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Two games are on tap today, as is the norm in the NBA now that we've arrived at the conference semifinals. The Celtics-Bucks game holds a weak 212.5-point implied total, which pales in comparison to the Grizzlies-Warriors' 225.5-point implied total in the nightcap. Pace of play and fantasy points allowed both favors the later game as well, but since this is just a two-game slate, we'll need to get to pieces everywhere to make lineups work tonight. Both series are tied at 1-1 heading into today's pivotal Game 3's, so we have to expect that we'll be seeing some tightly-contested games with heavy minutes going to the primary rotational pieces.
Dillon Brooks is suspended for tonight's game after his hit on Gary Payton II in Game 2 and Khris Middleton remains out of the lineup, making Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo even more appealing plays than they already were while also opening up some value for both teams. Marcus Smart and Goerge Hill hold "Q" tags, but they're both probable to play tonight.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/7/22, with the slate locking at 3:30 pm ET. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our live-updating NBA injury updates tool as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. As always, feel free to follow my Twitter (@RING_DFS) - I post about a variety of things but mainly NBA DFS with my K-Rate model. Let's get to it - good luck RotoBallers!
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Klay Thompson - SG/SF, GSW vs. MEM ($7,100 DK, $6,200 FD)
I'm a huge fan of getting to Thompson at these price points as he offers a palatable floor while possessing a 40-50+ DK point ceiling in this spot. His last game, Game 2 against Memphis, was the first time he'd put up less than 26 DK points since 3/30. That speaks to his consistency, but it should also result in the "other" Splash Bro being potentially under-rostered tonight. He needs to get his three-point stroke back on track, though, as he's 5-for-22 from deep this series after going 22-for-48 (46%) from downtown in the first round against the Nuggets. I'm not sure about you, but I feel pretty good banking on Klay Thompson re-discovering his long-range shot.
De'Anthony Melton - PG/SG, MEM vs. GSW ($4,300 DK, $5,500 FD) | Better on DraftKings
Tread lightly at his FanDuel pricing, but Melton has a great opportunity to crush value with starting guard Dillon Brooks suspended for tonight's pivotal Game 3 in San Francisco. Melton's rates barely budges with Brooks off the floor, but his 1.07 FPTS/min rate will certainly play if we're projecting him to see the 25-26 minutes that he has been playing this series so far. He put up 33.25 DK points in a tournament-winning effort in Game 1, while he put up a respectable 24.5 DK points in Game 2. He'll chuck it from three and he has a whopping nine "stocks" to this point in the series, so there's plenty of upside for him tonight. He may even see additional minutes with the way he has been playing and with Brooks out of the picture.
Ja Morant - PG, MEM vs. GSW ($10,300 DK, $10,800 FD)
I'd make sure to prioritize Giannis first, but if you can afford him and Morant in a lineup, do it. Morant has scored at least 65 DK points in three of his last four games, a stretch that included a 76.5 DK point outburst on 15-for-31 shooting and a near triple-double in his last time out. He had 47/8/8 with three steals that game and the Grizzlies will need another monster effort out of their stud if they want to keep this series competitive. You simply can't ignore the raw points upside for players like Giannis and Ja on a slate like this.
Others to consider (FanDuel): Stephen Curry ($9,500), Jrue Holiday ($8,300), Tyus Jones ($3,800), Jaylen Brown ($8,800)
Others to consider (DraftKings): Jaylen Brown ($8,000), Stephen Curry ($9,200), Jrue Holiday ($8,100), Tyus Jones ($3,600)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Draymond Green - PF/C, GSW vs. MEM ($6,800 DK, $6,500 FD)
This is just too cheap of a salary for Green. There's a severe lack of value on the slate, so getting to only one stud and then filling out the rest of your lineup with mid-tier guys might be the most sound approach tonight. Green can help you do that as he's averaging 33 DK points per game in the six playoffs game in which he hasn't gotten ejected. By now, you're aware of Green's game. He's there to fill up the stat sheet as a complementary option on a team filled with shooters. We're looking for one of those classic 11/10/6/3/2 stat lines from Draymond tonight,
Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF/C, MIL vs. BOS ($11,500 DK, $11,00 FD)
There isn't going to be a whole lot to get into detail about here. He's the lone true DFS "stud" on the entire slate as I have him projected to lead the slate by over 10 DK points, so there's really no getting around playing him on a two-gamer. He has mixed monster outings with "meh" performances so far in the playoffs, exceeding 64 DK points three times (with a 75 DK point outing) while falling under 52 DK points three times as well. He's expensive, sure, but he's also the only player who has a realistic shot at 70+ DK points tonight. Don't miss out on it.
Desmond Bane - SG/SF, MEM vs. GSW ($6,400 DK, $5,800 FD) | Better on FanDuel
Bane has been beyond brutal in the series as the Warriors have clearly schemed a way to completely shut down the sharpshooter to this point. He has just 14 points, seven rebounds, one assist, and two steals over 64 total minutes in the series, which resulted in fantasy outputs of 16.7 and 10.2 FD points. Yikes. He's 2-for-9 from deep after going scorched earth on everyone with a 27-for-55 (49%) showing from downtown in the first round. The Grizzlies will have to find a way to get him back on track tonight if they want to have a chance in this series, and that will be especially important tonight as they'll be without the suspended Dillon Brooks.
Others to consider (FanDuel): Otto Porter ($4,100), Jayson Tatum ($10,000), Andrew Wiggins ($6,100), Kyle Anderson ($3,700), Bobby Portis ($5,900)
Others to consider (DraftKings): Otto Porter Jr. ($3,700), Andrew Wiggins ($5,800), Jayson Tatum ($10,000), Kyle Anderson ($3,500)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Robert Williams - PF/C, BOS vs. MIL ($4,800 DK, $5,100 FD)
I love me some Time Lord, and you should too. He hasn't done much of anything in the playoffs so far as he was hurt (and not needed) in the Brooklyn series and has run into foul trouble in both games so far in this series. He put up 24 and 20 DK points in 22 and 25 minutes, respectively, but we have to think he's in line for additional minutes as long as he can stay out of foul trouble. He's a very appealing DFS target when he does receive minutes simply because he's a productive per-minute player, averaging 1.03 FPTS/min with a penchant for racking up rebounds and blocks at a high rate. The Bucks allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing PF's this season, though they ranked well against C's.
Others to consider (FanDuel): Brandon Clarke ($5,600), Jaren Jackson ($7,100)
Others to consider (DraftKings): Brandon Clarke ($6,000), Al Horford ($5,900), Jaren Jackson Jr. ($6,300)
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