DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS: Wednesday, June 8
Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics host the Golden State Warriors for Game 3 of the NBA Finals. The series is tied 1-1.
I’ve been crushing throughout these playoffs, and it feels like I’m getting a good read on these single-game slates. It’s not too different from larger slates because I love implementing the stars-and-scrubs strategy. That means you need to use a few high-priced studs and pair them with some low-salaried players to build an optimal lineup. When we’re talking about just two teams, getting the studs into your build is imperative. With that in mind, let’s kick things off with the two best players in this series!
Injury Report
- James Wiseman (knee) OUT
- Gary Payton II (elbow) Probable
- Otto Porter (foot) Probable
- Marcus Smart (ankle) Probable
- Robert Williams (foot) Probable
Find the best fantasy matchups each day using our Defense vs. Position Tool >>
Core Plays
Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $10,800 DraftKings, $15,500 FanDuel
We all know that Tatum is really struggling with his shot right now, but he’s still providing elite fantasy value. His playmaking has gone to another level recently, scoring at least 41 DraftKings points in 12 of his last 13 games. JT is also generating a 47-point average in that span, despite shooting 31 percent from the field in this series. If he gets hot, Tatum is looking at a 60-point masterpiece. Just get him and the next player into your lineup and figure things out from there!
Cash Game Considerations
Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GSW): $11,000 DraftKings, $15,000 FanDuel
Chef Curry has been cooking in this series, and it’s clear the former MVP is trying to add a Finals MVP to his extensive resume’. The best shooter of all time has at least 38 DK points in 17 of his last 18 games, posting a 46-point average in that stretch. He’s been even more ridiculous in this series, dropping at least 50 fantasy points in both games. He didn’t even play the fourth quarter of that blowout Game 2 win, and it’s scary to think what this guy will do in the 40 minutes we’re projecting here.
GPP Targets
Klay Thompson (SG/SF – GSW): $7,400 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
Klay’s shot is busted right now, but this dude is too good to be this cheap. The former All-Star was averaging 35 DraftKings points per game across his last 22 outings before this series started, and it’s just a matter of time before he returns to that player. He’s still playing 35 minutes and taking 20 shots a game, which means the production will come around. All of that makes him the best GPP play on the board because Klay can compile 50 fantasy points if he gets hot.
Gary Payton II (SG – GSW): $3,000 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
If you’re looking for a punt play, GP2 might be the way to go. The defensive stud returned to action in Game 2, playing 25 minutes. The fact that he played that much is a great sign, with Payton providing a 27-point average in the 17 games he played at least 24 minutes in the regular season. He also scored at least 20 DK points in 16 of those 17 outings! All you need is 20 fantasy points from a player this cheap, and it looks like Steve Kerr is going to lean on him heavily due to his elite defense. If you’re using Curry and JT, there’s no better pairing than Payton!
Value Plays
Marcus Smart (PG/SG – BOS): $7,800 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel
The Defensive Player of the Year was excellent before Game 2, averaging 33 DK points per game across 36 minutes a night in this postseason. That guy is way more likely to show up here, with Marcus sitting the majority of the second half in that Game 2 dud. All of that makes Smart about $500 too cheap on both sites, and he’d be a great pivot if you want to fade one of the two aforementioned studs.
Kevon Looney (C – GSW): $6,600 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
Looney has been cheap throughout these playoffs, and it’s hard to understand why. The big man has at least 26 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight games, totaling a 33-point average in that span. That’s all you can ask for from such an affordable player, and Golden State needs him to play big minutes to oppose Al Horford and Robert Williams. He’s actually just shy of a 30-minute average in that span, and this dude averaged over 35 fantasy points per game when playing 30 or more minutes in the regular season!
Advantageous Pricing
- Gary Payton II (SG – GSW): $3,000 DraftKings
- Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GSW): $15,000 FanDuel
- Al Horford (PF/C – BOS): $7,600 DraftKings
- Klay Thompson (SG/SF – GSW): $10,500 FanDuel
- Jordan Poole (PG/SG – GSW): $9,000 FanDuel
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
