We’re well into the NBA playoffs, and the action is red-hot. Wednesday’s slate begins to wind down with the top-seeded Utah Jazz playing host to the Memphis Grizzlies in a potential closeout game, with the Jazz leading 3-1 in the series. With so many stars to choose from, it should be a great contest to play.
Without further ado, let’s get into how to construct your Showdown lineups.
Refer a friend and get $20 DK Dollars! Head to the DraftKings Playbook Promo page for more details!
Captain
Mike Conley ($12,900 CP)
Conley has been the man for Utah throughout this whole series, whether Donovan Mitchell ($9,400) has been in the lineup or not. He’s been a minutes machine, and his assist numbers have been gaudy. On top of that, he’s surpassed 25% usage twice. He did have a down performance in Game 4, but I expect him to be integral once again in Game 5, with Utah looking to put its foot on the gas at home with the series there for the taking. I have questions about the other high-priced options here and, for me, Conley projects as the safest asset on the slate.
Jaren Jackson, Jr. ($10,200 CP)
Jackson has continued to get better and better in this series, increasing his fantasy output all the way to 33.5 DKFP in Game 4. That also came with a series-best 30.3% usage rate, and it shows how the Grizzlies’ trust in Jackson continues to grow. I expect him to be leaned on for a ton of looks on offense given how he’s been ramped up in this series, and I like that he’s flashing some three-point upside, as well.
Fades
Jonas Valanciunas ($8,800)
I went into this series thinking Valanciunas might have some success against Rudy Gobert ($9,000) due to his struggles defending post-ups this year, but I was sorely mistaken. The big man’s been swallowed up by this incredible Utah defense, averaging just 34.6 DKFP in the series. He’s also shooting 55.6% from the field and grabbing 10.8 rebounds per game, which are notable declines from his regular season marks. Due to his disappointing play, there’s no reason to pay this kind of money for him, and there’s no sign of anything changing for Valanciunas.
Value UTIL Options
Grayson Allen ($3,800)
Allen has now seen 29 minutes on average over the past two games, as the Grizzlies have experimented with small-ball lineups. This strategy actually seems to be the weapon of choice for Taylor Jenkins down the stretch of games, and Allen has benefited greatly from it. At this price, getting a guy who’s going to go 30 minutes and take about 10 shots is a bargain.
De’Anthony Melton ($2,600)
Look, in the postseason, coaches have to make quick adjustments. When their teams start to lose, they push different buttons on a moment’s notice. Jenkins decided to push the Melton button in Game 4 and, you know what, it worked. The Melt Man played 23 minutes and had a go at a 30.0 DKFP performance. That’s pretty good for a bargain bin guy, and considering he was hardly the reason Memphis lost Game 4, I would not be surprised to see him get even more run on Wednesday. In fact, I think it’s a very good bet. You’ll want at least some exposure to Melton.
The Outcome
The Grizzlies should once again come out strong in this one and will either lead — or come close to leading — at the half. At that point, the Jazz should lock down on the defensive end and Donovan Mitchell should turn it on, silencing any last gasp efforts being made by Memphis. I expect Jenkins to try just about everything on Wednesday, but against a team this deep and this complete, nothing should work.
Final Score: Utah 102, Memphis 95
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $60K Finger Roll [$15K to 1st] (MEM vs. UTA)
Place your NBA bets at DraftKings Sportsbook and bet online by downloading the DraftKings Sportsbook app.
Put your knowledge to the test. Sign up for DraftKings and experience the game inside the game.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (NH/CO), 1-800-BETS OFF(IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN).
21+ (18+ NH). CO/IL/IN/IA/NH/NJ/PA/TN/VA/WV/MI only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is jetsfan196) and I 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 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.