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Friday’s Game 2 between the Mavericks and Timberwolves leaves us with Single-Game contests on DraftKings and FanDuel. The lineup construction is a bit different compared to the typical DFS slate as these include a 1.5x multiplier Captain's spot on DraftKings that carries elevated salaries for each player, and MVP (2x), STAR (1.5x), and PRO (1.2x) spots on FanDuel, where player's salaries are the same regardless of roster spot.
The key to being successful in NBA DFS comes down to making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. But it's always really important to have a game plan and the best players and spots circled first before making those adjustments. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and also gain access to our RotoBaller Premium Discord where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/24/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 8:30 p.m. EDT on FanDuel and DraftKings. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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Today's NBA DFS Core Picks (Captain/MVP/STAR)
Luka Doncic has been battling injuries throughout the playoffs, but he had a few days off between the end of the second round and the beginning of the Western Conference Finals. He looked great in Game 1, posting 33 points, six rebounds, eight assists, and three steals over 41 minutes. During the Mavericks’ playoff run, he is averaging 22.5 shot attempts over 42 minutes per game. Combine his massive usage rate with him being a nightly triple-double threat and he is an ideal option to build around.
Luka Doncic at the rim this season:
90.0% FG — Playoffs (1st in NBA)
83.8% FG — Regular season (1st in NBA) pic.twitter.com/V1uoxOwVyt— StatMamba (@StatMamba) May 23, 2024
The good news was that Anthony Edwards shot 5-of-12 from behind the arc in Game 1. However, he finished with a modest 19 points. He went just 1-of-4 on two-point attempts and attempted only two free throws. He did salvage his stat line with 11 rebounds and eight assists. With the Timberwolves looking to avoid an 0-2 series deficit, look for Edwards to be aggressive offensively.
Kyrie Irving is one of the most lethal scorers in the league. That’s why it was so odd to see him average just 14.8 points over his last five games entering this series. Part of the issue was that he attempted 17 shots or fewer in four of those games. He was much more aggressive in Game 1, scoring 30 points on 23 shot attempts. He can score against the best defenses in the league, so while he’s a bit riskier than Doncic and Edwards, his upside still makes him worth targeting for one of these important multiplier spots.
Top Captain's Spot/MVP Plays:
- Luka Doncic, DAL at MIN – PG ($20,100 DK; $17,500 FD)
- Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. DAL – SG/SF ($17,100 DK; $15,500 FD)
- Kyrie Irving, DAL at MIN – PG/SG ($14,700 DK; $14,000 FD)
ALSO CONSIDER: Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. DAL – PF/C ($14,100 DK; $13,000 FD)
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Today's NBA DFS Value Picks (Utility/PRO)
The Timberwolves have a ton of size, so the Mavericks are going to need Dereck Lively II to step up in this series. He was up to the task in Game 1, posting nine points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks over 27 minutes off the bench. That came on the heels of him finishing out the previous series against the Thunder with back-to-back double-doubles. Expect him to at least threaten to record another one.
Every player under 21 in NBA history with 30+ offensive rebounds in the Playoffs:
— Dereck Lively II
— Magic JohnsonElite company (for Magic). pic.twitter.com/h4HvhhtSrN
— MavsMuse (@MavsMuse) May 23, 2024
Derrick Jones Jr. closed out the previous series against the Thunder with at least 17 points in three straight games. He nailed eight three-pointers during that span. While he was quiet in Game 1 against the Timberwolves, he did log 35 minutes. Over the last 12 games, he has averaged 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks over 32 minutes per game. If he can catch fire from behind the arc, he could provide significant value.
With Rudy Gobert and Towns both healthy, Naz Reid isn’t going to log a ton of minutes. However, he doesn’t need to in order to provide value. During the regular season, he averaged 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks over 24 minutes per game. He logged exactly 24 minutes in Game 1, posting 15 points, five rebounds, one steal, and one block. Among the players with cheaper salaries, Reid is one of the more appealing options.
Top Utility/PRO Plays:
- Dereck Lively II, DAL at MIN – C ($5,400 DK; $9,500 FD)
- Derrick Jones Jr., DAL at MIN – SF/PF ($5,000 DK; $8,000 FD)
- Naz Reid, MIN vs. DAL – PF/C ($4,600 DK; $9,000 FD)
ALSO CONSIDER: Daniel Gafford, DAL at MIN – C ($5,200 DK; $8,500 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
- I’m keeping Rudy Gobert out of my lineups. He finished with just 12 points and seven rebounds despite playing 38 minutes in Game 1. He normally doesn’t bring much scoring upside to the table, and with both Lively and Gafford playing well, Gobert might be hard-pressed to post massive rebounding totals throughout this series.
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite overall play on the slate: Luka Doncic
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Anthony Edwards
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Derrick Jones Jr.
- My favorite value play: Dereck Lively II
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