We’ve got one final two-game postseason NBA slate on Tuesday, with the Heat and Celtics kicking off Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and the Nuggets and Clippers squaring off in a winner-take-all Game 7. Here are some plays that jump out on DraftKings on this two-game slate, which locks at 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Set your DraftKings lineups here: NBA $500K Playoff Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Kemba Walker, BOS vs. MIA ($7,700)
Kemba struggled at times in the Toronto series, but the Raptors made a point of stopping Kemba, which allowed for big games from Boston’s other stars. Miami may look to use its perimeter defenders to lockdown the Celtics’ wings opening things up more for Walker. Kemba averaged over 37 DKFP in three matchups against Miami this season.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Patrick Beverley, LAC vs. DEN ($4,000)
Pat Bev doesn’t have numbers that jump out at you in this series, but the value at PG is horrible. You could always just pay up for one and stay away from the value, but Beverley is at least a cheap play that can go 5X for you and not hurt your lineup.
Lineup Strategy
With a pretty weak PG position, at least when you consider pricing, this is probably a one PG slate. There’s plenty of wings to spend out salary on, and a decent center position.
Shooting Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Jimmy Butler, MIA vs. BOS ($8,500)
Butler was solid in his two matchups against the C’s this season, averaging over 45 DKFP. Both of those games were pre-bubble, though, so it’s been a while since Boston’s seen him. One thing Miami has been doing in the postseason is leaning heavily on Butler early in series’. He went for 48.75 DKFP in Game 1 against the Pacers and 53.5 DKFP in Game 1 against the Bucks.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Gary Harris, DEN vs. LAC ($4,600)
Harris had his strongest bubble/postseason performance yet in Game 6, dropping 31.5 DKFP in 42 minutes. Harris is a key to Denver’s success, with his ability to defend the Clippers’ studs and still be a threat on offense. Lock him in for another 40 minutes in Game 7, making him a very safe play.
Lineup Strategy
SG has plenty of intriguing options, with Paul George ($8,600) and Jaylen Brown ($8,000) also viable pay up options. Harris is as safe a value as you could ask for, so I wouldn’t look much beyond him for a cheap play.
Small Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Kawhi Leonard, LAC vs. DEN ($10,400)
Leonard’s picked up his game over the last four contests, despite the Clippers’ historic second half collapses. Expect the Clippers to rely heavily on Kawhi to finally close this series out. A playoff proven star in a Game 7 is about as safe a pay up spot you can find.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Jerami Grant, DEN vs. LAC ($4,900)
Grant saw his minutes cut to 20 in Game 6, but he’s still been a huge piece of what the Nuggets want to do defensively. Defending George and Leonard is the key to Game 7 for Denver, which means we should see Grant get those 35-40 minutes we’d been seeing him play to begin this series.
Lineup Strategy
SF is a flexible position that’s loaded with talent, just like SG. Butler and Brown are both options here as well.
Power Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Jayson Tatum, BOS vs. MIA ($9,700)
Tatum stepped up huge for Boston in the final two games against Toronto — exceeding 60 DKFP in both games and finishing one and three assists shy of triple-doubles. Tatum had some poor shooting games against Miami during the regular season, but he’s going to see big minutes and get more opportunities in this series. There are probably safer pay up spots, but Tatum still has some appeal.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Jae Crowder, MIA vs. BOS ($5,800)
Crowder has been an extremely solid piece of Miami’s postseason success, going over 30 DKFP in each of the final four games against Milwaukee. Crowder did not play well in the bubble game against Boston, but I think we can toss that out the window with his role really growing. PF has weak value, so having Crowder as a solid mid-priced value to go over 5X seems reasonable.
Lineup Strategy
PF is probably a value position for me. Outside of Crowder, Grant is also PF eligible, while Marcus Morris ($5,000) also makes some sense.
Center
Worth Paying Up For: Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. LAC ($10,000)
Jokic has been a matchup nightmare for the Clippers so far, scoring 50-plus DKFP in each of the last five games while topping 60 DKFP in three of those contests. Joker was massive in the Game 7 win over Utah, and should be relied upon heavily.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Ivica Zubac, LAC vs. DEN ($4,800)
This is a matchup play, as it’s become obvious the Clippers need to play Zubac to match up with Joker. Montrezel Harrell ($4,200) has been awful in the series and is getting dominated in his minutes against Jokic. The clear coaching adjustment is more Zubac in this game.
Lineup Strategy
Jokic is probably my favorite play on the slate, and it’s worth bringing it back with Zubac for game script purposes. I’ll likely be stacking the two centers from this game, which makes it tough to find room for Bam Adebayo ($8,400).
Set your DraftKings lineups here: NBA $500K Playoff 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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