We are down to the last two matchups to fill the Conference Semifinal brackets on each side. And they both happen to be the 4/5 matchups, with the lower seeds at home tonight trying to force a Game 7. In the DAL/LAC series, home court has meant diddly squat, as the road team has won three of the five games. In the CLE/ORL series, the home team has won every contest. Orlando has been an offensive beast at home, scoring 121 and 112 points, after being limited to 83 and 86 points in the first two games. They scored 103 in Game 5 with Jarrett Allen ($7,000) out. Kawhi Leonard is out. Jarrett Allen, Gary Harris ($3,600) and Terance Mann ($4,000) are questionable. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
DraftKings Sportsbook has ORL -4 over CLE at home. The total is 200. DAL is -8 over LAC at home. The total is 208. As mentioned above, the home team has won every game in the CLE/ORL series while the road team has taken three of the five games in the LAC/DAL series. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
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Guard
Stud
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers ($11,900) – Such an interesting slate because I’m able to fit in Doncic, despite him being the highest-priced player by a wide margin. There are also a ton of guys I like in the $8k range, so a more balanced roster construction works as well. I’m high on the Magic players while I think the Clippers guys bounce back from their horrendous Game 5s.
I will write up Doncic because he has the highest floor/ceiling combo on the slate. Yes, he’s expensive but you’re getting what you pay for. He is going to play over 40 minutes barring foul trouble, injury or blowout. The usage rate will be above 30 percent and he will more than likely triple-double. He’s gone for at least 50 DKFP in every game this series with three above 60. But he’s the only one on the slate who has a legitimate chance of going for 80 or 90 DKFP.
Other Options – Kyrie Irving ($8,900), James Harden ($8,700)
Value
Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ($5,700) – Suggs isn’t an offensive force who will break down defenses and get buckets. The usage rate will range from the teens to the low 20s. He does hit the open J, though, and will grab rebounds, but is out there for his defensive prowess. He’s racked up seven steals this series, with three games with two. There’s been only one game he hasn’t racked up one. He also has three blocks. When the shot is falling, he can access a ceiling game, as he did in Game 3 with 24 points and 40.5 DKFP. More than likely, he will end up in the 20-DKFP range.
Other Options – Norman Powell ($4,900)
Forward
Stud
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks ($8,600) – I really like Banchero tonight, so this is a tough one. The reason I side with George is because I will likely roster Doncic. If Doncic has a ceiling game, that probably means the Clippers are playing well, which means George is probably having a good game himself.
George shot 4-of-13 from the field and 2-of-6 from downtown in Game 5. He only played 33 minutes due to the blowout but was still able to manage 35.75 DKFP due to the 11 rebounds and four assists. Game 4 was in Dallas and George put up 33 points, six rebounds, eight assists, four steals and a block, good for 64 DKFP in a game the Clippers won. Kawhi is out, so George and Harden will be the guys on offense.
Other Options – Paolo Banchero ($8,300), Franz Wagner ($7,200)
Value
Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ($4,200) – Isaac probably won’t play more than 20 minutes, which lowers the floor and decreases the chance of a ceiling game. Orlando has been a different beast at home this series, flying around on defense and getting out in transition. Isaac can hit the corner trey and be an absolute menace on defense due to his length and athleticism. He will likely end up in the teens for DKFP, but I think there’s a good chance he gets close to 30. I’ll risk it for the biscuit.
Other Options – Derrick Jones Jr. ($4,600)
Center
Stud
Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks ($6,600) – Zubac double-doubled in the first two games of the series, finishing with 4525 and 30.5 DKFP. Since then, he’s been somewhat neutralized on the boards, but he’s still been able to score and rack up steals. He has one steal in every game this series and the usage rate has been above 20 percent in every contest. He will likely finish in the 30-DKFP range if he plays around 30 minutes.
Value
Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ($4,400) – WCJ entered the starting lineup three games ago and played 25, 24 and 33 minutes. The fantasy production has increased from 8.25 to 19.25 to 31.75 DKFP. The usage rate is low, so he makes his hay on the glass and defensive end. I expect the Magic to be flying around tonight and play with pace, so there should be plenty of opportunities for WCJ to rack up some fantasy goodies.
Other Options – Dereck Lively ($4,100), Maxi Kleber ($3.300)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
