NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Primer: Wednesday (5/22)

I usually have an idea of who will win a series, but this Dallas-Minnesota matchup is impossible to predict. I am inclined to pick the Timberwolves, but this matchup feels like a coin flip. That’s what we love to see as NBA fans because we could be looking at an epic seven-game series. With that in mind, let’s look at our top NBA DFS Picks for Game 1 between the Mavericks and Timberwolves.

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

NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Primer

Schedule and Odds

• DAL at MIN (MIN -4) O/U: 206.5

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

Injury Report

• Maxi Kleber (shoulder) OUT
• Luka Doncic (knee) Probable

NBA DFS Picks: Core Plays

Karl-Anthony Towns (PF/C – MIN): $9,200 DraftKings, $13,500 FanDuel
It feels like most people talk about Edwards as the hero for the T’Wolves and Gobert as the scapegoat, but there’s not enough discussion about Towns. Big KAT is the key for this team, averaging 39 DraftKings points per game. We also saw him score 48 fantasy points in the Game 7 clincher, scoring at least 48 fantasy points in three games since the final game of the Phoenix series. We love that since Dallas has nobody to cover Towns, likely matched up with an undersized PJ Washington. Towns averaged 39 DK points per game in their four matchups this season despite playing fewer than 30 minutes a night!

NBA DFS Picks: Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $13,200 DraftKings, $17,000 FanDuel
Luka was the top cash game option on every slate during the regular season, so he’s obviously the optimal choice on a single-game slate. This superstar led the NBA with 66 DraftKings points per game during the regular season, showcasing a 50-point floor. He’s flirting with a 70-point average since the All-Star break and should have his way in a matchup with Minnesota, maintaining a 63-point average against them.

Anthony Edwards (SG/SF – MIN): $11,400 DraftKings, $15,500 FanDuel
ANT has stepped into superstardom in this playoff run, taking over this Timberwolves team. The 22-year-old has scored at least 35 DraftKings points in 11 straight games, averaging 51 DK points per game across 40 minutes a night. That’s bad news for Dallas, with the Mavs posting a 19th OPRK against opposing wings this year. That was clear when ANT had at least 61 fantasy points in two of their last three matchups!

NBA DFS Picks: GPP Targets

Jaden McDaniels (SG/SF – MIN): $5,800 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
McDaniels made one of the funniest plays in NBA history when he went for a bounce-dunk in the final seconds of the Denver series. He’s earned the right to make a statement like that, establishing himself as the primary defender for this Minnesota team. That has led to McDaniels scoring 35 and 40 DK points in his two most recent outings. He’s also regularly playing 40 minutes a night and should be guaranteed 40-45 minutes to guard Doncic. We also don’t mind that Dallas allows the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards!

Daniel Gafford (C – DAL): $5,200 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
Gafford’s minutes can be frustrating, but we know this per-minute stud will go off when given the opportunity. He’s played at least 25 minutes in over half the games this season and is averaging 37 DK points per game in that type of role. That’s an absurd average from such an affordable player, and we’re willing to bet he plays at least 20-25 minutes to oppose Towns and Gobert. He’ll undoubtedly have some duds in this series, but we will use him every day because the upside is too massive for such a cheap player.

NBA DFS Picks: Value Plays

Rudy Gobert (C – MIN): $8,000 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel
Gobert seems to be the butt of every joke right now, and it’s hard to understand why. This is one of the best defensive players of all time, averaging over 37 DraftKings points per game. He’s also showcased a 30-point floor, scoring at least 31 fantasy points in four of his last five fixtures. The matchup with the Mavs only adds to his value, with Gobert averaging 35 DraftKings points per game in their four matchups this season.

PJ Washington (PF/C – DAL): $8,400 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
Washington was the Mavs most valuable player in that OKC series, scoring at least 32 DraftKings points in four of his last five fixtures. He scored over 40 DK points in two of those and even displayed an unbelievable 59-point upside. What is really important is that PJ is locked into 40 minutes and double-digit shots against this massive Minnesota team, scoring 30 and 38 DK points in their two matchups this season.

Advantageous Pricing

• Kyrie Irving: $9,800 DraftKings, $13,000 FanDuel
• PJ Washington (PF/C – DAL): $8,400 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
• Josh Green (SG – DAL): $2,800 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel

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