Welcome to the Monday NBA DFS slate and today’s NBA DFS picks. It’s been a fun playoffs so far, with the Western Conference games making up for the less exciting Eastern Conference games. For DFS, you always have to stay in tune with news, injuries, and lineup announcements. It’s a bit less important on a showdown playoff slate, but it’s still necessary because any edge helps, and you never know what might pop up.
Every player is an option today, so you’ll have to get creative and risky, especially in GPPs. In the end, it’s about making the right decisions, and that’s what I’m here for. Let’s get to the best DFS plays of the slate.
Generally speaking, build lineups based on narrative. If you think Cleveland bounces back, there will be a lot of value on their utility players with lower prices, and you’ll get plenty of leverage. If you think Cleveland is checked out and the Knicks blow them out of the water again, there are plenty of punt options available. Build your lineups accordingly based on different ways the game can go.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Captain/MVP Plays
Karl-Anthony Towns (PF/C – NYK)
- DraftKings: $14,400
- FanDuel: $19,500
To start off tonight, I’m going with the Knicks’ big man. He’s been consistent this series, getting over 38 fantasy points in all three games, but I still think there’s more to squeeze. His usage rate was at 25 percent for the regular season, and it’s been 17 and 14 over the last two games. If the Knicks have any desire to win the championship, they need to get Towns going. This series is basically a wrap, and maybe New York takes this game off to lock it up at home, but I think they want to just finish it up now, and Towns will be a pivotal part of that.
Jarrett Allen (C/PF – CLE)
- DraftKings: $12,000
- FanDuel: $9,900
I’m going to change it up a bit and avoid the big names at the top. I was higher rostered on him when we discussed this last, and it wasn’t the best move, but I’m going right back to the well. He’s shown he can step up in big moments when needed, like Game 7 against Detroit, and avoiding the top guards will give you the opportunity to get a bit more creative with your lineup construction while having win equity. This is more of a deeper field GPP play, but I like the leverage of it.
NBA DFS Core Plays
James Harden (PG/SG – CLE)
- DraftKings: $8,600
- FanDuel: $10,200
Let’s discuss the three guards with Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Jalen Brunson. Obviously, they’re all going to be in my lineups, and I will get fair exposure to all of them. But based on price and projected rostership, right now my favorite option is James Harden. One of these three are going to have a ceiling-type performance tonight. Odds are it’s Brunson, but the ownership is down on Harden from turning the ball over 100 times last time out, and he’s still capable of getting to 50-plus, something he did twice against Detroit, don’t forget. This is such a short-term memory game, but if you take a step back, Harden still has the opportunity to get hot. He was on the court for 41 minutes last time out, and I expect him to play a lot tonight, too.
Dean Wade (SF/PF – CLE)
- DraftKings: $4,200
- FanDuel: $1,600
For your punt play tonight, we have Dean Wade. He will get the start and played a playoff low level of minutes last time out. Not sure if that’s Kenny Atkinson trying to shake things up, but he should go back to 20-plus minutes of play and get an opportunity. I don’t expect him to be a major difference maker, but at the price tag he offers, it’s a clear option for you if you want to fill up your roster elsewhere.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK)
- DraftKings: $4,000
- FanDuel: $2,400
On the Knicks side, Mitchell Robinson is your punt. I understand that KAT and Jarrett Allen both doing well is the biggest negative correlated play to Robinson’s performance among everyone on the slate, but DFS isn’t about being right; it’s about what happens when you are right. You aren’t paying up for him, and he’s scored 13-plus points in three of his last five games, which isn’t exactly a ton but can be just enough to get you a win.
Mikal Bridges (SF – NYK)
- DraftKings: $7,000
- FanDuel: $7,400
Finally, tonight, I’m going with one of the role players and riding the hot hand. After putting up 22 points and 42 fantasy points in Game 3, I’m riding the same player tonight. I don’t mind Hart or Anunoby, but among those options, Bridges is number one for me. He manages a high usage rate when he’s on the court and will play about 40 minutes either way tonight. He’s projecting around 30 percent rostership tonight, and I’ll be over that.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn