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Happy Wednesday, RotoBallers! The NBA Playoffs are here, and we have two games slotted for tonight. Playoffs are always a different animal when it comes to sports betting, DFS, and the like. Rotations switch up, starters are all typically guaranteed 38+ minutes, so on and so forth. Fortunately, we got to see at least one game in each of these second-round matchups now, so we can make somewhat reasonable predictions in regards to matchups, minutes, etc. So with that being said, let's get after it for tonight.
Tonight we have a mini-slate for the playoff games, with two games on tap. With now both FanDuel and DraftKings having multi-position eligibility players, we'll have to attack slates a bit differently to make our lineups as optimal as possible. That's where I come in! I'll look to find my personal top plays and values for tonight's slate. Things can change during the day as well, so I'll do my best to update as news comes out!
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 5/4/22. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s NBA injury news and also our full NBA injury report today to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Luka Doncic - at PHO (FD: $11,700, DK: $11,400)
I'll start off tonight's slate with Luka Doncic. While he's the highest-priced player on the slate, he's also the player with by far the highest upside on this slate. The Mavericks, to put it lightly, are the "Luka Show" with role players to fit in. Doncic proved this on Monday night when he logged 45 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. Simply put, if the Mavericks want to have any sort of chance to win this series, they're going to need this one. And if they're going to get this one, it'll be because of Luka.
James Harden, at MIA (FD: $9,000, DK: $9,600)
You may think this is a strange pick based on his price and how poorly he performed in Game 1. However, and maybe this is just "Philly fan optimism", he can't play that poorly again, right? I mean, this is a guy who won an MVP and scoring title just four seasons ago. I'm not expecting that James Harden necessarily, but I'd like to think he's going to step up and at least try to get this series 1-1 going back to Philly for when (hopefully) Joel Embiid returns.
Tyler Herro, vs PHI (FD: $6,000, DK: $6,800)
Herro was on fire in Game 1, logging 25 points, a rebound, and seven assists. He played just 29 minutes, but both Doc Rivers and Eric Spoelstra emptied the bench rather early in the fourth quarter Monday night. Herro is a "game-time decision" in this one, but I don't really have any doubt that he plays. He's as close as you'll get to a "free square", particularly on FanDuel, in a two-game slate.
Also consider: Tyrese Maxey (FD: $6,900, DK: $7,100), Shake Milton (FD: $3,600, DK: $3,500)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Tobias Harris, at MIA (FD: $7,800, DK: $7,700)
While James Harden was a disappointment on Monday, Tobias Harris was a pleasant surprise. Harris logged 27 points, six rebounds, and an assist in 36 minutes in Game 1. He's clearly been stepping up these playoffs and in particular on Monday night in the absence of Joel Embiid. As mentioned previously with Harden, the Sixers are in dire need of Harris, Harden, and Tyrese Maxey to step up tonight if they want a fighting chance in this series.
Mikal Bridges, vs DAL (FD: $6,500, DK: $6,000)
Mikal Bridges has been one of my guys throughout this NBA season and tonight should be no different. He was stellar in Game 1, logging 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists as well as a steal and two blocks. He's a game-changer for the Suns, and he's more than likely going to play at least 40 minutes, as he has in every game of the playoffs thus far outside of Game 1 of the first round against New Orleans. At his price with a 40+ minute floor, Bridges is another lineup staple for me tonight.
Dorian Finney-Smith, at PHO (FD: $5,900, DK: $5,600)
Here's another guy with a high minute floor, just without the long-term fantasy point per minute production we would expect for a guy his price. However, he's really stepped it up in these playoffs. He's logged at least ten points in each of the Mavericks' last five playoff games and is able to fill the stat sheet up with rebounds and assists as well. He can bring some extra upside to the table with steals and blocks on FanDuel, but I'd rather play him on DraftKings due to the three-point scoring.
Also consider: Jimmy Butler (FD: $10,300, DK: $9,000), Max Strus (FD: $4,500, DK: $4,900)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Paul Reed, vs DEN (FD: $4,900, DK: $4,600)
The final Sixer of the night is Paul Reed. Now, apparently, Doc Rivers said something along the lines of "we're going to play De'Andre Jordan and you're going to like it.". Well, considering Doc is more than likely coaching for his job, and I really don't see him landing another head coaching job should he and the Sixers part ways this offseason. I really don't think he's that stubborn and stupid, especially considering Paul Reed was much more effective and efficient on Monday night, logging four points, nine rebounds, and four assists in just 13 minutes. He's the best value play on the slate, despite what Rivers says. I want B-Ball Paul in my lineups tonight.
Also consider: Bam Adebayo (FD: $8,300, DK: $8,000)
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