Monday features a small three-game NBA Playoffs main slate starting at 7 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
Coming off an efficient 15-for-18 shooting night and 42 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the highest projected ceiling at the point guard position and the second-highest on the slate. Looking to close out this series in a sweep, the Thunder are double-digit road favorites against the Suns, implied for 112 points.
In his first three games in this series, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging a near double-double with 34.7 points and eight assists, accumulating 54.2 DraftKings points per game. He has also shot an absurd 38 free throws this series. Love or hate Gilgeous-Alexander’s flopping antics, it is valuable for fantasy production.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads this three-game slate in projected usage rate at 35.9%. He is priced over $10,000 for the first time in the playoffs, but there are plenty of value options to fit Gilgeous-Alexander into any lineup build. Jalen Williams remains out for the Thunder, which boosts his ceiling even more.
Value
Veteran Mike Conley will draw his first start this postseason with Donte DiVincenzo out for the season and Anthony Edwards out for the next few weeks. Conley played 21 minutes in Game 4 after both injuries happened and posted 16.2 DraftKings points with five points, four assists, two steals, and one rebound.
Priced at $3,700, Conley has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the point guard position. He is projected to play 29 minutes, but has a low 10% usage rate. At this cheap salary and nearly 30 projected minutes, he will be difficult to ignore. Conley is projected to have 55% ownership and is a great cash-game option.
Conley started 15 games this season and averaged 7.5 points, 3.9 assists, 2.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 19.7 DraftKings points per game. Over 75% of his field goal attempts have come from long range, which boosts his floor if a couple of perimeter shots drop. Conley will have plenty of opportunity to return value.
Fast Break
Cade Cunningham has the second-highest projected usage rate on this small slate and is right behind Gilgeous-Alexander in projected ceiling. The #1 seed Pistons are down 1-2 in this series but are 3.5-point road favorites to tie this series. Cunningham will need to have a big game for the Pistons to get back on track. In the first three games, he is averaging 31 points and 49.5 DraftKings points per game. He is also drawing 5% projected ownership less than Gilgeous-Alexander, making him a contrarian pay-up option.
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
Despite being $1,000 cheaper than his teammate Devin Booker, shooting guard Jalen Green is projected for nearly the same ceiling and has performed better in their first three games. Green is averaging 21.3 points, five rebounds, and 35.1 DraftKings points per game compared to 33.6 points per game for Booker.
It is difficult to get exposure to the Suns due to their slate-low 101.5-point team total and being double-digit home underdogs. They have lost by an average of 20 points per game in the first three contests. The Thunder had the best defensive rating in the league this season and carried that over into the postseason.
With their backs against the wall, Green should come out firing. He has attempted 19.3 field goal attempts per game in the playoffs compared to 16 during the season. This play comes down to Green’s price tag. Green is only $7,300, which is the cheapest he has been all series, making him a strong mid-range option.
Value
Similar to Conley, Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu will likely draw his first start of the postseason in Game 5. Unlike Conley, Dosunmu has put up massive numbers recently. In his last two games, the electric guard is averaging 34 points and 47.4 DraftKings points per game while shooting 71.9% from the field.
Dosunmu is projected for a slate-high 70% ownership and should be the first click in any lineup build tonight. With Edwards going down last game, Dosunmu simply took over. He scored a career-high 43 points and was a perfect 5-for-5 from downtown. Dosunmu has dominated the Nuggets’ drop coverage.
Dosunmu has seen his salary skyrocket by $1,000 since Game 4, but it is well deserved. He has shooting guard and small forward eligibility, which has boosted his projected ownership, given how easy it is to fit Dosunmu into any lineup build. All lineups should honestly come preloaded with Dosunmu on this slate.
Fast Break
Desmond Bane poured in seven 3-pointers in the Magic’s Game 3 victory. He scored 25 points and hauled down seven rebounds with one steal. It was the second time in this series where Bane recorded over 35 DraftKings points. With so much attention drawn to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Pistons defense has allowed plenty of open shots for Bane. He has eight 3-point attempts per game in this series and is going to play around 35+ minutes, with plenty of opportunity to get hot from long range.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Once again, the small forward position lacks star power on this three-game slate. With his small forward eligibility, Ayo Dosunmu has the highest projected ceiling at this position by a comfortable margin. However, teammate Jaden McDaniels is not far behind and will be more involved in the offense without Anthony Edwards.
McDaniels has flooded the news with his tenacity and hatred toward the Nuggets. He has backed up his smack talk with incredible defense on Jamal Murray and his ability to score and rebound in bunches. He posted a 20-point, 10-rebound performance in Game 3 and 12 points and eight rebounds in Game 4.
Despite leading the series 3-1, the Timberwolves are double-digit road underdogs in Game 5. McDaniels has seen his salary increase, but not much, making him still a strong mid-range option. He has dominated this matchup against the Nuggets thus far and will have even more opportunities now without Edwards.
Value
With Payton Watson still out and Aaron Gordon becoming less likely to play tonight, Cameron Johnson will continue to see a boost in his playing time and production. Johnson has played much better at home in this series, scoring double digits in both games, which makes him look like a better option in Game 5.
Before his last two games, scoring six and nine points, Johnson recorded double digits in 15 of his previous 17 games. Even during the regular season, Johnson has excelled at home. He is averaging more points per game at home while shooting 46.5% from behind the arc compared to just 38.6% on the road.
The Timberwolves have been incredible defending the 3-point line this season, but without Donte DiVincenzo and Edwards, their defensive rating takes a hit. The Nuggets are projected to score 116.5 points, which is the highest on the slate. At $4,500 with dual forward eligibility, Johnson is a capable value option tonight.
Fast Break
Franz Wagner played the most minutes last game since returning from a two-month injury. He had a clutch pull-up jumper and 3-pointer for the Magic to pull away late in Game 3. Wagner is a consistent fantasy producer, which makes him a strong cash-game option. He is only $6,700 and has averaged 16 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 33.2 DraftKings points in the three games of this series. Wagner is projected with a respectable 26% usage rate tonight and is drawing 25% ownership. He is a solid mid-range play.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Sticking with the Magic, Paolo Banchero is coming off a near triple-double in Game 3 with 25 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and two blocks. Banchero accumulated 64.5 DraftKings points despite shooting a putrid 6-for-17 from the field. He made up for his poor shooting with 14 free throw attempts.
Banchero’s salary hasn’t budged for three straight games. He is consistently scoring 40+ DraftKings points, with upside for more like his last game. Even with his eruption in Game 3, Banchero is projected for less than 20% ownership. That feels quite low, given this is a matchup that Banchero can exploit again.
Looking to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, the Magic are only 3.5-point home underdogs. This is not a typical #8 seed. They have playoff experience, and Banchero leads this team in nearly every major category. He has a 27.3% projected usage rate and is coming off an incredible game. He is an elite contrarian play.
Value
Tobias Harris has been steady for the Pistons, especially on the offensive side of the ball. He was a priority in my builds Saturday night and did not disappoint with 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals for 39.2 DraftKings points. That was coming off a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double in Game 2.
Harris has seen his price tag jump over $6,000, but he still has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at the power forward position and fifth-highest on the slate. Harris has at least two blocks or steals in every game of this series. He has been one of the best two-way players this postseason and is favorably priced.
Outside of Cade Cunningham, Harris has been the clear second-best scoring option for the Pistons. He has increased his scoring average from 13.3 during the regular season to 18.7 per game in the postseason despite shooting 18.8% from behind the arc. Expect another incredible game from this mid-range value.
Fast Break
Dillon Brooks has quickly become an offensive force like we’ve never seen before. In his first year with the Suns, Brooks averaged a career-high 20.2 points per game. He has increased that even more to 27 per game in the playoffs, attempting 22 field goal attempts per game. Brooks is shooting a respectable 42.9% from long distance and has 30+ points and 40+ DraftKings points in back-to-back games. That is more than enough to pay off his price tag of $6,100. He is another player who has backed up his smack talk.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic has struggled against Rudy Gobert, and that is no secret. However, he still has clearly the highest projected ceiling on this three-game slate by a wide margin. The Nuggets’ backs are against the wall, and Jokic is projected to play 40 minutes with a 29% usage rate. He is impossible to ignore tonight.
Jokic is shooting an uncharacteristic 33.8% from the field and 15% from behind the arc in the four games of this series. However, he is averaging 25 points and 15 rebounds per game and has been close to a triple-double. It is a matter of time until Jokic has one of his ceiling performances against the Timberwolves.
There is so much value on this small three-game slate that fitting in Jokic will be relatively easy even at his elevated $12,500 salary. In a must-win game for the Nuggets, it is surprising that Jokic is only drawing 25% projected ownership. It is recommended to get overweight Jokic with all the Timberwolves value.
Value
Speaking of Timberwolves value, Naz Reid has seemingly benefitted the most from the absence of Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards. With those two players off the floor this postseason, Reid has a +6.2% usage rate boost and a +12.47 DraftKings Plus/Minus. Reid is way too cheap at his $5,100 price tag tonight.
Reid has power forward and center eligibility, making it easy to fit him into lineups. He is drawing 45% projected ownership, which is the third-highest on the slate. He also has a 38% optimal lineup rate in our NBA Sims and the highest at the center position. Reid pairs excellently with a boom-or-bust lineup build.
Reid has posted a near points-and-rebounds double-double in two of the four games in this series. He had 11 points and nine rebounds in Game 2 and 17 points and nine rebounds the last game. Reid is expected to play around 28 minutes with a 23% usage rate. He will be a focal point in all lineup builds on this slate.
Fast Break
Even when Rudy Gobert is not scoring the ball, he is incredibly impactful. In Game 4, Gobert only scored four points but racked up 15 rebounds with two assists, two blocks, and two steals for 32.8 DraftKings points. It was his third game of this series, recording over 32 DraftKings points. Gobert has been amazing against Jokic defensively and will match his playing time if he can stay out of foul trouble. A double-double is firmly on the table with defensive upside. Don’t forget about him with the Timberwolves value.
