The first round of the NBA playoffs continues Sunday with a two-game slate. The Cavaliers will be hosting the Pacers for Game 1 of their semifinals series, while the Rockets will be hosting the Warriors for Game 7 of their first round series. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players and below, I dive into three of my favorite DFS picks to consider for Sunday’s playoff games.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $350K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
SF/PF, Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets, $8,400
This price tag is far too low for Butler in a Game 7 and he is a must-play for this two-game slate. In Game 6 vs. the Rockets, Butler logged 42.1 minutes and finished 52.25 FPTS. The veteran has now scored at least 44.75 FPTS in seven of his past 10 starts and Butler should once again barely leave the floor in Game 7. Butler is amassing 1.2 FPTS per minute in a Warriors’ uniform with a 21.9% usage rate and 27.4% assist percentage, and as we saw in Game 6, the wing always seems to elevate his game in the biggest moments of the playoffs.
Butler posted 52.25 FPTS the last time he competed in a Game 7 two years ago with the Heat and he is a threat for over 50 FPTS in Sunday’s Game 7 in Houston.
C, Steven Adams, Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors, $3,800
Adams was massive in the Rockets’ Game 6 win in Golden State, posting 31.25 FPTS in 31 minutes off the bench. The veteran racked up four defensive stats and this was the fourth time in the six games of this series against the Warriors that Adams has topped 20 FPTS. Another effort over 30 FPTS is unlikely in Game 7, but Adams should see around 20 minutes of work and the savvy veteran has a great chance to surpass five-times value.
This will be Adams’ third career Game 7 and the big man is producing 1.0 FPTS per minute this season. Adams is the strongest sub $4K target for this short slate and is a valuable piece that helps you roster multiple studs.
C, Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers, $6,500
Allen was excellent in the Cavaliers’ first round sweep over the Heat, generating 35.4 FPTS per game, including three double-doubles. The center saw over 30 minutes in the two competitive tilts of that series with Miami and Allen should receive over 30 minutes in Sunday’s Game 1 vs. the Pacers. Cleveland is only favored by eight points for this contest on DraftKings Sportsbook and three of the four matchups between the Cavaliers and Pacers in the regular season were decided by 10 points or less.
This season, Allen is supplying 1.2 FPTS per minute and he has been more productive on his home floor with 33.9 FPTS per game, compared to the 31 FPTS per game he is averaging on the road. This Indiana club that ranks seventh in pace is giving up the fifth-most points in the paint this season and Allen has a ceiling over 40 FPTS in this compelling spot.
