Friday features a three-game slate with plenty of avenues to build DFS lineups. Lock is at 5:30pm ET tonight, starting with the Pacers hosting the Bucks. Get those lineups in earlier than normal!
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 300 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 NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Despite a second consecutive night of shooting a below-average 11-for-26 from the field, Luka Doncic continues to have by far the highest projected ceiling. His 85-point ceiling projection is more than 25 points from the next closest player. Having that big of a gap is a huge reason why Doncic is projected to be the most popular player on the slate at 50% ownership. It helps that Doncic is also projected for a 40% usage rate and over 42 minutes after playing over 40 in back-to-back games.
After splitting the series in Los Angeles, the Mavericks are 4.5-point home favorites in Game 3 tonight. The Clippers have the perimeter defenders to make life difficult for Doncic, but that hasn’t slowed him down one bit. Due to his cheaper $11,700 salary, it is easier to fit Doncic into these playoff lineups. He also has a slate-high 11 Pro Trends. He is the best play tonight.
Value
Doncic has the highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate, but Patrick Beverley is not too far behind. The veteran point guard is starting for the Bucks’ with Giannis Antetokounmpo still out for Game 3. Priced under $5,000 with dual guard eligibility, Beverley is one of the best values on the slate. He has an 87% Bargain Rating and is one of three players with an ownership projection over 40%. Beverley is projected to play heavy minutes and fill up the stat sheet in a variety of ways.
The Bucks also split their series at home to the Pacers and are now six-point road underdogs. Despite being an underdog, this is the game to target from a DFS perspective. The total in this game is a slate-high 223.5 points, which is more than 10 points higher than the next closest game. Beverley is a cheap way to get exposure to a Bucks’ offense that needs production in any way.
Fast Break
Damian Lillard has scored 34 and 35 points in the first two playoff games for the Bucks. He has made double-digit field goals, including six 3-pointers in each game. Including the playoffs, in his 10 games played without Giannis this season, Lillard is averaging 30.8 points per game with a remarkable 35.8% usage rate. He has the second-highest projected ceiling at this position and also on the entire slate. For the Bucks to be competitive without Giannis, Lillard needs to dominate.
The guard to target for the Pacers is league assist leader Tyrese Haliburton. He has been in a funk since the All-Star Break but he is basically a lock to double-double every time he touches the floor, and that is hard to come by at the guard position. Haliburton had 44 double-doubles this year, which is second only to Doncic among non-centers. He has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at the point guard position, and it is only a matter of time until he has a breakout game in this series.
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
Shooting guard is another competitive position with plenty of options to pay up for. However, the best option must be Mavericks’ guard Kyrie Irving. Despite playing alongside Luka Doncic, who led the league in both scoring and usage rate this season, Irving also had a great first full year with the Mavericks. He was extremely efficient, shooting 49.7% from the field and 41.1% from behind the arc while averaging over 25 points per game. He has not disappointed in his first two playoff games either.
Irving does not have the triple-double ceiling upside like Doncic, but he still has a respectable ceiling and comes at a much cheaper price tag. At $8,400, Irving has a 96% Bargain Rating and is projected to play over 40 minutes tonight. Irving is a three-level scorer who can also gather peripherals in bunches. He has the highest projected ceiling at the shooting guard position tonight.
Value
Before the Game 2 struggles, Bradley Beal had posted a positive Plus/Minus in six consecutive games including in Game 1. In that six-game stretch, Beal averaged 24.8 points per game while shooting 61.3% from the field and 69% from long distance. The sharpshooter has been on a roll recently despite the Suns finding themselves down two games in this series. With Grayson Allen questionable to play with an ankle injury, Beal may get more offensive looks in this game tonight.
The Suns may be down 0-2, but they are 4.5-point home favorites against the Timberwolves as they look to crawl back into the series. In Beal’s first season with the Suns, he has had to take a bit of a backseat, but he has been efficient shooting the ball, with 51.3% from the field and 43% from downtown. Priced at $6,400 with a 97% Bargain Rating, Beal is a cheap way to get exposure to this explosive Suns offense.
Fast Break
Sticking with the Suns’ backcourt, Devin Booker is the most popular pay-up shooting guard on this three-game slate. Booker has been a major disappointment through the first two games, barely reaching over 30 DraftKings points in each contest. However, given his aggressive style of play and averaging a career-high 6.9 assists per game this season, Booker is due for a bounce-back game. The Timberwolves are the most difficult matchup on the slate, but Booker is favorably priced at $8,100 tonight.
Speaking of the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards had an incredible Game 1 but seemingly took off Game 2, with his usage rate plummeting from 39.3% to 22.7%. The inconsistency and boom-or-bust nature of Edwards is why he is projected for less than 10% ownership. With such a high ceiling, Edwards is a great contrarian pay-up tournament option. His shooting guard and small forward eligibility also makes it easy to fit Edwards into any lineup build tonight.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Pascal Siakam has put together back-to-back incredible performances for the Pacers. Since coming to the Pacers in the trade deadline, Siakam has been great. In his last two games, Siakam has posted a double-double in each contest, averaging 36.5 points, 12 rebounds, and 62.75 DraftKings points per game. The versatile forward has been putting the Bucks defense in a blender, and tonight should be no different. He has the highest projected ceiling and Plus/Minus at the small forward position.
The Bucks are a completely different team without Giannis, especially defensively. Their defensive rating drops from 115.8 to 121.8 this season when Giannis is out of the lineup. They have also been a poor rebounding team, which Siakam can take advantage of. Expect another strong performance from Siakam, who could record his third straight game with a points and rebounds double-double.
Value
With Bennedict Mathurin out for the season and the struggles from Haliburton, Pacers’ forward Aaron Nesmith has needed to step up and play heavy minutes. In the first two games of this series, Nesmith has played an average of 36.5 minutes per game. His usage rate has been below 10% in both contests, but Nesmith can do a little bit of everything on the court. In Game 2, Nesmith had 11 points, seven assists, and five rebounds for a total of 30.75 DraftKings points. That is great value for his $5,100 salary.
The Pacers have the highest implied total on the slate at 114.75 points, so getting exposure to Nesmith at his value is a great play in cash games. His ceiling is not high for tournaments, but Nesmith has displayed the ability to provide value. Playing that many minutes, Nesmith does not have to do much to return a DraftKings score that will be relevant on this three-game slate.
Fast Break
One of the biggest pieces of news we are following tonight is the status of Khris Middleton. After a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double in Game 1, Middleton regressed in Game 2 with only 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds while shooting 6-for-14 from the field. If Middleton is in and Giannis is ruled out, that will provide a significant boost to Middleton’s production. With Giannis off the floor this season, Middleton has posted a team-high +8.05% usage rate.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Among the Suns’ top three players, Kevin Durant easily has the best individual matchup. He is avoiding Jalen McDaniels and going to work against Karl-Anthony Towns. The Suns have been beaten by double-digits in both games thus far, but Durant has found success, averaging 24.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Durant has also found much more success playing at home this season compared to on the road. With a falling salary to $8,200, Durant has 10 Pro Trends and a 94% Bargain Rating.
Behind Pascal Siakam, Durant has the second-highest projected ceiling at the power forward position. He is projected for less than 15% ownership, which makes him another strong contrarian pay-up option. Playing in a must-win Game 3, expect Durant to do everything he can to make sure the Suns do not fall down 0-3. Durant is one of my favorite tournament plays on the slate tonight.
Value
If looking to dumpster dive and get elite value, look no further than Pacers’ forward Obi Toppin. He is coming off a near double-double in Game 2 with nine points and eight rebounds despite only playing 21 minutes. Toppin shot 4-for-11 in that game and had a 21.1% usage rate- way better results than his Game 1 performance where Toppin only played 15 minutes. Pairing Toppin with Doncic is a great way to attack DFS lineups tonight. This will be a popular build, but Toppin is only $3,400 in this spot.
Projected to play 19 minutes tonight, Toppin is projected for the second-highest ownership on the slate at 42%. His cheap price tag is resulting in a 96% Bargain Rating. The Pacers play at the second-fastest pace in the league, which bodes well for Toppin, who loves to leak out and get easy buckets. In this up-tempo game environment, Toppin will continue to thrive in this matchup.
Fast Break
The other important piece of news is the status of Kawhi Leonard. He is questionable once again with knee inflammation. Leonard was able to play in Game 2 after missing Game 1, but did not find much of a groove. He shot 7-for-17 from the field and 0-for-5 from behind the arc only scoring 15 points. However, he was able to gather seven rebounds and capture four steals. He is reasonably priced at $7,800, but if Leonard is unable to play, then Paul George is the immediate beneficiary.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
The center position does not have that one stand-alone option at the top. Rudy Gobert is the most expensive center and slightly has the highest projected ceiling, but by a minimal margin. Regardless, Gobert is coming off back-to-back games with a positive Plus/Minus and in six of his last seven. During that seven-game stretch, Gobert is averaging 18.3 points and 14 rebounds per game. Projected for 30% ownership, Gobert also has the most Pro Trends at this position with 10.
The Suns have been a strong rebounding team this season but a below-average paint defensive team. This is not the easiest matchup for Gobert, and he has struggled against them this year, but he also is one of the few centers on this slate who can put up a ceiling performance. Another double-double at his $7,200 salary with a few blocks may be enough to put him into the optimal lineup.
Value
Bobby Portis is another great way to get exposure to this Bucks-and-Pacers track meet. He has posted a double-double in both games in this series and in six of his last 10 games. With no Giannis on the floor, Portis has a +2.41% usage rate and a +4.75 DraftKings Plus/Minus. The Pacers rank 24th in rebounding percentage this season at 49.2%, so it would not be shocking if Portis captured his third double-double in a row. He has simply been very consistent when Giannis has not been in the lineup.
Portis has power forward and center eligibility and only costs $6,900. He has the third-highest projected ceiling and Plus/Minus at the center position. His dual eligibility makes him a little more popular at 30% ownership, but with Giannis out, expect this number to rise throughout the day. Portis’ salary has not budged despite how great he has played lately and this strong frontcourt matchup.
Fast Break
Myles Turner is a center value that has shown signs of a ceiling recently. He has posted a positive Plus/Minus in four-straight games while averaging 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game during that time. Turner has not posted a double-double against the Bucks in his last two games, but he has been close. He is the most popular center option on the slate with the second-highest projected ceiling and Plus/Minus. It is hard to get away from these Pacers options, including Myles Turner.
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