Sunday features a four-game main slate starting at 1 p.m. ET.
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.
Stud
We have four games to choose from Sunday, and all four series are currently sitting at 2-1. The Knicks, Timberwolves, Celtics, and Pacers will all look to take commanding 3-1 leads, while the Pistons, Lakers, Magic, and Bucks will look to knot things up at two games apiece.
For fantasy purposes, Cade Cunningham stands out as one of the strongest stud targets of the day. He has not looked phased in his first career playoff series, particularly in his past two outings. He’s racked up 60.75 and 56.0 DraftKings points in those outings, and he’s logged at least 42.4 minutes in both.
Cunningham should see another monster workload in what is essentially a must-win contest. He’s currently projected for 42 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 1.48 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. That’s the second-highest mark on the slate, better even than Luka Doncic. It’s tough to pass up that combination at just $9,500.
Ultimately, Cunningham leads the entire slate in projected Plus/Minus, and he’s second in ceiling projection.
Value
Sticking with the Pistons, Dennis Schroder is another potential option in their backcourt. He has been a big part of the team’s rotation off the bench, logging at least 29.3 minutes in back-to-back games. He’s responded with at least 27.5 DraftKings points in both contests, and there’s no reason to expect much to change in Game 4.
Schroder is available at just $4,500 on DraftKings, which is simply too cheap for the volume of minutes he’s been playing. He’s historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.18 with a comparable salary and minute projection, and it’s been even higher as a member of the Pistons (per the Trends tool). On a slate with plenty of strong pay-up options, Schroder stands out as a much-needed source of savings.
Fast Break
Tyrese Haliburton checks in behind Cunningham at the top of the position, but he’s an excellent target in his own right. He doesn’t have the same high-end range of outcomes, but he’s a great bet to pay off his $8,400 salary. He’s averaged 1.30 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s scored at least 42.75 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. The matchup between the Bucks and Pacers also has the highest total of the day by a comfortable margin, making it one of the strongest games to target.
Jalen Brunson can occasionally be overlooked for fantasy purposes. He’s projected for just 13.6% ownership on this slate, but he has been outstanding in his first three playoff contests this season. He’s scored at least 49.0 DraftKings points in each contest, and he’s had exactly 54.25 DraftKings points in two straight. That makes him an interesting pivot for tournaments, with Cunningham and Haliburton each projected for at least 35% ownership.
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
Anthony Edwards is coming off his best game of the playoffs in his last outing. He was excellent as a scorer, finishing with 29 points and five 3-pointers, and he was also productive in the peripheral categories. He had eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and a block, so it was a well-rounded performance.
Edwards has averaged 1.28 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for 40 minutes Sunday. He leads the position in ceiling projection and projected Plus/Minus, making him an excellent combination of safety and upside.
Value
Donte DiVincenzo has been volatile through the first three games vs. the Lakers. He had just 9.75 DraftKings points across 16.1 foul-plagued minutes in Game 2, but he had 30.75 DraftKings points in 30.7 minutes in Game 3.
Which version will we see Sunday? That remains to be seen, but we currently have DiVincenzo projected for 26 minutes in our NBA Models. He’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute over the past month, so he should be able to pay off his $4,500 salary with that much playing time. Ultimately, his 34.03% optimal lineup rate ranks second at the position.
Fast Break
Austin Reaves struggled through the first two games vs. the Timberwolves, but he bounced back with a strong showing in Game 3. He finished with 37.25 DraftKings points in 41.1 minutes, and no one at the position is projected for more minutes Sunday. His per-minute production has been down to start the series, but so is his salary: he’s seen a price decrease of more than $2,000 since the end of the regular season, making him an interesting buy-low option.
Aaron Nesmith has posted a positive Plus/Minus in back-to-back games, including a massive 38.25 DraftKings points in his last outing. He’s ultimately averaged 0.95 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s expected to see around 30 minutes Sunday. That’s more than enough to warrant consideration at $4,800.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jayson Tatum played through a doubtful designation in Game 3. The Celtics ultimately came up short against the Magic, but Tatum put together a strong statistical performance. His usage rate was all the way up to 40.7%, and he finished with 36 points and 55.75 DraftKings points.
If Tatum is going to continue to handle that many offensive opportunities, he has an immense ceiling at $9,200. He’s also expected to fly way under the radar on this slate. His projected ownership is currently listed at 6%, while his optimal lineup rate is closer to 15%. He ranks third at the position in projected Plus/Minus, and he boasts the highest ceiling projection.
Value
The first two playoff contests for the Knicks featured an abundance of Brunson, but the team made a concerted effort to get the rest of the team more involved in Game 3. It worked to perfection, with four of the team’s starters getting to at least 20 points.
That includes Mikal Bridges. He finished with 43.25 DraftKings points after scoring 32.25 in Game 2. He’s simply too cheap at $5,600, and he has the potential to crush that price tag if the Knicks employ a similar offensive philosophy in Game 4.
Fast Break
Things were looking extremely bleak for the Bucks after the first two games vs. the Pacers, but Gary Trent Jr. potentially saved their season. He came seemingly out of nowhere to finish with 53.25 DraftKings points across 34.1 minutes. I wouldn’t expect a repeat performance, as he’s not going to shoot 9-12 from 3-point range again, but he has solidified a larger role in the rotation moving forward. He’s another potential source of savings at $4,500.
Jaden McDaniels has been instrumental in the Timberwolves’ wins vs. the Lakers. He’s had at least 41.75 DraftKings points in Games 1 and 3, but he dipped to just 16.0 in their Game 2 loss. With the Lakers attempting to hide Doncic on him on defense, he’s going to continue to be a huge X-factor in this series. He has much more upside than his $5,400 price tag suggests.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
There is no question that Giannis Antetokounmpo has the top ceiling on this slate. He’s been one of the best producers in fantasy all season, and he’s racked up 1.83 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s scored 57.5, 68.5, and 62.0 DraftKings points in his first three playoff outings, and there’s no reason to expect anything different in Game 4.
The bigger question is whether or not you can afford him. He’s the most expensive player on the slate by a pretty wide margin, and there aren’t a ton of elite values to choose from. That makes squeezing in his $11,800 salary a tough proposition.
Ultimately, Giannis is showing up in the optimal lineup simulations at just an 8.48% clip. His projected ownership is significantly higher at 23.0%, making him a scary but justifiable fade candidate. He always has the potential to go nuclear, but some of the other pay-up options stand out as much stronger values.
Value
OG Anunoby checks a lot of the same boxes as Bridges. He’s a bit more expensive at $6,500, but he’s also been the more productive player of late. He’s averaged 0.99 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for a slate-best 42 minutes Sunday. Anunoby’s production has been down recently, but he managed 22 points for the Knicks in Game 3. His peripheral numbers were uncharacteristically low with two rebounds and zero assists, which impacted his fantasy production. He should bounce back in those areas moving forward, and he has the top optimal lineup rate at the position.
Fast Break
Paolo Banchero is coming off his worst game of the playoffs, which was ironically the only game that the Magic have won. He had at least 58.75 DraftKings points in each of his first two postseason contests, giving him plenty of upside at $9,400. His 12 Pro Trends rank first at the position, while his current salary comes with a 75% Bargain Rating.
Tobias Harris has been a relatively easy target in recent years. He got most of the blame whenever the 76ers flamed out in the playoffs, and he has a tendency to disappear at times. Harris is looking to change that narrative in Detroit, and he’s had two solid performances through his first three games. He scored at least 36.25 DraftKings points in Games 1 and 2 before struggling with foul trouble in Game 3. Harris should see around 40 minutes if he can stay out of foul trouble Sunday, which is more than enough to pay off his $6,300 salary.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns was significantly more aggressive offensively in Game 3. He posted usage rates of just 16.7% and 15.3% in his first two matchups vs. the Pistons, but that number was all the way up to 25.0% in Game 3. That’s still lower than his 27.4% mark from the regular season, but it’s at least a step in the right direction.
Towns is one of the most gifted offensive big men in NBA history, and the Knicks need to continue to feature him in the playoffs. When they do, they’re one of the best offensive teams in the league. It makes Towns an intriguing option at just $8,600 on DraftKings, especially given his 96% Bargain Rating.
Value
Bobby Portis is another member of the Bucks who has taken on a more prominent role recently. He’s played at least 31.9 minutes in back-to-back games, and he erupted for 51.0 DraftKings points in Game 2. He came back to reality with just 27.0 DraftKings points in Game 3, but that was still enough to return value. Portis has averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he can do plenty of damage with around 30 minutes of playing time.
Fast Break
Wendell Carter Jr. doesn’t have the same ceiling as some of the other value plays on this slate, but he’s a good bet to pay off his $5,200 salary. He’s done exactly that in back-to-back games, and he’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute over the past month. He’s seen at least 30 minutes in each of his past two outings, and he should see a comparable workload in Game 4.
Julius Randle has struggled to get acclimated with the Timberwolves at times, but they’re going to need him to get past the Lakers. He’s turned in back-to-back solid fantasy performances, including 45.5 DraftKings points in Game 2. He ultimately ranks second at the position in projected Plus/Minus, trailing only Portis.
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Pictured: Cade Cunningham
Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski, Imagn Images
