There are two games for Friday’s DraftKings NBA slate, which starts at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia 76ers will try to wrestle back homecourt in Game 3 against the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta. The Phoenix Suns will try to put a stranglehold on their series against the Denver Nuggets in Denver. DraftKings Sportsbook has the 76ers favored by 1.5 points with the O/U at 224.5, while the Nuggets are favored by two points with the O/U at 223.5.
Let’s break down some of the top studs and values at each position to help you build your DraftKings lineups.
Point Guard
Stud
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, $9,300 – The 76ers did an excellent job of making adjustments to defending Young in Game 2, as Ben Simmons ($7,700) and Matisse Thybulle ($3,100) were the primary defenders on him with help to flatten out the Hawks’ offensive attack. Young shot 6-for-16 and 1-for-7 from downtown. That said, he still ended up with 43.25 DKFP, as he dished out 11 assists and had one steal. That was essentially a floor game from Young as he garnered a 28% usage rate and attempted 16 shots. In the prior six games in the playoffs, the usage rate was over 30% with a high of 41% and he hoisted up at least 19 shots in every game. I think the Hawks make adjustments to the adjustments and free up their main cog. The one thing I think they get away from is running pick-and-roll action with the player Ben Simmons is guarding. Why not hunt Danny Green ($4,500) on the switches or run more guard action?
Other Options – Ben Simmons ($7,700), Chris Paul ($7,100)
Value
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, $6,400 – I’m not crazy about the “value” at the position so I’m going with Bogdanovic. He averages 0.99 DKFP per minute and he’s played at least 34 minutes in every game these playoffs with 41 and 36 minutes in the 76ers series. He’s attempted 16 and 17 shots and contributed in every category but blocks. He shot 46% from the field during the regular season but has been at 40% over the last five games. It’s the playoffs so a decrease in efficiency is to be expected but that’s quite the drop-off. In one of these games, he’s going to get hot. In 671 minutes at home, he shot 49% from the field and 46% from downtown. In 634 minutes on the road, those numbers are 45% and 40%, respectively.
Other Options – Facundo Campazzo ($5,200)
Shooting Guard
Stud
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets, $8,400 – Booker is the only player priced above $6,400. My job is easy peasy. Over the last two games, Booker has only put up 37.5 and 38 DKFP as he wasn’t needed much. He attempted 14 and 12 shots after averaging 19 shots per game during the regular season and hoisting up 22 and 23 shots in the final two games in the Lakers series. I expect the Nuggets to play like banshees tonight so the usage rate should increase from the 23% it’s been up to the low-30s where it usually resides. Booker has 70-DKFP upside.
Other Options – Bogdan Bogdanovic ($6,400)
Value
Kevin Huerter, Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, $4,700 – With De’Andre Hunter out of the lineup, Huerter played 36 and 29 minutes, contributing 29 and 30.25 DKFP. Hunter is done for the playoffs so the minutes should be secure for Huerter going forward. Now, he’s shot 8-for-10 and 6-for-9 in the two games, so that kind of efficiency can’t be expected. He does contribute a little something in every category, though, and is often a secondary ball-handler who can navigate pick-and-roll action competently.
Other Options – Facundo Campazzo ($5,200)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Small Forward
Stud
Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers at Atlanta Hawks, $8,000 – Man, Harris has been so consistent these playoffs. He’s scored at least 40 DKFP in five of seven games with a high of 57.25. The usage rate has been 25% and he’s averaged 17 shots per contest. He’s been contributing in every statistical category but it’s been the shooting efficiency that has been great. He shot 51% from the field during the regular season but he’s been able to maintain that efficiency throughout the playoffs.
Value
Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets, $4,900 – The last two games have been two ends of the, shall I say, Bridges? He scored 16 points with two rebounds, good for 19.5 DKFP in the last game. Prior to that, he went for 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, one block, and two steals, good for 44.25 DKFP. That’s essentially the floor and ceiling for Bridges. The offensive game has certainly been blossoming, but he makes his hay on defense. That said, he has attempted at least 10 shots in five straight games with at least six from downtown.
Other Options – Danny Green ($4,500), Kevin Huerter ($4,700), Jae Crowder ($5,100)
Power Forward
Stud
John Collins, Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, $5,800 – I’m not crazy about Collins but I already wrote up Tobias Harris ($8,000) and I just can’t get to Michael Porter Jr. ($6,900) due to his back issue. So, Collins it is. The usage rate has been low at 15% and 17%. There was a time when I thought he would be the Robin to Traeman, but he’s essentially been Alfred this season. He only averages 10 shots per game and has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in three of the last 23 games. He does rack up some defensive stats but not on a consistent basis and doesn’t dish out many assists. That said, he does average 1.06 DKFP per minute and has scored at least 24 DKFP in each of the last five games with a high of 34.5. A decent floor/low ceiling option.
Other Options – Tobias Harris ($8,000)
Value
Danilo Gallinari, Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, $4,800 – After playing 18 minutes in two straight games, Gallinari received 26 minutes on Tuesday and contributed 37.75 DKFP. His ability to shoot from downtown and post up smaller defenders was huge and is something I think the Hawks continue to implement. There’s risk here for sure as he can go back to playing in the teens, but somewhere in the mid-20s seems like the likely outcome in terms of playing time.
Other Options – Jae Crowder ($5,100)
Center
Stud
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers at Atlanta Hawks, $10,300 – Embiid is listed as questionable as he’s playing with a torn meniscus. That said, he played 35 and 38 minutes in the last two games and put up 66.25 and 62.75 DKFP. Embiid is a true unicorn who can score from all three levels while controlling the paint and glass at both ends of the court. The Hawks have no answers for him.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Joel Embiid (knee) will be available to play in tonight’s game vs. the Hawks.
Other Options – Nikola Jokic ($10,700)
Value
Paul Millsap, Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns, $3,400 – There are no great “value” options at center. Millsap only plays 12 to 15 minutes. Yuck. But he averages 1.01 DKFP per minute and can get hot from the field. In these playoffs, he’s scored over 20 DKFP three times with a high of 30.25.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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