Wednesday features a two-game slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs Tools and metrics.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly. Consult the Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Luka Doncic has been fantastic for the Mavericks recently. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +2.88 over his past 10 games on DraftKings, and he’s increased his production to 1.73 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He did miss the first three games of the Mavs’ first-round series vs. the Jazz, but he’s scored at least 54.0 DraftKings points in all four games since rejoining the lineup.
That includes a monster performance in his first meeting vs. the Suns. He racked up 75.0 DraftKings points thanks to 45 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists, and he also posted a 42.8% usage rate. Even in a tough matchup, no one on this slate can match his upside.
Value
Kyle Lowry remains out of the lineup for the Heat, so Gabe Vincent should draw another start at point guard. He’s currently listed as questionable, but the Heat have had a jam-packed injury report all year. I would expect him to be in the lineup.
Vincent has been a solid contributor in games without Lowry this season. Between the regular season and playoffs, he’s averaged 30.5 minutes and 22.2 DraftKings points per game in 22 games with Lowry out of the lineup. He has gotten a bit more expensive recently, but he’s one of the safest options in this price range.
Fast Break
The Suns stand out as a nice source of value on DraftKings. Chris Paul is priced at just $8,700, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 83%. He’s coming off a poor performance in his last outing, finishing with just 34.25 DraftKings points over 28.8 minutes, but he had scored at least 51.5 DraftKings points in five of his previous seven games. He’s a nice buy-low option.
Tyrese Maxey is worth some consideration for the shorthanded 76ers. Joel Embiid remains out of the lineup, and Maxey has increased his usage rate by +6.1% with Embiid off the court this season. He leads the position with 11 Pro Trends on FanDuel, and his $6,900 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 83%.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
It’s going to be tough to avoid Devin Booker on Wednesday. His price has dropped precipitously since the start of the postseason, and his $8,200 salary on DraftKings comes with a Bargain Rating of 94%. Booker is coming off 48.25 DraftKings points in his last outing, so he can definitely pay off that figure. The Suns’ implied team total of 111.25 is also the top mark on the slate, further increasing Booker’s appeal.
Value
Max Strus is another potential source of value for the Heat. He’s also listed as questionable – along with Tyler Herro, P.J. Tucker, and Caleb Martin – but he’s been a solid contributor during the postseason. He’s coming off a poor showing in Game 1 vs. the 76ers, but he posted a positive Plus/Minus in each of his previous five outings. He also logged 32.8 minutes in his last contest, and he’s averaged 0.80 DraftKings points per minute this season. He should be able to bounce back in Game 2.
Fast Break
I have Booker as the clear top choice at SG on DraftKings, but James Harden has a stake to the claim on FanDuel. He’s actually -$300 cheaper than Booker, and his $9,000 price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 91%. He also leads the position with 13 Pro Trends, and while his production has been subpar recently, he has the chance for a big performance with Embiid sidelined. He’s increased his usage rate by +11.3% with Embiid off the floor since joining the 76ers, and he’s projected for 40 minutes in our NBA Models.
Spencer Dinwiddie’s role has shrunk with Doncic back in the lineup, but he’s still playing around 30 minutes per game. That’s enough to make him viable at his current salary across the industry. Dinwiddie has averaged 0.95 DraftKings points per minute this season.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jimmy Butler is really your only option if you’re looking to pay up at small forward. He’s priced at $9,000 on DraftKings, and no one else at the position is priced above $6,000.
However, Butler is not a priority pay-up for me at that price tag. He’s put together some huge games during the postseason, but Butler has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of -4.81 with a comparable salary (per the Trends tool). The game between the Heat and 76ers also figures to be a bit of a slog, with both teams ranking in the bottom five in pace this season. The total currently sits at just 208 points, and the first game landed exactly on that figure.
Value
Dorian Finney-Smith is my preferred option at SF on this slate. He’s reasonably priced at just $5,600, and he’s playing all the minutes he can handle for the Mavs. He’s racked up at least 39.8 minutes in each of their seven playoff contests, including 40.5 minutes in Game 1 vs. the Suns. DFS isn’t an elite per-minute producer, but his average of 0.75 DraftKings points per minute over the past month is enough to get the job done. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.85.
Fast Break
Mikal Bridges is very similar to Finney-Smith. He’s not going to blow you away with his per-minute efficiency, but he should make up for it through sheer volume. He’s currently projected for 41 minutes in our NBA Models, and his $6,000 salary on DraftKings comes with a Bargain Rating of 75%.
Tyler Herro was officially awarded the Sixth Man of the Year award on Tuesday, garnering 96 out of a possible 100 first place votes. He’s also been excellent during the postseason, scoring at least 29.2 FanDuel points in three of his past four games. He’s one of the best pure values at SF on FanDuel, leading the position with a Bargain Rating of 94%.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Tobias Harris has emerged as one of the 76ers’ most trusted scorers during the postseason. Bet you didn’t see that twist coming. He struggled mightily after the addition of Harden before the trade deadline, but he’s settled into his new role. He’s scored at least 31.25 DraftKings points in seven straight games, and he’s racked up at least 37.0 in five of them.
Harris is also going to have to pick up the slack with Embiid sidelined. He saw one of the largest usage bumps on the team in Game 1 vs. the Heat, leading the squad with a 29.7% usage rate.
Value
It never feels great to roster P.J. Tucker, but it has paid off more than not recently. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of the Heat’s first six postseason contests, including Game 1 vs. the 76ers. He’s also increased his production to 0.80 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he should play around 30 minutes in competitive contests. That’s enough to make him viable at $4,300, especially at a weak position.
Fast Break
Maxi Kleber is another potential option in the Mavs’ frontcourt. He’s racked up at least 20.0 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, and he’s capable of scoring fantasy points in a variety of ways. He excelled as a scorer in Game 1 vs. the Suns – finishing with 19 points on 6-9 shooting – and he had six rebounds and three assists in Game 6 vs. the Jazz. Overall, he’s averaged 0.87 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Paul Reed didn’t get the bump in playing time that most were expecting sans Embiid, but that didn’t stop him from providing value. He racked up 25.8 FanDuel points in just 13.1 minutes, and Reed has been an elite fantasy producer on a per-minute basis all year. If he sees a few extra minutes on Wednesday, he could be a slate-breaker.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Bam Adebayo is one of the most underrated players in basketball, but perhaps that will change after the postseason. He’s coming off back-to-back big games, including 51.0 DraftKings points in Game 1 vs. the 76ers. He was a nearly perfect 8-10 from the field, and he should continue to have his way with the 76ers’ frontcourt for as long as Embiid is sidelined. He’s underpriced at just $8,000.
Value
DeAndre Jordan earned a spot start for the 76ers in Game 1, but he disappointed with just 9.5 DraftKings points over 17.3 minutes. That said, Jordan has averaged 1.02 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he should be able to improve with a comparable workload in Game 2. I’m not sure if Jordan will earn another start, but he’s currently projected for 18 minutes in our NBA Models.
Fast Break
Deandre Ayton doesn’t have the same upside as Adebayo, but he’s been a solid fantasy producer of late. He actually posted a higher usage rate than usual in Game 1 vs. the Mavericks, and his 20 field goal attempts were tied for his top mark of the postseason. Using him and Adebayo together makes sense on FanDuel, where both players have a Bargain Rating of 64%.
