There are three games on Tuesday’s NBA slate as the first round of the playoffs continues.
This article was written on Monday night. Any changes will be updated. Keep track of all the injury news at DK Network.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $350K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
CJ McCollum, Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks ($6,800)
I don’t want to pay up at the position on this slate, so the midrange or lower is the path I will likely take. McCollum had a down game, finishing with 26.8 FPTS in Game 4, but he only played 32 minutes due to the blowout. He was at 34, 35 and 35 in the first three games of the series. He’s still contributing in the defensive categories, which is gravy, and he’s always in play to go for 20 to 30 points. The usage rate has been in the high-20s to low-30s for this series, and I expect a high number once again in a pivotal Game 5 in MSG.
Other Options: Jaylen Brown ($8,900), Stephon Castle ($7,500), De’Aaron Fox ($7,200), Jrue Holiday ($7,000), Josh Hart ($6,700), Payton Pritchard ($6,100)
Value
Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers ($3,800)
This is strictly a save-some-salary floor play. Johnson will only play in the high-teens to low-20s and will more than likely finish in the teens for FPTS, something he’s done in every game this series (14.2 to 19.2 FPTS). Want ceiling? Go somewhere else.
Other Options: Dylan Harper ($4,500)
Forward
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks ($8,500)
I do like a lot of options at forward, especially Jayson Tatum, but I’m going with Towns because there’s a good chance he finishes in the same FPTS range at $1,000 cheaper. Towns has adjusted to the Hawks’ adjustments and feasted the last two games, finishing with 56.8 and 55.5 FPTS. Towns messed around and put up 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 4 with two steals in only 29 minutes of action. MSG is going to be rocking for a pivotal Game 5 and I like Towns to continue the stellar play.
Other Options: Jayson Tatum ($9,500), Jaylen Brown ($8,900), Josh Hart ($6,700), OG Anunoby ($6,200)
Value
Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers ($5,500)
Vassell converted 38% of his looks from downtown during the regular season. Through four games in this series, he’s only at 33%, but he’s averaging 34 minutes a contest, scoring 13.3 points per game on 12.5 shot attempts and racking up defensive stats (six steals and five blocks). Vassell has put up at least 25 FPTS in all four games with two above 30 and a high of 43 FPTS.
Other Options: Jonathan Kuminga ($5,200), Julian Champagnie ($4,300), Keldon Johnson ($3,800)
Center
Stud
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics ($8,400)
Embiid missed seven games before returning for Game 4 of this series. He played 34 minutes and garnered a 39.6% usage rate, finishing with 52 FPTS. He’s listed as probable for Game 5, so I’m going to assume that he’s playing. I do like Victor Wembanyama a lot, but he’s $2,700 more expensive and there’s a good chance Embiid gets close to Wembanyama’s fantasy output.
Other Options: Victor Wembanyama ($11,000), Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,500)
Value
Robert Williams, Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs ($4,400)
Williams has played 26, 25 and 23 minutes over the last three games after receiving 17 minutes in the series opener. Donovan Clingan has played 22, 24, 20 and 14 minutes. Williams’ energy and athleticism is needed against the Spurs, so he will likely continuing getting more minutes than Clingan. Williams finished with 18.5 FPTS last game but put up 30.2, 34.8 and 25 FPTS in the first three games of the series.
Other Options: Onyeka Okongwu ($5,800)
