We have a three-game NBA DFS playoff slate tonight. All three games are pivotal Game 6's, which means three teams are playing for their survival and plenty of potential daily fantasy basketball studs and sleepers will be playing extra minutes.
The big injury news is the likely absence of Fred VanVleet (left hip) for the Raptors as they look to fill in the gaps of production. In the same game, it will be interesting to see what James Harden and Joel Embiid can do as they look to avoid a Game 7 after winning the first three games of the series.
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Today's NBA DFS Playbook: Lineup picks, tips for Thursday
Luka Doncic, PG, Mavericks (Cash & GPP). In the two games since his return, Doncic has been his normal prolific self, but we haven’t seen the best he has to offer as a distributor. Doncic has scored 30 and 33 points in the two games, respectively, while grabbing double-digit rebounds in both (10 and 13) to go along with 4.5 assists per game. He is shooting at least 50 percent from the field in each game, and it’s clear that his left calf injury is behind him. If Doncic picks up the pace from an assist perspective, then we are really in good shape.
OG Anunoby, SG, Raptors (Cash & GPP). With no Fred VanVleet (left hip), Toronto leaned more on its existing starters and, in fact, shortened its rotation as it looks to extend its season. Anunoby had a solid game on Monday with 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists, and that should continue into tonight. Things would be even better if Anunoby bounced back to the 26 points he scored in Games 2 and 3.
Landry Shamet, SG, Suns (GPP). Shamet is cheap and should play about 25 minutes once again tonight. At this price, we don’t need much offensively for a 5x value return other than one or two more field goals.
Bojan Bogdanovic, SF, Jazz (Cash & GPP). After scoring between 24 and 26 points in the first three games of the postseason, Bogdanovic scored just 14 points in his past two games. The Jazz would like to forget everything about Game 5, and that also goes for Bogdanovic, who missed all nine of his field-goal attempts. He is simply too good of a player for that to continue, so expect a bounce-back effort tonight.
Danny Green, SF, 76ers (Cash & GPP). Green has benefitted in this series from Matisse Thybulle’s inability to play in Toronto, and that will continue tonight. After averaging just 6.1 points per game in the regular season, Green has surpassed that mark three times in the past four games, including 14 points in 25 minutes on Monday. If we combine that with double-digit shot attempts, a handful of rebounds, and about 30 minutes of playing time, then Green is a solid value option.
Thad Young, PF, Raptors (GPP). Is Young going to play the 30 minutes he did in Game 4 or the 16 minutes he did in Game 5? The difference is pretty substantial, as Young went from scoring 13 points with five rebounds and five assists to three points, three rebounds, and three assists. This is a GPP-only suggestion, as we can’t count on the playing time, but he should with Toronto shorthanded.
Jonas Valanciunas, C, Pelicans (Cash & GPP). Tonight, he goes for his fifth double-double of the postseason, out of six games, as Valanciunas continues to be a dual threat. At 15.4 points and 15.6 rebounds per game, it’s hard to argue with what we are seeing out of Valanciunas and that should continue tonight.
More Picks: PG Jordan Clarkson, Jazz (GPP); PG C.J. McCollum, Pelicans (Cash & GPP); SG Reggie Bullock, Mavericks (Cash & GPP); SF Mikal Bridges, Suns (Cash & GPP); PF Pascal Siakam, Raptors (Cash & GPP); C Joel Embiid, 76ers (Cash & GPP).
For even more picks, plus full analysis and strategy advice, check out Fantasy Alarm's full NBA DFS Playbook for Thursday's slate!