DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (5/31/21): NBA DFS Lineups

The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on May 31, 2021. Mike Marteny provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.

After a busy weekend of hoops, we are down to two games today as the Bucks have already advanced. We have Philly trying to complete the sweep in Washington and Utah trying to go up 3-1 in Memphis for the nightcap. This is going to be a good one despite just two games!

I have no doubt that Westbrook will play. Ish Smith is a little more of a concern. He has been solid off the bench for Washington, so this could open up some more minutes for a few little-used guys trying to stave off elimination.

This article will supply you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for the DraftKings on 5/31/21. You can also check out today’s FanDuel lineup picks. It’s also important to monitor injury news as a result of COVID-19 as the slate can completely change before line-up lock. Without further ado, let’s dive into the picks! 

DraftKings DFS Guards

Russell Westbrook - PG, vs. Philadelphia ($11,000)

Russ was at his best despite the bum ankle in Game 3. He put up 60.5 DraftKings points, but the Wizards still suffered their worst loss of the series by 29 points. That begs the question: is Russ taking over the best thing for the team? He was efficient and most of his stats came within the flow of the game. Still, I don't know that paying this is a must. Russ still has the highest ceiling in the basketball world though, especially with his back against the wall.

Ben Simmons - PG, at Washington ($7,900)

Simmons had a strong Game 3, but he didn't come close to the 50 DraftKings points we have been accustomed to in the playoffs. That said, it was not a bad game by any means, and if Philly wins here, they get the week off. Don't underestimate how powerful of a motivator that time off is when you're six months into a season.

Mike Conley - PG, at Memphis ($7,000)

Conley again dominated the Grizzlies with 49 DraftKings points despite Mitchell having his best game of the series in Game 3. That 49 DraftKings points was Conley's worst mark of the series and he's only 7k. That means his floor is literally 7x value right now. If you don't use Conley, you hate money. It's that simple.

Seth Curry - SG, at Washington ($4,300)

Curry is kind of an all-or-nothing play, but he has reached 27 DraftKings points in two of the three games in this series. Washington has a terrible defense and has particular issues with good shooters such as Curry. I like him as a solid punt at SG so we can load up on point guards again.

Bonus Guards: Ja Morant ($8,400), Donovan Mitchell (8,000), Dillon Brooks ($6,400), Raul Neto ($3,400)

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DraftKings DFS Forwards

Tobias Harris - SF/PF, at Washington ($7,300)

Forward is thin, but Harris makes it far less so. He has had a strong series with 130.5 DraftKings points in the three games so far. Harris still played 32 minutes in the Game 3 blowout, and that's what I'm hoping for tonight. That Harris still plays his normal amount of minutes when this game gets out of hand considering the Sixers will have a week off. I still like Harris a lot in this one.

Kyle Anderson - SF/PF, vs. Utah ($6,200)

There is a lot of volatility in output around Anderson, but he keeps putting up numbers right where you would expect. Right between 30 and 38 DraftKings points. He doesn't offer much in the way of upside, but I can argue that Anderson is one of the more reliable cash options around. Forward is pretty thin tonight, but I'll make room for Anderson. His 40.75 DraftKings point output in Game 3 has me thinking he can do it again. If not, the floor wont kill you.

Royce O'Neale - SF/PF, at Memphis ($4,800)

Royce is one of the most boring DFS plays on the planet, but he is priced right. The only difference between Game 1 and Game 2 was how many of O'Neale's shots fell. That extra 11 real points turned him from a 3x value guy to a 6x value guy. He made half of his shot in Game 3, and Presto! Another game of more than 5x value. We aren't asking much from O'Neale at this price and he has been pretty good at giving us what we ask for.

Bonus Forwards: Bradley Beal ($9,100), Bojan Bogdanovic ($6,100), Jaren Jackson Jr. ($5,400), Davis Bertans ($3,700)

DraftKings DFS Centers

Joel Embiid - C, at Washington ($9,500)

Considering the way that Philly dominated Game 3, I have to think they'll ride Embiid more like they did in that game. Embiid took 18 shots, hitting 14 of those. Despite not notching a double-double, Embiid had enough peripheral numbers and points to put up 57.5 DraftKings points, by far his best mark of the series. It's worth seeing if he can do it again.

Rudy Gobert - C, at Memphis ($7,800)

Gobert is another boring DFS player. Maybe it's just Utah. They are such a well-rounded team that very few of them make awesome DFS options. In this series Conley is the only one that seems to be the exception. Still, Gobert has done a bang-up job on Jonas defensively and still found time to put up 127.5 DraftKings points of his own. Gobert's work in Games 2 and 3 make me think they're going to make sure he remains involved in the offense tonight. I'm cautiously optimistic for DFS purposes.

Bonus Centers: Jonas Valanciunas ($7,700), Daniel Gafford ($4,300)

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis