NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (5/3)

This will be one of the best slates of the season! We have two Game 6s to discuss, with Cleveland and Dallas looking to advance to the second round. It seems unlikely we’ll get many seven-game series in the opening round, but it’s still been amazing to watch. This weekend is full of elimination games, and we kickstart a Western Conference Semi-Final on Saturday as well. There’s no better time to be a basketball fan, so let’s go ahead and get into it!

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

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer:

Schedule and Odds

• LAC at DAL (DAL -7.5) O/U: 207.5
• CLE at ORL (ORL -3.5) O/U: 199.5

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

Injury Report

• Kawhi Leonard (knee) OUT
• Tin Hardaway Jr (ankle) OUT
• Jarrett Allen (rib) Questionable
• Gary Harris (hamstring) Questionable
• Terance Mann (leg) Questionable

Core Plays

Paul George (SG/SF – LAC): $8,600 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
With Kawhi Leonard looking unlikely to play, PG13 should be in takeover mode once again. That’s what we’ve seen throughout his LA career, averaging over 40 DraftKings points per game when Kawhi has been out. He also has a 32 percent usage rate in these circumstances and could be looking at 45 minutes and 25 shots in this elimination game. A date with Dallas is far from daunting, too, with the Mavs ranked 18th in total defense. We saw him drop 64 DraftKings points in Game 4, and expect something similar here!

Evan Mobley (PF/C – CLE): $7,300 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
Mobley is a great option no matter what, but he’s the best per-dollar player in the pool if Jarrett Allen has to sit. That would bump Mobley’s minutes, shot attempts, and rebounds, but he’s been a beast no matter what. Mobley has 37 and 45 DK points in his two most recent outings and averaged 38 DK points per game when Allen was out during the regular season. He’s also scored at least 37 fantasy points in four of six matchups with Orlando.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,900 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
Luka has been the best player in DFS this season, and he’s impossible to avoid on a two-game slate. The Slovenian led the NBA with 66 DraftKings points per game during the regular season and generated a 70-point average in the second half. That’s horrifying for LA in this closeout game, with Doncic scoring at least 52 DK points in 70 of 75 games this year. He might play 45 minutes and take 30 shots, and we’ve seen Luka score 100 DK points in that type of role in the past!

Paolo Banchero (SF/PF – ORL): $8,300 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel
This former top pick has been a revelation for Orlando, averaging 42 DK points per game during the regular season. He’s taken over recently, scoring at least 54 DraftKings points in four of his last seven outings. He’s also showcased a 70-point ceiling, which could be in play here since Orlando is staring down the barrel of elimination in their final home game of this series.

GPP Targets

Max Strus (SG/SF – CLE): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
Strus is the ultimate role player, playing elite defense while knocking down three-pointers for the Cavs. That led to him posting a 27-point average during the regular season, but we love that he had 37 DK points across 40 minutes in Game 5. It’s the third time he’s cracked 35 fantasy points against Orlando, and he will be one of the best values if he continues to play 40 minutes and take 15 shots.

Wendell Carter Jr. (C – ORL): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
Carter was coming off the bench at the beginning of the series, but he’s been inserted into the starting lineup after recovering from an injury. That promotion is just what the doctor ordered, with WCJ averaging 25 DK points per game as a starter during the regular season. We saw that upside in Game 5, scoring 32 DK points across 33 minutes. If this center plays 30-plus minutes, he needs to be at least $6K!

Value Plays

Ivica Zubac (C – LAC): $6,600 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
Zoo has been one of the most reliable options for LA, scoring at least 27 DraftKings points in 11 of the last 12 games he’s finished. The big man also has a 34-point average across 29 minutes a night in that stretch. That’s all you can ask for from such an affordable player, but he should be guaranteed double-digit rebounds against this small Dallas team. He’s scored at least 23 fantasy points in all eight of their matchups this year, which is a fantastic floor from a player in this price range.

PJ Washington (PF/C – DAL): $5,900 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Washington was a phenomenal acquisition at the trade deadline, establishing a monstrous role for the Mavs. He played 41 minutes in Game 4 and is locked into a 35-minute role for this team. They’ve actually been playing him at center, and that sort of opportunity is incredible since he averaged nearly 30 fantasy points per game during the regular season. As long as PJ plays 35-40 minutes, he shouldn’t be this cheap.

Advantageous Pricing

• Evan Mobley (PF/C – CLE): $7,300 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
• Wendell Carter Jr.(C – ORL): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Jarrett Allen (C – CLE): $7,000 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
• Jonathan Isaac (PF – ORL): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel

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