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FanDuel NBA Picks and DraftKings NBA Picks - Sunday, 5/9/21
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Point Guard
Delon Wright FD - $8100 DK - $7700
Opponent - OKC
Proj Pts FD - 40.49 DK - 39.37
Yes, the price has come up, but not enough for what Wright now means to this Kings team that without both De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton. Over the last three games Wright is playing close to 40 minutes per and averaging 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while also piling up 11 steals in that time period. He’s an elite play with the ability to contribute across the board from a fantasy perspective. Again, this is one of those situations that can look funny because you remember paying like $6K for him, the price simply hasn’t corrected enough.
LaMelo Ball FD - $7700 DK - $8600
Opponent - NO
Proj Pts FD - 41.51 DK - 42.34
The Hornets had been very careful with LaMelo’s minutes since he’d returned from the wrist injury. But then last game he got p to 34 minutes of run and finished with 27 points, six rebounds and six assists. He’s been able to add defensive stats as well at times. This is setting up to be an up and down matchup against his brother Lonzo and of the two I prefer the younger Ball brother. The FanDuel price is particularly attractive at sub-$8K and the Hornets are still running thin at the guard position with Graham out.
Shooting Guard
Eric Bledsoe FD - $5800 DK - $5600
Opponent - CHA
Proj Pts FD - 32.86 DK - 33.94
With Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram out of the lineup on Friday, the Pelicans actually fought hard against the Sixers though ended up ultimately losing. Bledsoe led the team in minutes (40) and shots (20). His final line was 18 points, five rebounds and four assists which won’t blow you away, but neither will the prices on either site. He’s a particularly good deal on DraftKings at under $6K. The only concern here would be that Nickeil Alexander-Walker comes back and cuts into the run some.
Terry Rozier FD - $7000 DK - $8100
Opponent - NO
Proj Pts FD - 37.47 DK - 38.93
Rozier is still playing a ton of minutes for the Hornets when the game stays close and gets a great matchup against a compromised New Orleans team Sunday. He took 20 shots in his 39 minutes on Friday, putting in 28 points in the win over Orlando. He’ll chip in with the dimes and boards as well. the price is getting up there on DraftKings, but is totally reasonable on FanDuel where he’s been a popular play the last couple of slates.
Small Forward
Small forward is setting up to possibly be a pretty bad position on this Sunday slate and we are going to want to keep it on the cheaper side. I think we will be spending up somewhat at least on PG and SG meaning this is a spot to get a little more speculative. Maurice Harkless (FD $4600 DK $3900) is coming very cheap on DraftKings and has been playing a lot of minutes for the Kings who’ve been ravaged by injuries.
Anthony Edwards (FD $8800 DK $8300) is getting expensive but has also been playing a massive amount of minutes lately, running 38 or more in each of the last three. He’s averaging 20 shots a game in that stretch and has been able to contribute across the fantasy line.
If Kevin Love were to sit again then I think Cedi Osman (FD $5700 DK $5800) would be a fine play even in this middle tier. He played a lot of minutes last game and actually took the most shots (19) for the Cavs in the game against the Mavericks in the blowout loss.
Naji Marshall (FD $4800 DK $4700) would be interesting again if he got the start for Ingram. But I’m concerned that he didn’t even play more than 30 minutes last time out.
Power Forward
James Johnson FD - $4400 DK - $3800
Opponent - CHA
Proj Pts FD - 31.47 DK - 30.22 Johnson was a popular play on Friday when he got the start for the injured Zion Williamson. It didn’t totally end up working out when Johnson played only 26 minutes. The fantasy totals ended up looking just okay though for his current price points they were mostly acceptable. If he were to get the start again I think you have to bite the bullet on DraftKings where he’s still very close to the minimum. It’s a little closer on FanDuel though power forward is always such a bad position and this slate is no different.
Moritz Wagner FD - $4900 DK - $5300
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 34.47 DK - 34.59
He’s played big minutes in two games before losing run in a blowout to the Celtics and then getting into foul trouble against the Hornets. I do think the Magic plan is to playing him in closer games in the mid-30’s minutes. When that happened he put up an average of 18 points and five rebounds. Two of the games saw him get up double-digit shot attempts as well. At a weaker position I think you can take the risk on FanDuel considering the matchup against the Timberwolves is a good one.
Center
Nikola Vucevic FD - $9700 DK - $10600
Opponent - DET
Proj Pts FD - 51.1 DK - 53.6
With the Wizards beating to the Pacers on Saturday there’s only a sliver of hope that the Bulls could make the play-in game and they have a game they can win against the Pistons on Sunday. In this scenario I expect Vuce to play in the mid-30s minutes and he’s been better when Lavine in back in the mix. He triple-doubled in the win against the Celtics on Friday and went for 29 points and 14 rebounds the game before that. The FanDuel price is just a little too cheap and we can save at small forward and power forward meaning paying up at center could be the play.
If Wendell Carter Jr. is out again then Mo Bamba (FD $8200 DK $7000) is a lock and load play. Over the last three games he’s averaging 17 points and 16 rebounds with nine total blocks in that stretch. He’s elite if he gets the minutes and the DraftKings price is a total joke if he’s starting.
