in the Celtics series, won three of his four games played, and was a significant part of the 76ers upset. In his four games, Embiid averaged 28 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and 52.8 DraftKings points per game with three points-and-rebounds double-doubles. He looked like the old Embiid with his dominance in scoring and on the glass. Embiid has the second-highest projected ceiling on this slate and is $2,000 cheaper than Wembanyama, making him a great pay-up option tonight.
