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Happy Friday RotoBallers! Welcome to a playoff edition of the Friday night top plays. These articles focus on the overall best plays, which are typically more suited for cash games. However, with rotations getting shortened and the slate being so small, there probably isn't going to be a ton of leverage to be found, so consider these suggestions GPP viable as well (some exceptions may apply).
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/22/22. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
As always, feel free to follow my Twitter (@Maxadelphia), to keep up to date with NBA news and for my nightly NBA bets if you're into that sort of thing. Let's go!
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Trae Young - PG, ATL vs MIA ($9,400 DK, $9,000 FD)
I'm not here to lie to you fine readers and say that Young has been good through two playoff games. In fact, he was objectively bad in both games in Miami. So why I am putting him in top plays? Potential volume, that's why! Young boasted a top-3 usage rate in the NBA this year, and with the Hawks staring down a potential 0-3 series deficit, I am going to bank on Young getting a TON of usage this evening.
CJ McCollum - PG/SG, NO vs PHX ($8,200 DK, $8,600 FD)
McCollum has been rock steady through two games these playoffs. With fantasy scores of 48 and 50 in those first two games, McCollum hasn't only been scoring, he's been involved on both ends of the court. Even in Game 2, where Brandon Ingram was taking over the game late, McCollum still managed to get up 18 shot attempts, including 10 attempts from 3.
Landry Shamet - SG/SF, PHX @ NO ($3,800 DK, $3,800 FD)
This is our first slate of the playoffs with major players out due to injury, and I would say that Devin Booker's injury is about as impactful as it gets. Shamet has been the defacto Booker replacement throughout the year, including him playing 12 minutes in the second half of Game 2 after Booker went down. Shamet will likely be pretty chalky tonight, but if he does end up in the starting lineup I think he's worth a look.
Others to consider: Chris Paul ($8,900 DK, $10,200), Alex Caruso ($5,100 DK, $5,000 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Giannis Antetokounmpo - SF/PF, MIL @ CHI ($11,200 DK, $12,000 FD)
Giannis had a monstrous game on Wednesday night, posting 75 fantasy points, which was the biggest fantasy game by anyone so far this post-season. The Bulls have no means of slowing down the Greek Freak, and with Khris Middleton out for at least two weeks, I expect Giannis to take over a fair chunk of Middleton's usage.
Cameron Johnson - SF/PF, PHX @ NO ($4,700 DK, $5,100 FD)
Johnson is an easy book to read: he likes to shoot 3's, and he likes to do so in high quantities. The Suns need to replace Devin Booker's 20+ attempts a game, and why not give some of those attempts to the guy who was an elite shooter all year? Johnson is a measly 2-8 from 3 so far this series, but with all the minutes and attempts that Booker's absence leaves, I think there is a very real chance that this could be a Johnson explosion game.
Wesley Matthews - SG/SF, MIL @ CHI ($4,100 DK, $4,100 FD)
Matthews has started both games for the Bucks in the series, playing 27 minutes in Game 1 and playing 34 minutes in Game 2. That Game 2 number is key since we can see the minutes inflate in correlation with the Middleton injury. Matthews is probably the Bucks' best 3-point shooter with Middleton out, and I expect him to get a bit more opportunity the remainder of the series.
Others to consider: Brandon Ingram ($9,000 DK, $9,100 FD), Herbert Jones ($4,500 DK & FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Deandre Ayton - C, PHX @ NO ($7,600 DK, $7,900 FD)
This slate is all about how you think the Bucks & Suns fill the voids left by their injured All-Stars. Ayton had a great Game 1, and a more quiet Game 2; taking only 6 total shots. Center is pretty weak tonight, but I think Ayton provides the highest ceiling tonight, assuming the Suns try and get him involved.
Bobby Portis - PF/C, MIL @ CHI ($5,700 DK, $5,800 FD)
This brings us to the conclusion of this Suns/Bucks suggestions article. Portis is the Bucks' key bench scorer, and we've seen him have pop-off games in the playoffs last year. Whether he gets bumped up to the starting lineup or not, I expect him to be fired up for tonight after only playing 6 minutes in Game 2 before catching an elbow to the face and being forced to leave.
Others to consider: Jonas Valanciunas ($7,400 DK, $8,000 FD), Heat (if Bam Adebayo sits)
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