NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: May 9
Look for Nikola Jokic (right) during Denver’s Game 5 matchup against Phoenix on Tuesday.
It’s not too often that we have two Game 5s to discuss, and neither of them are elimination games. That shows you just how competitive these series are, with both tied up at 2-2. It’s tough to gauge who will prevail in these series, but maybe this DFS article will give you a better idea of what to expect. With that in mind, let’s get started!
Core Plays
Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $9,600 DraftKings, $10,600 FanDuel
Tatum had a rough showing in Game 3, but he’s been one of the most reliable players outside of that. The All-Star has scored at least 53 DraftKings points in seven of his last nine games. He’s also got at least 67 fantasy points in three of his last five outings. That upside can only be matched by a handful of players, and you know Tatum will show out in a must-win home game in a 2-2 series.
Kevin Durant (SF/PF – PHX): $10,000 DraftKings, $11,200 FanDuel
Durant has always been one of the best players in the league, and he’s showcased that form in this series. He has scored 65 and 67 DK points in the two games since Chris Paul got injured, seeing a massive boost in usage. His role is ridiculous, too, averaging 26 shots and 44 minutes in that span. He’s posted those absurd lines despite some shooting struggles, but we don’t expect that to continue since Durant is traditionally a 50-40-90 player.
Cash Game Considerations
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,200 DraftKings, $12,400 FanDuel
The Joker was the best cash game option during the regular season on a 13-game slate, so he’s obviously the safest option on a two-game card. The big man led the NBA with nearly 60 DraftKings points per game during the regular season. The two-time MVP has been even better in this series, scoring at least 72 DraftKings points in five of his last six outings. That’s hard to even fathom, especially since Joker is averaging 72 DK points per game against the Suns this year.
Devin Booker (PG/SG – PHX): $10,100 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
Booker is on a different level right now. This guy is shooting nearly 80% over the last two games, scoring 64 and 77 fantasy points in those two gems. He did that damage despite taking just 22 shots a night, and we expect Booker to be looking at 45 minutes and 25-30 shots here. He’s also become the primary ball-handler since Paul got injured and could have the highest usage of any player on this slate.
GPP Targets
Al Horford (PF/C – BOS): $5,700 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
We’ve had Horford in here throughout these playoffs, and he’s been providing all we could ask for. The veteran has scored at least 29 DK points in five of his last six outings, posting a 37-point average in his two most recent outings. That’s on par with his career average in the postseason, and it’s clear Horford is being asked to do more with the magnitude of each game growing one after another. We also saw him play 38 minutes in Game 4, and if he does that, Horford needs to be in every lineup out there.
Cameron Payne (PG – PHX): $4,900 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel
This is risky, but it’s tough for the Suns to keep Payne off the floor right now. This team has struggled with their depth, but Payne has been a solid backup point guard all year. That’s huge because he’s being asked to start for the injured Paul, playing 25 and 30 minutes in the two most recent games. He hasn’t been productive in those outings, but we’ve seen this guy average over 30 DK points per game when filling in for Chris Paul over the last two years.
Value Plays
Marcus Smart (PG/SG – BOS): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
Much like Horford, Smart is being asked to do a ton in these must-win games. The feisty point guard is locked into a 35-minute role in the postseason, averaging nearly 35 DK points per game throughout his playoff career. That’s what we’ve seen recently, with Smart scoring 31 and 36 DraftKings points in his two most recent outings. That’s all you can ask for from such an affordable player, and he has one of the safest floors because of his stat-stuffing ability.
Advantageous Pricing
Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $9,600 DraftKings, $10,600 FanDuel
Kevin Durant (SF/PF – PHX): $10,000 DraftKings, $11,200 FanDuel
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,200 DraftKings, $12,400 FanDuel
Al Horford (PF/C – BOS): $5,700 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
Marcus Smart (PG/SG – BOS): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
Robert Williams (PF/C – BOS): $3,900 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel
Jamal Murray (PG – DEN): $8,100 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
Michael Porter Jr. (SF – DEN): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,700 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.
