There are three games for Friday’s DraftKings NBA playoff slate, which starts at 7:00 p.m. ET. DraftKings Sportsbook has the New York Knicks as 4.5-point underdogs against the Atlanta Hawks, while the Brooklyn Nets are heavy favorites against the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers are 2.5-point favorites against the Dallas Mavericks. The O/U is 211 for Knicks-Hawks, 227 for Nets-Celtics and 220 for Clippers-Mavericks.
Let’s break down some of the top studs and values at each position to help you build your DraftKings lineups.
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
Point Guard
Stud
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Clippers, $11,000 – Luka has gone for 61.25 DKFP and 71.5 DKFP in the first two games of the series. He’s played 38 and 41 minutes while garnering usage rates of 48% and 35%. HalleLuka! He’s attempted 26.5 shots per game, he’s a threat to triple-double on any given night and he is even contributing steals and blocks. There were periods of malaise during the regular season, but Luka was just playing possum so that the energy bar would be full come money time. The Clippers will likely make some adjustments on how they defend Luka, but even if they blitz him and get the ball out of his hands, he will contribute in the other categories and dish out assists.
Other Options – James Harden ($10,200), Trae Young ($8,600)
Value
Derrick Rose, New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks, $6,400 – I’m not feeling anyone below $5K at this position, so Rose it is. He’s played 39 and 38 minutes in the first two games of the series and garnered usage rates of 26% and 24%, respectively, despite not starting. His offense has been sorely needed, especially since Julius Randle ($9,700) has struggled so mightily. Coach Thibodeau trusts him and will deploy him for as many minutes as he can handle once again. Rose went for 37.5 DKFP and 32.75 DKFP in Games 1 and 2, and a similar output should be expected as he averaged 1.01 DKFP per minute during the season.
Other Options – Marcus Smart ($5,900)
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Shooting Guard
Stud
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks, $8,100 – I have concerns about the workloads for both James Harden ($10,300) and Kyrie Irving ($8,900), as another blowout win is within the range of outcomes. There are no concerns in regards to workload for George. He’s played 40 minutes in each of the first two games of the series and his entire repertoire will be needed if the Clippers hope to cut the series deficit in half. He’s gone for 39.5 DKFP and 55.0 DKFP in the first two games of the series, and could match or exceed the output by Harden and Irving at a discount.
Other Options – Kyrie Irving ($8,900)
Value
Terance Mann, Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks, $3,200 – Mann did not play in Game 1, but came off the bench in Game 2 and produced eight points and five rebounds in 15 minutes, good for 13.75 DKFP. After the game, Coach Lue said that he liked Mann’s energy, ability to switch on defense, rebound and attack the rim on offense. He said that he would play in Game 3. How much he plays is up in the air, but at $3.2K, the risk/reward seems favorable. During the season, Mann averaged 0.81 DKFP per minute.
Other Options – Kevin Huerter ($4,500), Reggie Bullock ($4,900), Joe Harris ($5,100)
Small Forward
Stud
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks, $8,500 – After playing 41 minutes in each of the first two games, Leonard’s price has gone from $8K to $8.3K to $8.5K. The Fed would be salivating at those inflation numbers. Yet, he’s still too cheap! Kawhi has gone for 56.0 DKFP and 59.5 DKFP and garnered a usage rate of 30% in both games. With the Clippers down 2-0, the Kawhibot will be running at full capacity today.
Other Options – Kevin Durant ($9,600)
Value
De’Andre Hunter, Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks, $4,000 – Hunter missed 46 games during the regular season. He played in three of the last four regular season games and received 14, 15 and 24 minutes of playing time, respectively. In Game 1 of this series with the Knicks, he played 22 minutes. In Game 2, though, he played 32 minutes and contributed 26.5 DKFP. There’s still uncertainty as to how many minutes he will play, but he looked good out there and I think 30-plus minutes are in the offering once again. If so, Hunter becomes a decent source of value as he averaged 0.88 DKFP per minute during the season.
Other Options – Dorian Finney-Smith ($4,800), Alec Burks ($5,000)
Power Forward
Stud
Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics, $9,600 – Durant is so freaking good. He can get his shot off against anyone, has the handles of a guard, possesses the wingspan of Mrs. Incredible to snatch rebounds and is nimble enough to guard Jayson Tatum ($9,400) and shut him down. In Game 1 against the Celtics, he put up 32 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal, good for 52.5 DKFP. The usage rate was a whopping 39%. In Game 2, he put up 26 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four blocks and one steal in only 29 minutes. That was good for 52.5 DKFP.
Other Options – Jayson Tatum ($9,400)
Value
Taj Gibson, New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks, $3,800 – Gibson has played 30 and 24 minutes in the first two games of the series and contributed 23.25 DKFP and 24.25 DKFP, respectively. Nerlens Noel ($4,000) has been dealing with a sprained ankle, so I’m thinking the center minutes will continue to be split right down the middle. Gibson averages 0.81 DKFP per minute and Coach Thibodeau loves him some Taj, so the minutes should be secure.
Other Options – Danilo Gallinari ($4,600)
Center
Stud
Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks, $7,700 – Capela averaged 1.28 DKFP per minute during the season. In two games so far this series, he’s gone for 29.25 DKFP and 30.5 DKFP. The rebounds and blocks will always be there, but he’s only averaged 6.5 points per contest. When he scores, Capela accesses his ceiling. On Apr. 21 against the Knicks, he played 42 minutes and produced 25 points, 22 rebounds, one assist, two steals and a block, good for 61.5 DKFP. That kind of game is well within the range of outcomes and it wouldn’t surprise me if he puts up a 50-burger today.
Value
Maxi Kleber, Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers, $3,700 – Kleber is questionable once again with an Achilles issue, but he had the same designation in the prior two games and played 34 and 36 minutes, respectively. I’m going to assume that he gets around 35 minutes again in this one. Kleber’s put up at least 23.0 DKFP in both games and should fall into that range again. On the season, he averaged 0.69 DKFP per minute.
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