We’ve got another two-game postseason NBA slate on Friday, with the Clippers looking to close out the Nuggets in Game 5, and the Celtics and Raptors squaring off in a winner-take-all Game 7. Here are some plays that jump out on DraftKings on this two-game slate.
Set your DraftKings lineups here: NBA $450K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Kemba Walker, BOS vs. TOR ($7,700)
Kemba’s dud was one of the biggest storylines from Game 6, scoring just five points on 2-of-11 shooting in a whopping 52 minutes. Walker needs to be better than that to give his team a chance in Game 7, and he knows it. I’ll take advantage of the price drop here and count on a bounce-back game.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Patrick Beverley, LAC vs. DEN ($3,800)
Beverley’s been the PG value by default on the slates featuring these two matchups. No real new info to add this time around. He’s played over 21 minutes in consecutive games, and has 20-DKFP potential. With limited value, it’s tough not to roster a starter that’s less than $4,000.
Lineup Strategy
Kyle Lowry ($8,600) should be a popular play after his 60.5-DKFP Game 6. I think this is the spot to fade him, with his salary it’s highest yet, and coming off 53 minutes in the game. Lowry will compete in Game 7, but expecting him to exceed value at this price is a tall order.
Shooting Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Jaylen Brown, BOS vs. TOR ($8,000)
Brown carried the Celtics in the first half of Game 6 and wound up going for 60-DKFP with a 31-point, 16-rebound double-double. As I’ve been pointing to in the Cheat Sheet all series, this is a better matchup for Brown than Jayson Tatum ($9,500). Keep going to Brown, even with the price difference finally starting to shrink.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Gary Harris, DEN vs. LAC ($4,600)
Harris played just 23 minutes in Game 4, which was a bit concerning after playing 29 and 35 minutes in the previous two games, but he fouled out in the game, so there’s no reason to worry. He was still active in the limited minutes, scoring 22.5 DKFP, and we should expect to see plenty more of him in Game 5. Harris is a key defensive piece to have on the floor against the Clippers’ wings.
Lineup Strategy
I hope some people go away from Harris after his numbers dropped off in Game 4. His role should go right back to the 35 minutes we saw in Game 3, giving him a high floor at a safe price.
Small Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Michael Porter Jr., DEN vs. LAC ($5,200)
Mixing it up at SF a bit, because I think it can be a very balanced position. All eyes should go to Tatum and the Clippers’ studs, but they haven’t been the best plays on these slates. Denver needs scoring out of MPJ, who broke out for 40 DKFP in 23 minutes in Game 3, and then saw 34 minutes in Game 4. With this large of a role, he’s a nice mid-priced play.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Norman Powell, TOR vs. BOS ($4,400)
Powell had some solid Game 5 production in the blowout, scoring 22.75 DKFP in 31 minutes. We though he could see his role increase, and it did — 34 DKFP in 38 minutes in Game 6. Of course, the game went to double-overtime, so the numbers are inflated, but Powell should see a sizable role in Game 7.
Lineup Strategy
Kawhi Leonard ($10,400) has been on the rise the last two games, and finally broke out for 71.25 DKFP in Game 4, finishing an assist shy of a triple-double. If you have the salary to go back to him, I like that move more than rostering Tatum or Lowry in a tight Game 7.
Power Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Pascal Siakam, TOR vs. BOS ($7,800)
We keep going back to Siakam, and he’s generally let us down. I’m not wild about the play, but there is value here. Siakam scored just 33.5 DKFP in 54 minutes in Game 6, and he just can’t seem to find a groove in the series. He’s simply the default pay up spot at PF.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Jerami Grant, DEN vs. LAC ($4,900)
Grant’s had some tough games in the series, none worse than 7.0 DKFP in Game 4. However, the minutes will continue to be there, we just have to count on the production eventually matching. Normally I wouldn’t be quite as patient here, but on two-game slates with shortened rotations, we have to keep going back to someone with 40 minutes potential for this price.
Lineup Strategy
I don’t think I can bring myself to pay this much for Siakam or Tatum, which means taking the Denver value. The Nuggets have three legitimate PF values for $5,200 or less, so that’s where I’d mix and match.
Center
Worth Paying Up For: Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. LAC ($10,000)
Even when Denver struggles, Jokic seems to be the one mismatch the Nuggets can keep counting on. He’s had three straight 50-DKFP double-doubles in the series, so this is where I’ll be looking to pay up on the slate for my first stud. After that, I’ll see where to pay up after fitting in cheaper pieces.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Daniel Theis, BOS vs. TOR ($5,600)
Theis has been playing very well in this series, and is a crucial part of Boston’s rotation to counter Toronto’s size. Theis is more of a mid-priced play, but if you want to fit a cheaper center with Jokic, you can slide Theis to PF. Theis has exceeded 30 DKFP in three games in this series, and should see plenty of minutes if he can avoid foul trouble in Game 7.
Lineup Strategy
Marc Gasol ($4,100) is the value it seems like people keep going back to. I think it’s time to stay away, the production just hasn’t been there. This could be a one center slate for me with Joker.
Set your DraftKings lineups here: NBA $450K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Injury Report
OUT (Opt-out players not included)
Gordon Hayward (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE
None
DOUBTFUL
None
PROBABLE
None
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