DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (5/4/21): NBA DFS Lineups

May 4, 2021

The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on May 4, 2021. Euan Leith provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.

Happy Tuesday, RotoBallers! It's pretty crazy to think that the play-in games will be starting in two weeks, and the (un)official start of the 2021 playoffs will tip-off. Those games are coming faster than we think, and it explains how we stumble into a bigger-than-usual seven-game slate during the early part of the week. Teams still have eight or nine games to play this year but less than two weeks to fit it all in. With several teams competing for the third time in four nights or on the second half of a back-to-back, or even both, we should prepare for some random-looking lineups tonight and over the final two weeks.

I'm not going to go too in-depth about the Brooklyn-Milwaukee contest tonight, but that is certainly a game you want multiples pieces of in your lineup. It has the highest over/under (242.5 points) on the seven-game slate, and both teams rank inside the top-five tonight in terms of projected point totals along with pace and offensive rating in their last 10 games. The Nets and Bucks just finished a classic on Sunday where Milwaukee prevailed 117-114, but it looks like Vegas is expecting more fireworks in Tuesday's rematch.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/4/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.

DraftKings DFS Guards

Stephen Curry - PG, GS at NO ($10,400)

Although he cooled off a tiny bit over the second half of April, Curry is still lighting the world on fire with his scoring and three-point making ability. The two-time MVP was phenomenal in the season's penultimate month. In 15 April games, Curry averaged 37.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 6.4 three-pointers on 46.6 percent shooting. The seven-time All-Star averaged 13.7 three-point shots per game last month. In the 2000-01 NBA season, the league average per team was 13.7 three-point shots per game. Curry is still at the peak of his powers and can win you a cash game or tournament any single night. He's scored over 60 DraftKings fantasy points in four of his last nine games and meets the Pelicans and their sixth-worst defense versus point guards for the second-straight game.

Delon Wright - PG/SG, SAC at OKC ($5,100)

Injuries are pummeling the Kings' backcourt, and Delon Wright is one of the last men standing in an excellent matchup. De'Aaron Fox (medical protocols) and Tyrese Haliburton (knee) are out, while Harrison Barnes (groin) is doubtful for Tuesday's contest against the Thunder. 27 is the magic number for Wright tonight because if he can get to 27 minutes on the court, he will give us a productive evening of fantasy basketball. He's reached the mark in five of his last 10 games, and in that handful of games, the guard averaged 12.4 points, 5.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.8 three-pointers. Oklahoma City is the worst defense in the league against point guards over their last 15 games. With no one else competing for meaningful touches in the King's backcourt, Delon is the right guy for your DFS lineup.

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DraftKings DFS Forwards

Saddiq Bey - SF, DET vs. CHA ($6,000)

Detroit is becoming highly creative in their ways to tank towards the end of this season. Several veterans are resting for no apparent reason, and the amount of injuries going around the locker room is becoming a medical phenomenon. They are playing the second half of a back-to-back against the Hornets tonight, and that should be all the reason they need to continue the rest program they have put their older players on as the campaign winds down.

Still, someone has to play in the games, and Saddiq Bey is taking advantage of his opportunities. He's been a DFS darling for a while now, but he's up to $6,000 tonight after two outstanding performances. In his last two games, the rookie is averaging 37 minutes and recording 20 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 three-pointers, four assists, 1.5 steals, and one block in the process. The Hornets are the fifth-worst defense against small forwards in their last 15 games, and it paves the way for Bey to say, "Hey" to another 40-point DFS evening.

Dorian Finney-Smith - SF/PF, DAL at MIA ($5,200)

I'm a Houston Rockets fan, so it takes a lot for me to say nice things about the Dallas Mavericks. However, the NBA seems to be putting the Mavs through the wringer in terms of the schedule right now. Every time I sit down to write a DFS article, it feels like Dallas is on the second half of a back-to-back or playing their third game in four nights. I'm sure there are other teams in a similar situation, but it seems more noticeable than usual with the Mavs.

Regardless, Dallas must play the games, and it means some players are getting more run than they usually would, and  Finney-Smith is a prime example. Before his Sunday stinker, DFS was great for... well, DFS. The 28-year old (Happy Birthday, Dorian) scored at least 30 DraftKings fantasy points in four consecutive games while averaging 16.5 points, 6.8 boards, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 3.8 three-pointers. Kristaps Porzingis (knee) and Maxi Kleber (Achilles) could both miss tonight's game, and it will make Finney-Smith a fantastic daily option.

DraftKings DFS Centers

Isaiah Stewart - C, DET vs. CHA ($6,300)

Flow chart time! Is Mason Plumlee playing today? No. -> Play Isaiah Stewart. The cheat code of NBA DFS is finally getting the respect he deserves as Tuesday marks the fifth-straight contest he's priced at $6,000 or above. Unfortunately, that does dilute his value a tad, but, as evidenced, his upside can break a slate on any given night. His scoring production is a bit up and down, but he makes up for it on the defensive end of the court. Over his last 10 games, the center is averaging 10.4 rebounds a night. Plus, he's swiped a steal in four straight games and averages 2.8 blocks per game in his last six. Stewart shows us that he can be fantasy-relevant through multiple avenues as the season winds down and Detroit looks to the future.

Marvin Bagley III - PF/C, SAC at OKC ($5,000)

I'm dipping back into this Kings-Thunder game because there is so much value and both defenses are terrible. Bagley is looking to finish the season strong and build momentum heading into his fourth season in the NBA. It's been an up-and-down career for the big man, but he flashes what he can do to lure us back in every once in a while. Last time out, the 2018 draft pick tallied 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting, with nine rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one triple. It all added up to 40.25 fantasy points, his best DFS game since Feb. 28. He's facing one of the worst frontcourt defenses in the league (29th vs. PF, 28th vs. C) in the Thunder and will get the playing time and touches to produce another big night.

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis