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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on May 23, 2022. Juan Carlos Blanco provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
We're set for a critical Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday, meaning we have a one-game showdown slate tonight. The way the fantasy production is typically distributed among the Celtics and Heat makes putting together a lineup a pretty straightforward process, always an advantage from a DFS perspective.
There are some injury question marks attached to prominent players on both sides Monday, however. Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum are both listed as questionable due to knee inflammation and a cervical impingement, respectively, but each is expected to play. A number of other Heat and Celtics complementary players are also carrying the same tags, which we'll explore a bit further in the article.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/23/22.
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DraftKings and FanDuel Captain/MVP - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jayson Tatum, BOS ($16,500 DK; $15,000 FD)
As just mentioned, Tatum isn't 100 percent, but it a virtual certainty he'll be on the floor and fighting through whatever he has to in order to ensure the Celtics even the series back up at 2-2. The star forward did turn in a clunker in Game 3 with a 3-for-14 showing from the floor, but the in-game ailment certainly may have had something to do with that. With 48 hours to get rest and treatment, expect Tatum to be sharper and boost his usage back up, which could well lead to a performance much more akin to the 28.0 points (on 52.9 percent shooting), 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals across 38 minutes he averaged in the first two games against Miami.
Jimmy Butler, MIA ($15,900 DK; $15,500 FD)
Much like Tatum, Butler's health status will be worth keeping an eye on, but reports are the start wing is expected to play Monday night. Butler was off to another solid performance before his night ended at halftime Saturday, as he'd generated eight points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals across 20 minutes. Jimmy Buckets also put up 35.0 points (on 62.2 percent shooting), 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks across 36.5 minutes in the first two games of the series, so if he's announced as available and without a minutes restriction, he's another clear-cut pick for the top multiplier spot, albeit with at least a bit of injury risk.
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DraftKings and FanDuel Utility Plays - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jaylen Brown, BOS ($9,800 DK; $14,000 FD)
Brown is enjoying a stellar series, and his 40-point outburst in Game 3 outpaced what were two very strong nights in Games 1 and 2. Brown generated 54.8 DK/51.3 FD points on Saturday night, and he's now averaging 29.3 points (on 55.6 percent shooting, including 45.8 percent from three-point range), 9.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists over the first three games versus Miami. Brown is already 18 shot attempts per game from the floor and another 8.0 from the line during the series, and if Tatum is limited in any way Monday, Brown could offer MVP/Captain's spot type of production.
Marcus Smart, BOS ($8,600 DK; $12,000 FD)
Smart is dealing with an ankle injury going into Monday, but he's expected to play Monday. While the issue could naturally lead to some limitations, Smart comes in averaging 20.0 points, 9.5 assists, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals over the first two games he's played, with a spectacular night with over 60 fantasy points on each site in Game 2. The Heat are tough statistically against point guards and Kyle Lowry (hamstring) is expected to play a second straight game Monday, but Smart is a key component of Boston's attack and should be highly involved across the stat sheet as the Celtics face what is arguably a must-win scenario.
Others to consider: Bam Adebayo, MIA ($11,400; $13,000 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Value Plays - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Al Horford, BOS ($7,400 DK; $11,500 FD)
Horford exploded for a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double in Saturday's loss, leading to 49.5 DK/47.3 FD points across 42 minutes. The floor-spacing big has been excellent defensively throughout the postseason as well, supplementing his fantasy production nicely with 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals per game and recording multiple blocks in five games overall. Horford's offensive involvement can be a bit volatile, but given his ability to fill out the rest of the stat sheet and his salaries, he remains an excellent value option that gives you some coveted flexibility elsewhere.
Grant Williams, BOS ($6,400 DK; $9,500 FD)
Williams is a classic tournament play, with the last six games serving as a perfect example. Williams has delivered a trio of sub-15-fantasy-point tallies on each site in that span while also eclipsing 20 fantasy points, including 30 once, in the other three games. The third-year forward's three-point shooting is the x-factor, and with Boston in semi-desperation mode, it wouldn't be surprising to see Williams get fed the ball on the perimeter plenty if he starts with a hot hand. Miami is yielding 40.6 percent three-point shooting thus far in the series, and Williams is draining an impressive 43.5 percent of his attempts from behind the arc in 14 postseason games.
Others to consider: Max Strus, MIA ($6,800 DK; $9,000 FD); Kyle Lowry, MIA ($6,600 DK; $10,500 FD)
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