The NBA Finals resume Thursday with the Phoenix Suns looking to hold serve on their home court, while the Milwaukee Bucks will be trying to steal a game on the road. As you build your DraftKings Showdown lineups, here are some players to consider.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $1M Finals Shootaround Special [$200K to 1st] (MIL vs PHO)
Phoenix Suns vs. Milwaukee Bucks
SHOWDOWN STRATEGY
Captain’s Pick
Chris Paul ($15,600 CP): Paul didn’t disappoint in his first NBA Finals game, scoring 32 points to go along with four rebounds and nine assists. He drained four three-pointers, giving him 11 of them over the last two games. That’s noteworthy given that he was a combined 0-for-9 from deep in the two contests prior. He’s playing a ton, one of the leaders of the Suns’ scoring attack and he can rack up assists in bunches, which makes him an ideal option for the Captain’s spot.
Deandre Ayton ($13,800 CP): If you’re looking to deploy a more well-rounded lineup, then taking a chance on Ayton at the Captain’s spot could be wise. The Bucks couldn’t slow him down in Game 1, leaving him to score 49.3 DKFP. Over the last six games, he’s scored at least 35.3 DKFP five times. Whether the Bucks go big with Brook Lopez ($7,600) at center or smaller with Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,400) at the five, Ayton’s versatile defensive abilities should continue to leave him with plenty of playing time. In fact, after averaging 31 minutes per game during the regular season, he’s averaged 36 minutes in the playoffs.
UTIL Plays
Jrue Holiday ($8,800): The good news is that Holiday registered seven rebounds and nine assists in Game 1. The bad news was that he only scored 10 points despite logging 40 minutes. He was only 4-for-14 from the field, including 0-for-4 from behind the arc. Considering he shot 50.3 percent from the field and 39.2 percent on three-pointers during the regular season, he could bounce back in short order. With that being said, fewer shot attempts could be coming with Giannis back, so Holiday might be better suited to fill a utility spot, rather than the Captain’s Pick.
P.J. Tucker ($4,600): The Bucks generally ask for three things from Tucker: play tough defense, help space the floor on the offensive end and grab rebounds. That usually affords him with plenty of playing time, but he’s only averaging 4.7 shot attempts per game. Still, his high minutes floor has enabled him to score at least 18.5 DKFP in four of the last six games. That should at least put him on your radar at this salary.
Bryn Forbes ($1,800): If you want to load up on stars and take a chance on a player with a really cheap salary, Forbes is an interesting option. The Suns dominated the Bucks when they were able to get Lopez and/or Bobby Portis ($3,200) to switch onto their guards in pick-and-rolls. However, the Bucks started to mount a comeback late in the game when they went small by playing Giannis at the five. If they do that more on Thursday, then the sharp-shooting Forbes could play more in small lineups. If he ends up playing somewhere between 15-20 minutes, he could hit enough three-pointers to provide value.
Fades
Mikal Bridges ($6,800): Bridges is a better player in real life than he is in fantasy. He’s a versatile defender and can both shoot three-pointers and take his defender off the dribble. However, he’s a supporting piece in the offense behind Paul, Ayton and Devin Booker ($10,000), which doesn’t leave him with a lot of shot attempts. That’s contributed to him scoring fewer than 20 DKFP in four of the last six games.
The Outcome
The Bucks could put up more of a fight in this game if they make an adjustment and play Giannis more at the five. Ayton is a terrible matchup for Lopez and Portis, so reducing the playing time for both players might be wise. Still, even if the Bucks make an adjustment, the Suns are locked in right now, so look for them to earn another victory before the series shifts to Milwaukee.
Final Score: Suns 114, Bucks 106
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $1M Finals Shootaround Special [$200K to 1st] (MIL vs PHO)
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