On the schedule for Monday is a two-game NBA playoffs slate, and DraftKings continues to offer huge tournaments for DFS players. Below are some of my favorite targets at each position.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Stud
Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, $9,200 - With James Harden (hamstring) on the shelf, Irving is a no-brainer for this two-game slate. Harden was only able to play one minute of Saturday’s Game 1 vs. the Bucks, and Irving stepped up after he exited, delivering 48.25 DKFP in the win.
Furthermore, when Harden has been off the floor in May, Irving’s usage has seen a two percentage-point boost, and in three matchups with Milwaukee this year, the point guard has excelled with 49.9 DKFP per game.
Value
Mike James, Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, $3,300 - After the hamstring forced Harden out Saturday, James rose to the occasion off the bench and finished with 26.25 DKFP across 30 minutes. The 30-year-old was a huge factor in the victory, only trailing two teammates in plus/minus: Irving and Kevin Durant. Also, James closed the game, logging 10.6 minutes in the fourth quarter. While he may not take Harden’s spot in the starting five for Game 2, the veteran earned himself a solid role off the bench until Harden is able to return.
James is producing 0.96 DKFP per minute since joining Brooklyn back in April and has topped 20 DKFP in six of the eight games he has received over 20 minutes this season. He is going to be very chalky for this short slate, but James is a very difficult fade at his near-minimum price tag.
Other Options: Chris Paul ($6,500), Austin Rivers ($4,000)
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Shooting Guard
Stud
Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets, $7,800 - Holiday has been very efficient vs. the Nets, averaging 40.5 DKFP per game against them, and his minutes should be above 40 Monday with the Bucks looking to avoid a 2-0 hole. The elite two-way guard has eclipsed 40 DKFP in four of his past six starts, and we can’t forget the Bucks are still missing Donte DiVincenzo (out, foot).
When the 24-year-old has been off the court this season, Holiday’s usage and assist rates have increased 2.8 and 1.7 percentage points, respectively. His $7,800 price tag is a very friendly one for him in this crucial tilt, and Holiday’s ownership may end up being slightly depressed after his average showing in Game 1.
Other Options: Devin Booker ($8,500)
Value
Monte Morris, Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns, $5,400 - Morris was outstanding in Thursday’s Game 6 win vs. the Blazers, posting 47.5 DKFP in 33 minutes off the bench. Throughout the first round series vs. Portland, Morris generated 31.2 DKFP per game and led Denver in plus/minus. Head coach Mike Malone should continue to rely heavily on Morris as the team’s sixth man vs. Phoenix, and the guard should get up to 30 minutes in the series opener on Monday.
Morris is contributing 1.0 DKFP per minute so far this postseason. While this is a tough spot against a stout Suns defense (seventh in efficiency this season), he should still be able to exceed five-times value at this mid-tier salary.
Other Options: Bryn Forbes ($4,500), Austin Rivers ($4,000)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Small Forward
Stud
Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, $10,300 - Just like with Irving, Harden’s absence makes Durant a building block for Monday night. He recorded a 52.5 DKFP double-double in Game 1 on Saturday. If we include that effort, Durant is scoring 52.2 DKFP per game in his last five sans Harden.
Durant leads the Nets with a 32% usage rate with Harden off the floor this year, and we can’t ignore the former MVP’s track record vs. the Bucks this season. In four matchups with the East rival, Durant has averaged 56.8 DKFP per game.
Other Options: Michael Porter Jr. ($7,100)
Value
Bruce Brown, Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee, $3,800 - Brown started the second half in place of Harden on Saturday and should get the starting nod Monday with the superstar absent, automatically making him a viable option at only $3,800. The 24-year-old put up 21.5 DKFP in the Game 1 win and has now surpassed 20 DKFP in three straight contests.
Furthermore, since the Nets completed the blockbuster deal for Harden back in January, Brown has contributed 24 DKFP per game when the former Rocket has been out of the lineup.
Other Options: Mikal Bridges ($4,800)
Power Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets, $11,000 - Antetokounmpo is the unanimous top option at power forward Monday, and he continues to be underpriced at only $11,000. The reigning two-time MVP has bullied the Nets for 64.4 DKFP per game in four meetings this season, and he should approach 40 minutes with the Bucks down heading into Game 2, particularly with this matchup presenting a small 1.5-point spread on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 61 DKFP per game over the last 10 times he has competed in a single-digit spread. He’ll be worth every penny Monday.
Value
Jae Crowder, Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets, $5,000 - Crowder helped the Suns finish off the Lakers on Thursday, putting up 36.5 DKFP in the Game 6 win. He averaged 25.75 DKFP on 31.2 minutes per game in the series against the defending champs, and Crowder’s elite defense should keep him in a big role as the primary defender on Porter Jr. in this series vs. the Nuggets.
His ability to rack up multiple steals and blocks always gives Crowder a ceiling above 30 DKFP, and he is one of the better mid-tier targets on the board tonight.
Other Options: P.J. Tucker ($3,200, if starting)
Center
Stud
Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets, $7,300 - Coming off back-to-back showings of less than 20 DKFP, Ayton shouldn’t be a common name in GPPs tonight, but there are certainly reasons to believe he will bounce back. Before these past two games, Ayton was dominating in the first playoffs run of his career, scoring 41.25 DKFP per game in the first four tilts vs. the Lakers.
He played 36.3 minutes per game for the series, which is a massive upgrade from the 30.7 minutes per game Ayton handled during the regular season, and the elevated playing time should continue in this matchup vs. Denver that requires his size. Additionally, Ayton was very successful against Nikola Jokic and company during the regular season, scoring 42.8 DKFP per game in three dates with the Nuggets. I wouldn’t go near him in cash games, but for GPPs, this is a tremendous time to buy low on Ayton.
Other Options: Nikola Jokic ($10,800)
Value
Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets, $4,900 - Even for a two-game slate, the never popular Lopez should come with decently low ownership in GPPs, and he is rating as a strong value at only $4,900. So far this postseason, Lopez has chipped in with 26.4 DKFP per game thanks to his usage rate being 3.1 percentage points higher than it was during the regular season. Plus, the center is scoring 26 DKFP per game when the Bucks have competed in a spread less than five points this season, and you have to expect his minutes to be north of 30 as the Bucks try to even this series.
Overall, Lopez bring 35-40 DKFP upside at an inexpensive price and is worth rolling the dice on in GPPs.
Other Options: Blake Griffin ($4,100)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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