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We’re primed for a single-game slate Thursday, as the Nets and Bucks get together in Milwaukee for Game 6 of an intriguing hotly contested series. Matters have been marred a bit by key injuries, although James Harden did manage to get back on the floor for Brooklyn in Game 5, albeit nowhere near full strength. Harden is apparently planning to play Thursday, but Kyrie Irving (ankle) will remain out for Brooklyn.
I’ll outline a pair of candidates for each of the three multiplier spots (MVP. STAR and PRO) in FanDuel’s single-game roster format, and I’ll also offer another two players to consider for the two Utility spots that accrue FanDuel points at a non-multiplier rate. Thursday’s game should offer a very good DFS environment, considering some of the jaw-dropping performances we’ve seen thus far.
Read on to see my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 6/17/21. You can also check out DraftKings lineup picks and injury news before lineups lock. Good luck, RotoBallers.
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FanDuel DFS MVP Picks (2x)
Kevin Durant, SF- at MIL ($16,000)
Durant’s designation as the most desirable player on the slate is obvious, especially coming off a 96.4 FD-point tally across 48 minutes in Game 5. KD was already averaging 53.5 FD points over the first four games of the series, and Thursday, he figures to once again sport massive usage as Brooklyn looks to close out the series. That should hold true whether or not Harden suits up, as Durant has a 34.0 percent usage rate and is averaging 56.0 FD points per 36 minutes with Irving off the floor.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF – vs. BKN ($15,000)
Antetokounmpo is the next-safest option for the MVP slot, as he’s averaging 49.9 FD points over the first five games of the series and has put up a whopping 23.6 shot attempts per game. The Greek Freak is comfortably averaging a double-double (30.6 points, 12.0 rebounds), and with Milwaukee looking to stave off elimination and Giannis’ ability to check off every box on the stat sheet, he’s always a threat for a monster score in a 2x multiplier spot.
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FanDuel DFS STAR Picks (1.5x)
James Harden – at MIL ($14,000)
Harden’s status should naturally be monitored carefully throughout the day Thursday, but if he’s announced as available once again, he naturally has to be considered for this spot at minimum. Harden appeared like a shadow of himself in Tuesday’s Game 5 win, but he did manage to somehow log 46 minutes during the contest. The Beard only netted 20.2 FD points due in large part to a 1-for-10 shooting performance, yet he naturally has the talent to turn things around drastically and rack up significant production. Even if he’s in much more of a facilitator role, Harden could make the investment worthwhile if he’s even 20%-25% better in Game 6.
Khris Middleton– vs. BKN ($13,500)
Middleton has shot poorly in all three road games during the series, but he drained 47.5 percent of his attempts in Games 3 and 4 at Fiserv Forum and is back on his home floor Thursday. Middleton has now scored over 40 FD points in three straight, and he’s checked off every box on the stat sheet in each of the last pair of contests. Just as with Antetokounmpo, he should be primed for heavy volume in such a critical game for Milwaukee and has the talent to make his rostering in a 1.5x multiplier spot pay off.
FanDuel DFS PRO Picks (1.2x)
Jrue Holiday – vs. BKN ($12,500)
Holiday has been up and down all series, but he’s scored over 30 FD points in three of the first five games against Brooklyn. The interesting aspect of Holiday’s fantasy trajectory thus far is the fact his two worst games came at home, where he’ll be again Thursday. Nevertheless, the veteran point guard has dished out 17 assists over the last two games and continues to put up double-digit shot attempts, so he should certainly offer a good deal of safety and production in a 1.2x multiplier spot.
Jeff Green – at MIL ($11,000)
Irrespective of Green’s strong performance in Game 5, there’s still risk attached to this selection, as he didn’t play at all until Game 4 and only scored 13.5 FD points in that contest before racking up 35.7 in Game 5. Green was incredibly efficient from distance, draining seven of eight attempts from behind the arc. It could be particularly difficult to replicate that feat, but even if Green is reasonably sharp, he could pay off nicely if he sees well north of 30 minutes again. The veteran is averaging 28.4 FD points per 36 minutes without Irving on the floor this season and Milwaukee is ranked in the bottom half of the league in offensive efficiency allowed to power forwards (25.5 percent), strengthening Green’s case.
Utility Spot options to consider:
Brook Lopez ($11,500); Blake Griffin ($10,000)
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