NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Primer (Tuesday)

This might sound like hyperbole, but this will be the best day of basketball all season. We have two Game 5s to discuss, with both series tied at 2-2. What’s funny is that the home team won all four games in the Eastern Conference games, but the road team won all four matchups in the Western Conference series. It’s hard to understand why these two series are playing out like that, making things completely unpredictable. With that in mind, let’s dive into this Tuesday slate! Here are our top NBA DFS picks for FanDuel and DraftKings.

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

• IND at NYK (NYK -2) O/U: 216 Series Tied 2-2
• MIN at DEN (DEN -4.5) O/U: 207 Series Tied 2-2

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros

Injury Report

• Julius Randle (knee) OUT
• Bojan Bogdanovic (wrist) OUT
• OG Anunoby (hamstring) OUT
• Tyrese Haliburton (back) Questionable
• Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) OUT
• Aaron Nesmith (shoulder) Probable
• Mitchell Robinson (ankle) OUT
• Jamal Murray (calf) Questionable
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (abs) Probable

NBA DFS Picks: Core Plays

Jalen Brunson (PG – NYK): $9,500 DraftKings, $10,100 FanDuel
Many of the Knicks statistics from Game 4 are obviously atrocious, but it’s hard to overlook what this stud was doing before that. Brunson had at least 59 DraftKings points in 10 of 16 games before that rare Game 4 stinker, posting a 55-point average in that span. The role has led to that ridiculous average, playing 40-45 minutes and taking 30 shots a night. If he gets that opportunity versus a 28th-ranked Indy defense, JB should go nuts in this swing Game 5.

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $8,700 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
Haliburton was incredible in Game 4, but those statistics are nothing special because he didn’t play in the fourth quarter in that blowout victory. Hali had 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists across just 27 minutes. He was well on his way to another massive night, scoring 59 DK points in Game 3 and 64 fantasy points in Game 2! That’s the production that made this guy a $10K player earlier in the year, and we can’t fade him in such a critical Game 5.

NBA DFS Picks: Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,300 DraftKings, $12,100 FanDuel
The Joker had another MVP performance in Game 4, scoring 61 DraftKings points. What’s funny is that it wasn’t even his upside, with Joker averaging 61 DraftKings points per game during the regular season. He’s flashed a 100-point upside while showcasing a 50-point floor. He’s also flirting with a 70-point average in the playoffs over the last three years and should be motivated at home with Denver fighting back in this series.

Rudy Gobert (C – MIN): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
Gobert won’t score many points, but his rebounding makes him one of the most reliable options out there. The Defensive Player of the Year has scored at least 33 DraftKings points in 23 of his last 26 games. That’s a fantastic floor from a player in this price range, and it pairs beautifully with a 41-point average in that span. It’s difficult to find such a reliable player, and getting those guaranteed 30-40 fantasy points is critical when seeing a slate play out like we did on Sunday.

Josh Hart (SF/PF – NYK): $7,800 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel
Hart rarely has a dud, but trailing by 40 points in the third quarter will kill everyone’s fantasy production. The good news is that it will give Hart a slight break because this guy has been playing 47 minutes a night in this series before that. That robust role has led to Hart scoring at least 36 DK points in all nine playoff games before that Sunday stinker, averaging 45 DK points per game across 46 minutes a night. You better believe Hart is in line for a full 48 minutes in this swing Game 5!

NBA DFS Picks: GPP Targets

TJ McConnell (PG – IND): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
McConnell doesn’t play as many minutes as he should, but he’s a beast whenever he’s out there. The Cockroach has at least 29 DraftKings points in four of his last five fixtures, scoring at least 40 DK points in two of those. That’s amazing since he’s barely playing 20 minutes a night, but TJ needs a price bump if he will be the best per-minute producer in this series.

Miles McBride (PG/SG – NYK): $4,000 DraftKings, $4,400 FanDuel
McBride was one of the only NY players who showed up in Game 4, scoring 30 DK points. He played 32 minutes and took 17 shots in that game and should be guaranteed a more substantial workload with OG Anunoby injured. We saw this guy average over 30 DK points per game across 40 minutes as a starter in the final month of the regular season, and he should get a price bump since this roster is becoming more shorthanded every game out!

Value Plays

Aaron Gordon (PF – DEN): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
AG was the most valuable player in Game 4, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds, and six assists on 11-of-12 shooting. That equates to 51 DraftKings points, but this guy has quietly been going off throughout the postseason. He’s scored at least 25 DK points in 20 of his last 21 outings, generating a 34-point average in that span. With Jokic and Jamal Murray swallowing up so much attention, AG should continue to feast!

Isaiah Hartenstein (C – NYK): $6,000 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Hartenstein got nicked up in Game 4, but it sounds like he should be ready to roll here. That’s big news because the Knicks need him to play more in Mitchell Robinson‘s absence. This guy averaged nearly 40 DK points per game across 30 minutes when he took over for Mitch-Rob in the regular season, and we’ve seen him score at least 25 DK points in four of his last five outings.

Advantageous Pricing

• Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $8,700 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
• Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,300 DraftKings, $12,100 FanDuel
• Rudy Gobert (C – MIN): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
• Josh Hart (SF/PF – NYK): $7,800 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel
• Anthony Edwards (SG/SG – MIN): $9,200 DraftKings, $10,300 FanDuel
• Donte DiVincenzo (SG – NYK): $7,000 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts