NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Primer (Thursday)

I thought this series was over on Tuesday, but Minnesota decided to finally show up. That road win earned them at least one more home game, and it feels like this series is alive and well. All the T’Wolves have to do is take care of their two home games and grab one more road victory to make history. They would be the first team ever in 155 tries to overcome a 3-0 deficit, but we’re hoping they can do just that!

With that in mind, let’s look at this Game 5 from a DFS standpoint! Check out our top NBA DFS picks for Thursday’s game between the Timberwolves and Mavericks.

View tonight’s best player prop bets with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for tonight’s slate.

NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Primer

Schedule and Odds

• DAL at MIN (MIN -4) O/U: 210

Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.

Injury Report

• Maxi Kleber (shoulder) Probable
• Dereck Lively (neck) Questionable
• Luka Doncic (always questionable) Questionable
• Mike Conley (Achilles) Questionable

NBA DFS Picks: Core Plays

Kyrie Irving (PG/SG – DAL): $9,800 DraftKings, $13,500 FanDuel
There’s no doubt that Irving was horrible in Game 4, but that’s an outlier. The All-Star point guard had at least 37 DraftKings points in the first three games of this series before that stinker. He also dropped 64 fantasy points in his one regular season matchup with Minnesota and should be hungry to close out this series after such a poor showing in Game 4.

Karl-Anthony Towns (PF/C – MIN): $9,000 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel
It’s weird that KAT only had 33 DraftKings points in Game 4 because he was one of the best players on the floor. Foul trouble limited his fantasy output, but scoring 33 DraftKings points across 29 minutes is still impressive. This stud should be locked into 40 minutes in this elimination game and could be looking at 20 shots. We love that since Towns has at least 30 fantasy points in 12 of his last 13 fixtures. He’s also averaged 35 DK points per game across 30 minutes in eight matchups with Dallas this year, and seeing both of those totals rise by 25 percent would be far from surprising in such a critical matchup.

NBA DFS Picks: Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $14,000 DraftKings, $17,500 FanDuel
Doncic didn’t even shoot well in Game 4, but he recorded another triple-double en route to 69 DraftKings points. That might sound like an outlier, but Luka is averaging that same total since the All-Star break. He’s also scored at least 60 fantasy points in six straight fixtures while displaying a 52-point floor in these playoffs. This guy can record a 30-point triple-double without even playing well, making him the safest cash game option on every slate.

Anthony Edwards (SG/SF – MIN): $11,800 DraftKings, $16,000 FanDuel
ANT was the star of the show in Game 4, falling one assist shy of a triple-double. He also had 55 DraftKings points in that game despite committing six turnovers and shooting 44 percent from the field. This superstar didn’t sit in the second half, taking 25 shots while playing 40 minutes. We wouldn’t be surprised to see him play 45 minutes and take 30 shots here, and that’s all you can ask for from one of your cash game options.

NBA DFS Picks: GPP Targets

Rudy Gobert (C – MIN): $7,600 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
I’m sick of everyone talking about how bad Gobert is because those people clearly don’t watch enough basketball. This guy changes things on the defensive end of the floor and is one of the safest bets in the NBA for a double-double. The big man had yet another one in Game 4 and has scored at least 27 DraftKings points in all but 12 games this season. That’s led to his impressive 37-point average, which is astounding for a player in this price range when you account for his fantastic floor.

Daniel Gafford (C – DAL): $6,000 DraftKings, $11,000 FanDuel
Gafford had another stellar showing in Game 4, dropping 32 DraftKings points. What’s really important is that he played 31 minutes. When this guy plays over 25 minutes this season, DG is averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game. That should continue with Lively and Kleber both nicked up, and it’s encouraging that Gafford has had so many big outputs with small workloads in the past. Dallas has to play him for at least 20-25 minutes to oppose Gobert and KAT, making Gafford one of the best GPP players out there.

Value Plays

Mike Conley (PG – MIN): $6,600 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
Conley is the veteran presence for this young T’Wolves team, dropping 37 DraftKings points in that Game 4 masterpiece. That was one of the best per-dollar outputs in that elimination game, but Minnesota will lean on their veteran point guard in these must-win games. He’s also scored at least 27 DK points in 11 of his last 13 fixtures and could play 40 minutes in this elimination matchup. Conley has played 17 elimination games throughout his career, compiling a 36-point average in those outings!

Derrick Jones Jr. (SF – DAL): $4,800 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
These role players must step up in Dallas, with Kyrie and Luka garnering so much attention. Jones is the fifth starter of the bunch, playing at least 33 minutes in five straight fixtures. He’s had some duds in that expanded role, but he’s still scored at least 23 DraftKings points in four of his last seven outings. Jones also surpassed 27 fantasy points in three of those and would be the piece of the optimal lineup if he reaches that threshold once again.

Advantageous Pricing

• Kyle Anderson (SF/PF – MIN): $3,600 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
• Mike Conley (PG – MIN): $6,600 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
• Daniel Gafford (C – DAL): $6,000 DraftKings, $11,000 FanDuel
• Rudy Gobert (C – MIN): $7,600 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
• PJ Washington (PF/C – DAL): $7,000 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel

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