Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic shoots free throws during an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Dallas, Thursday, April 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 58.72 DK - 62.84
The Mavs look like they really want to hold on to the #5 seed in the West meaning we should see a full run of minutes for Luka in that game. On this slate, that’s almost good enough. He triple-doubled last game even with Kristaps back, putting up 20 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. Minnesota has been chippy late in the season and could put up a fight here, but I think the floor on Luka combined with the team’s motivations to win are enough to keep him in cash lineups on this slate.
Opponent - MIL
Proj Pts FD - 34.24 DK - 36.42
White got the start for the injured (resting), Zach Lavine, on Saturday when the Bulls played the Nets. The former stunk up the joint, going 1-10 from the field and finishing with just three points in his 34 minutes. Obviously, that game was a disaster, but shouldn’t be used to create a projection for this one. If he’s running minutes in the mid-30s then he’s still a good value at these prices. I’d go back to the well on White if he’s starting again against Milwaukee. he still added six assists and seven rebounds. If the scoring rounds out some then he’s a good cash play.
The Blazers should be going all-out in this game meaning Damian Lillard (FD 9900 DK 9400) would see a lot of minutes.
Opponent - MIA
Proj Pts FD - 34.93 DK - 34.82
Opponent - MIA
Proj Pts FD - 29.59 DK - 30.1
Diallo returned from a Covid protocol absence on Friday and got the start for the Pistons. He was excellent, putting up 18 points and 12 rebounds in his 35 minutes. He should be in line for a similar run on Sunday with Detroit once again playing shorthanded. He also led them in shots and was the primary creator on offense in this current form of the team. His price is a total joke on DraftKings at under $5K and he’s an easy play over there for this slate.
Meanwhile, Jackson got 33 minutes of his own in that game against Denver and put up 13 shots, the third-most on the team. He finished with a balanced line of 11 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists that more than paid the way for him in cash games. I’d expect something similar with Detroit still very thin on back-court players if Cory Joseph sits this one out again.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (FD 6800 DK 6800) could be in line for a ton of minutes and a million shots once again with the Pelicans playing shorthanded.
Opponent - LAL
Proj Pts FD - 30.16 DK - 29.91
The Pelicans’ season is over, but they still have to play the games out and that’s where a guy like Naji Marshall comes in. Last time out, in another start, he ran mid-30s minutes and finished with an awesome line. He put up 20 points on 15 shots which was the second-most on the team behind Nickeil Alexander-Walker. I think he’d be in line for a lot of minutes again against the Lakers who will definitely be trying to win this game. The Pelicans are short bodies and the minutes should be there for Marshall.
Opponent - MIL
Proj Pts FD - 22.84 DK - 22.57
Williams is coming off a very good game against the Nets and did see his minutes increase some with the team playing shorthanded. He was third on the team in shots with 14 which is an encouraging sign for the rookie. I think he’s in line for mid-30s minutes once again here against the Bucks and there is usage to go around for this team when Zach Lavine is out of the mix.
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 43.47 DK - 45.26
In the same vein of wanting to play Luka on this slate, I think we can take the same approach with Kiristaps. After returning from the injury absence two games ago, the Mavs took the minutes’ leash off last game and he played 34 in the win. That should be the new baseline if Dallas is, in fact, still motivated to win here which It think they are. He put up 21 points and 10 assists and isn’t priced for the increased run on FanDuel at least.
Opponent - MIL
Proj Pts FD - 35.9 DK - 35.53
The Bulls don’t have anything to play for, but they didn’t have anything to play for on Saturday either and Young was still a great cash play. He ran 30 minutes and finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and four assists against the Nets. The price just isn’t moving on FanDuel at all and he’s a good power forward play considering the position is often very thin. Even at 30 minutes against the Bucks would be good enough to keep him in cash lineups with a high floor.
Center, once again, is a total minefield on this slate. Let’s go through some of the options with the understanding that we are probably going to end up with someone cheap.
Opponent - BKN
Proj Pts FD - 35.03 DK - 35.82
The Cavaliers are obviously not playing for anything, but they also haven’t been for a while. Allen has seen more minutes lately and the team is really thin on bigs for this last game. He’s played 32 or more in each of the last three games, averaging 13 points, 11 rebounds, and a block in that stretch. It’s not going to not your socks off, but the floor is high enough on this slate. Oh, and there might be some extra motivation against his former Nets’ squad.
Bam Adebayo (FD 8200 DK 8300) is in consideration, though I’m not certain the Heat really want to win this game.
Clint Capela (FD 7800 DK 8200) could be a play, but the Hawks might have their fate sealed by the time this game comes around. We will have to wait and see, but Atlanta may or may not have something to play for.
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