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Welcome back, RotoBallers! Tonight, we've got two Game 1's, with both #1 seeds looking to start their second round with a home win. These articles focus on the overall best plays, which are typically more suited for cash games. However, some exceptions may apply, depending on the size of the slate.
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 5/7/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EDT on FanDuel and DraftKings. As always, feel free to follow my X/Twitter (@Maxadelphia) to keep up to date with NBA news and for my nightly NBA bets if you're into that sort of thing. Let's go!
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Today's NBA DFS Core Picks
For this only being a two-game slate, it's a surprisingly flexible slate. It is possible to play two of the superstars together, even if one is Luka Doncic, although that gets a little more tricky. It's also a slate full of mid-range options if you're looking for a more balanced lineup. However, there does appear to be a significant difference regarding game environments; Mavericks at Thunder has a higher implied total by seven points.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC vs. DAL - PG ($9.1K DK; $10.2K FD)
- Luka Doncic, DAL at OKC – PG ($12K DK; $12K FD)
- Donovan Mitchell, CLE at BOS – PG/SG ($8.6K DK; $9.4K FD)
Today's NBA DFS Value Picks
Injuries to Kristaps Porzingis and Maxi Kleber, as well as Jarrett Allen having missed the last three games and being truly questionable tonight, make there plenty of cheap big men who are viable salary savers. Also, if you think the Celtics will cover as 12-point favorites, we'll likely see the bench players get additional run in the 4th quarter.
Top Value Plays:
- Dereck Lively, DAL at OKC - C ($4.3K DK; $4.8K FD)
- Al Horford, BOS vs. CLE - PF/C ($5.7K DK; $5.8K FD)
- Luke Kornet, BOS vs. CLE - C ($4K DK; $3.7K FD)
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
PG is clearly the most important position on the slate tonight. With four of the top five most expensive players PG eligible and most of the top value plays at forward and/or center, it's obvious to pay up and get a superstar in your first lineup spot.
Top PG Options:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC vs. DAL ($9.1K DK; $10.2K FD)
- Luka Doncic, DAL at OKC ($12K DK; $12K FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
SG is a tough position to fill tonight. Nearly all of the players who see consistent minutes for their teams are inconsistent with their fantasy output. I'm going to fill in SG as needed tonight, prioritizing my PG and favorite value plays first.
Top SG Options:
- Donovan Mitchell, CLE at BOS ($8.6K DK; $9.4K FD)
- Derrick White, BOS vs. CLE ($6.7K DK; $7.2K FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
For cash games, SF should be another as-needed position, much like SG. For tournaments, this is a very intriguing spot to be contrarian, as the top three players by price all project to be relatively low-owned.
Top SF Options:
- Jalen Williams, OKC vs. DAL ($7.2K DK; $7.9K FD)
- Max Strus, CLE at BOS ($5.4K DK; $4.8K FD)
- Derrick Jones Jr., DAL at OKC ($4.8K DK; $4.5K FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
PF is pretty thin tonight, but there are a few quality cheap options to choose from. The real key to this slate is the health of Jarrett Allen. If Allen does miss tonight's game, Evan Mobley will be a borderline must-play in cash games, and would easily be the best PF option on the slate.
Top PF Options:
- Al Horford, BOS vs. CLE ($5.7K DK; $5.8K FD)
- Jayson Tatum, BOS vs. CLE ($9.7K DK; $9.7K FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
All injury roads lead back to Center tonight, making it the deepest position on the slate. Your choice at Center will go a long way into dictating how much salary you have to work with for other positions. Figure out PG first, and Center second tonight. .
Top C Options:
- Dereck Lively, DAL at OKC ($4.3K DK; $4.8K FD)
- Chet Holmgren, OKC vs. DAL ($6.8K DK; $8K FD)
- Luke Kornet, BOS vs. CLE ($4K DK; $3.7K FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Mavericks at Thunder (218 total)
- Cavaliers at Celtics (211.5 total)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
- I wouldn't fully fade the Celtics' stars, but if they do win big, it's unlikely more than one or maybe two of them will hit their ceiling outcomes.
- The Cavs - Celtics game in general could be a fantasy wasteland if the Cavs play as poorly as they did in their three games in Orlando last round.
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: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Al Horford
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Jalen Williams
- My favorite value play: Dereck Lively
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