NBA DFS Picks: Top OwnersBox Plays for Friday (May 3)

BetMGM bonus code Magic-Cavaliers

OwnersBox is one of the unique DFS sites that still has traditional daily salary cap contests in addition to their Lightning Lineups contests.

In Lightning Lineups, the OwnersBox app will provide three sets of lineups for a given sport and slate, each lineup with three players. From there, users pick which lineup they think will score the most points. If you don’t like the options, you can spin for new lineups.

Spin. Pick. Win. OwnersBox innovative Lighting Lineups format is the most electric way to play daily fantasy sports.

However, they also have a traditional DFS format, which will be the focus of this article.

For OwnersBox, you use four guards, four forwards/centers, and one Superflex.

Also, our OwnersBox promo code delivers new users a $500 sign-up offer. Their 100% deposit match of up to $500 is by far the best among DFS sites.

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.

Note: Projections 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 Guard Picks

Luka Doncic ($10,800) vs. Los Angeles Clippers

The Mavs can close out the Clippers with a win at home in Game 6, and not surprisingly, Luka Doncic has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection of all the players in action by a wide margin. He has been playing through an injury and recovering from an illness, but he still led the way with 35 points in the Mavs’ huge win in Game 5.

In the series, Doncic has averaged 30.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.0 steals in 42.4 minutes per game. He has a team-high 35.2% usage rate and 37.9% assist rate as he continues to be the focal point of the Mavs’ entire offense. Despite the Clippers’ defense focusing on him, Doncic has been finding ways to produce plenty of fantasy points. He has a 36.6% usage projection in what could be a close-out game at home, and we could get a “Playoff Luka” performance.

Even though he’s been less than 100%, he has at least a double-double in all but one game in the series and had a nice 29-point triple-double in Game 4. He fills the box score in so many categories that he’s worth spending up on to build around on Friday’s two-game slate.


Terance Mann ($3,700) at Dallas Mavericks Pacers

One way to help balance Luka’s hefty salary is by going with Mann at one of your other roster spots. Mann has the second-highest Pts/Sal of all guards and should be in a good spot to deliver value while getting more minutes and usage with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined.

Mann has started every game in this series but played under 23 minutes in Game 2 and Game 3 when Kawhi played. In each of the three games without Kawhi, Mann has played over 30 minutes and scored double-digit points. He fell just one rebound short of a double-double in Game 1 and added seven boards in Game 5.

Mann typically produces solid non-scoring stats, so he should be a great source of value as long as he’s getting around 30 minutes. Our projections have him for 33.7 minutes with a 14.3% usage rate, and if he’s near those numbers, he’ll be a great play under $4,000.

Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:

NBA DFS Forward/Center Picks

Paolo Banchero ($7,100) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

In his first trip to the playoffs, Paolo Banchero has not disappointed. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection of all forwards/centers on Friday, and he’s tied for the second-highest Pts/Sal, which shows he’s significantly under-priced based on his upside.

Banchero has scored 20+ points in all but one of the games in this series, and the one exception was a Game 4 blowout win for the Magic with his teammate Franz Wagner doing most of the heavy lifting. Banchero took over in Game 5 and scored a series-high 39 points on the road in Cleveland. He added eight rebounds and four assists, but the Magic came up one point short. They’ll need a win on Friday to avoid elimination, and I expect Banchero to step up and provide another huge stat line.

In the series, Banchero is averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. He had a double-double with 31 points and 14 boards in Game 3 in Orlando, and he brings a similar ceiling in this matchup. He leads the team with a 33.9% usage rate in the series and has an even higher 39.0% usage projection for this “win or go home” game that should bring out the best in the rising young superstar.


Derrick Jones Jr. ($3,200) vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Jones has the highest Pts/Sal of any player in our projections for this Friday since he comes at such a bargain basement salary. He has been a big part of the Mavs’ rotation in this series since Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle) has missed the entire series.

Jones has started each of the five games in the series. He went scoreless in Game 1, but he has scored double-digit points in each of the four games since then, averaging 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 11.8 points over those four games. Jones has six to eight field goal attempts in each of those four games and should continue to provide efficient scoring and good defense on the wing. While he doesn’t typically go off and score a ton of points, he consistently finds ways to complement the high-usage backcourt tandem of Luka and Kyrie Irving.

DJJ is a bargain play that should be very involved again in Game 6, and he can help balance out the salaries of Luka, Banchero, or other top options on OwnersBox. He also is a strong value option at the Superflex spot since he has the highest Pts/Sal on the slate.

OwnersBox is one of the unique DFS sites that still has traditional daily salary cap contests in addition to their Lightning Lineups contests.

In Lightning Lineups, the OwnersBox app will provide three sets of lineups for a given sport and slate, each lineup with three players. From there, users pick which lineup they think will score the most points. If you don’t like the options, you can spin for new lineups.

Spin. Pick. Win. OwnersBox innovative Lighting Lineups format is the most electric way to play daily fantasy sports.

However, they also have a traditional DFS format, which will be the focus of this article.

For OwnersBox, you use four guards, four forwards/centers, and one Superflex.

Also, our OwnersBox promo code delivers new users a $500 sign-up offer. Their 100% deposit match of up to $500 is by far the best among DFS sites.

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.

Note: Projections 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 Guard Picks

Luka Doncic ($10,800) vs. Los Angeles Clippers

The Mavs can close out the Clippers with a win at home in Game 6, and not surprisingly, Luka Doncic has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection of all the players in action by a wide margin. He has been playing through an injury and recovering from an illness, but he still led the way with 35 points in the Mavs’ huge win in Game 5.

In the series, Doncic has averaged 30.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.0 steals in 42.4 minutes per game. He has a team-high 35.2% usage rate and 37.9% assist rate as he continues to be the focal point of the Mavs’ entire offense. Despite the Clippers’ defense focusing on him, Doncic has been finding ways to produce plenty of fantasy points. He has a 36.6% usage projection in what could be a close-out game at home, and we could get a “Playoff Luka” performance.

Even though he’s been less than 100%, he has at least a double-double in all but one game in the series and had a nice 29-point triple-double in Game 4. He fills the box score in so many categories that he’s worth spending up on to build around on Friday’s two-game slate.


Terance Mann ($3,700) at Dallas Mavericks Pacers

One way to help balance Luka’s hefty salary is by going with Mann at one of your other roster spots. Mann has the second-highest Pts/Sal of all guards and should be in a good spot to deliver value while getting more minutes and usage with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined.

Mann has started every game in this series but played under 23 minutes in Game 2 and Game 3 when Kawhi played. In each of the three games without Kawhi, Mann has played over 30 minutes and scored double-digit points. He fell just one rebound short of a double-double in Game 1 and added seven boards in Game 5.

Mann typically produces solid non-scoring stats, so he should be a great source of value as long as he’s getting around 30 minutes. Our projections have him for 33.7 minutes with a 14.3% usage rate, and if he’s near those numbers, he’ll be a great play under $4,000.

Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:

NBA DFS Forward/Center Picks

Paolo Banchero ($7,100) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

In his first trip to the playoffs, Paolo Banchero has not disappointed. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection of all forwards/centers on Friday, and he’s tied for the second-highest Pts/Sal, which shows he’s significantly under-priced based on his upside.

Banchero has scored 20+ points in all but one of the games in this series, and the one exception was a Game 4 blowout win for the Magic with his teammate Franz Wagner doing most of the heavy lifting. Banchero took over in Game 5 and scored a series-high 39 points on the road in Cleveland. He added eight rebounds and four assists, but the Magic came up one point short. They’ll need a win on Friday to avoid elimination, and I expect Banchero to step up and provide another huge stat line.

In the series, Banchero is averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. He had a double-double with 31 points and 14 boards in Game 3 in Orlando, and he brings a similar ceiling in this matchup. He leads the team with a 33.9% usage rate in the series and has an even higher 39.0% usage projection for this “win or go home” game that should bring out the best in the rising young superstar.


Derrick Jones Jr. ($3,200) vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Jones has the highest Pts/Sal of any player in our projections for this Friday since he comes at such a bargain basement salary. He has been a big part of the Mavs’ rotation in this series since Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle) has missed the entire series.

Jones has started each of the five games in the series. He went scoreless in Game 1, but he has scored double-digit points in each of the four games since then, averaging 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 11.8 points over those four games. Jones has six to eight field goal attempts in each of those four games and should continue to provide efficient scoring and good defense on the wing. While he doesn’t typically go off and score a ton of points, he consistently finds ways to complement the high-usage backcourt tandem of Luka and Kyrie Irving.

DJJ is a bargain play that should be very involved again in Game 6, and he can help balance out the salaries of Luka, Banchero, or other top options on OwnersBox. He also is a strong value option at the Superflex spot since he has the highest Pts/Sal on the slate.

About the Author

Zach Thompson writes NBA, MLB, NFL, golf and soccer content for Fantasy Labs. Zach's fantasy experience dates all the way back to high school when he would manually tabulate fantasy football scores using Tuesday morning's newspaper. Even though he was raised on the island of Guam on the opposite side of the world, Zach is a hardcore Boston sports fan who loves playing fantasy sports in almost any format. He's always in search of a great bargain play and keeps a close eye out for rising talent that can provide leverage. Zach joined the FantasyLabs team in 2022 and is also a contributor for DraftKings Network.