We have three Game 3s tonight. All of the higher seeds took care of business at home. Now the venues change. The odds are bleak for the teams down 0-2, but they will become insurmountable if they go down 0-3. There have been 151 NBA teams to go down 0-3. Only four forced a Game 7, with none advancing. Joel Embiid ($10,400) and Mitchell Robinson ($4,400) are questionable. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
DraftKings Sportsbook has ORL -2 over CLE at home. The total is 201. PHI is -5 at home over NYK. The total is 203. DEN is -1 on the road against LAL. The total is 216.5. During the regular season, ORL was 29-12 at home while CLE was 22-19 on the road. PHI was 25-16 at home while NYK was 23-18 on the road. DEN was 24-17 on the road while LAL was 28-14 at home. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
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Guard
Stud
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks ($7,900) – In the first two games of the series, Maxey played 45 and 44 minutes, garnering a usage rate of 30.3 and 33.4 percent. He attempted 16 and 20 shots, converting them for 33 and 35 points. Maxey has been an offensive force for Philadelphia all season long, which culminated in being named the Most Improved Player for the regular season. With Embiid not 100 percent, and the 76ers facing a 0-2 deficit, I expect Maxey to go bonkers at home.
Other Options – Jamal Murray ($8,100), D’Angelo Russell ($6,400)
Value
Kyle Lowry, Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks ($4,700) – Lowry is a low-usage player but he chips in across the board and should be out on the court plenty. In the first two games of this series, Lowry played 34 and 39 minutes. The usage rate was only 13.8 and 10.2 percent, but he still managed to produce 31.5 and 26.5 DKFP. During the regular season, he shot 48 percent from the field and 41 percent from downtown at home compared to 40 percent and 37 percent respectively on the road.
Other Options – Max Strus ($5,400), Jalen Suggs ($5,300)
Forward
Stud
Josh Hart, New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers ($7,300) – Hart rarely garners a usage rate above 20 percent, yet he is so productive because he literally contributes in every facet of the game. He is one of the best rebounders at his position, contributes on the defensive end and has been a sniper from downtown. Thibs trusts him wholeheartedly, which is the most important part of the equation. He played 48 and 42 minutes in the first two games of this series, producing 54.75 and 45.75 DKFP, and should see a similar workload tonight. The price is too good for the expected playing time and possibly ceiling.
Other Options – LeBron James ($9,500), Evan Mobley ($7,000), Michael Porter Jr. ($6,300)
Value
Moritz Wagner, Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ($3,600) – Jonathan Isaac ($4,800) started the first two games at center, playing 29 minutes in Game 1 but only receiving 20 minutes in Game 2. There was no foul trouble or injury, but the size of Jarrett Allen ($7,400) was the likely culprit for the decreased playing time. Enter Wagner who has 15 pounds more girth. That said, Wagner still only played 21 minutes in Game 2, but it was seven more minutes than in Game 1. He’s gone for 18.25 and 23 DKFP in the two games this series. That ain’t bad for the price.
Other Options – Max Strus ($5,400)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers ($11,500) – Jokic wasn’t his other-worldly fantasy self during the regular season, as he wasn’t putting up over 70 DKFP on the regular. GASP! There were nights when he’d “only” produce 50 or even 40 DKFP. Oh, the humanity! It’s money time now, though, and the Jokic we have come to revere is back. He’s a threat to triple-double on any given night and has the highest floor/ceiling combo on the slate. In the first two games of this series, Jokic put up 63.5 and 75 DKFP.
Other Options – Joel Embiid ($10,400), Anthony Davis ($9,800), Jarrett Allen ($7,400), Evan Mobley ($7,000)
Value
Isaiah Hartenstein, New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers ($5,300) – Hartenstein played only 18 minutes in Game 1, as Mitchell Robinson received 30 minutes. He still put up 23.25 DKFP. In Game 2, Hartenstein played 31 minutes while Robinson was limited, and he contributed 35 DFKP. Robinson is questionable for tonight, so there’s a good chance Hartenstein gets over 30 minutes of run again. Over the last five games, Hartenstein has dished out four, three, four, six and six dimes while blocking three, two, two, two and three shots.
Other Options – Moritz Wagner ($3,600)
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.
