The series shifts to Dallas with the Mavericks needing a win to avoid the dreaded 0-3 hole. After getting their doors blown off in Game 1, Luka Doncic did everything he could do to will the Mavericks to a Game 2 win, but they ultimately fell nine points short in their upset bid. The implied total is currently set at 218 points, with the Mavericks being favored by three points on their home court. Can Doncic put up another incredible performance to keep the Mavs in the series? Or will the Warriors continue to roll in their quest to reclaim their once perpetual throne atop the NBA? We're in for a treat tonight, and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.
Andrew Wiggins (ankle) has popped up with a questionable tag, but he's fully expected to play tonight. He's the only player who even has an injury designation for Game 3.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/22/22, with the slate locking at 9:00 pm ET. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our live-updating NBA injury updates tool as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. As always, feel free to follow my Twitter (@RING_DFS) - I post about a variety of things but mainly NBA DFS with my K-Rate model. Let's get to it - good luck RotoBallers!
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DraftKings and FanDuel Captains/MVP - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Luka Doncic - ($13,600 DK, $16,500 FD)
The top recommendation is always going to be Doncic here. He has the highest median output as well as the highest potential ceiling, and no one on this slate comes even close to either mark. He put up 69.75 DK points in a crazy 42/5/8/1/3 effort in Game 2, which is nothing we should be surprised about because he has been doing stuff like this all season. I'm not telling you anything you don't know here - play Luka Doncic in the Captain/MVP spot and differentiate elsewhere.
Stephen Curry - ($11,400 DK, $15,500 FD)
Curry doesn't have near the same appeal in the Captain or MVP slots tonight, but he should definitely be worked in in the STAR and PRO slots over on FanDuel. Simply put - he's the very clear runner-up in terms of raw points on this slate behind Doncic. We know he's going to take a million shots, and that's going to result in big performances most of the time since he's one of the best shooters in the history of the sport. He has put up 52.75, 47.5, and 51 DK points in his last three games, and that range of outcomes is definitely in play for him again tonight.
Jordan Poole - ($9,600 DK)
I don't like Poole's price over on FanDuel and wouldn't even get much exposure to him in the STAR/Pro slots over there, but he's a great tournament option with the way DraftKings sets up their single-game tournaments. The salary savings you receive by getting to Poole in the Captain spot are immense, and it allows you to get to both Doncic and Curry in the same lineup a lot more comfortably. Poole has mixed the good with the bad in these playoffs, which is going to happen when you're playing alongside Curry and Thompson. He has spiked in the last two games (35.25 DK points, 28 DK points) in elevated minutes, so there's a good chance that the Warriors keep trusting him and that he exceeds value in Game 3. Limit the exposure here though - Doncic is the priority.
Others to consider (FanDuel): STAR/PRO slots only - Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Reggie Bullock, Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, Spencer Dinwiddie
Others to consider (DraftKings): Reggie Bullock
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DraftKings and FanDuel Utility Plays - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Draymond Green - ($7,800 DK, $11,500 FD)
Some people may stray away from getting to Green tonight due to his subpar 19.5 DK point effort in Game 2 on Friday. Don't be one of them. He had his minutes limited due to foul trouble in a game where he eventually fouled out and only played 28 minutes. That's always going to be a slight risk with him, but remember that he just put up 31.25 DK points in just 29 minutes in Game 1, so we know how efficient he can be from a FPTS/min perspective. He's too important to this team to not get big minutes tonight, and he's at an affordable enough price point to really be intriguing as a flex play.
Reggie Bullock - ($6,400 DK, $10,000 FD)
I like getting to players who are guaranteed to play a boatload of minutes on single-game slates, and Bullock fits that bill perfectly. He has played between 31 and 46 minutes in every single game so far in the playoffs, and he exceeded 40 minutes eight times. That's incredible. He has mixed in a few major clunkers during that stretch, but that's going to happen with a shooting-centric player like Bullock. He has been solid with 22.25 and 30.25 DK points so far in this series, but I think there's room for a lot more with the astronomical minutes he's seeing. With all of the attention focused on Doncic, Bullock could be a critical DFS piece tonight.
Maxi Kleber - ($4,800 DK, $8,000 FD)
Value is basically non-existent on this slate, which means we have to look to the low mid-range for our salary savings. Kleber is the furthest thing from being a "sexy" play, but he gets the most minutes out of anyone in this price range and if he can just make a couple more buckets, he's going to hit value tonight. He's riding an unimpressive string of outputs with 12.25, 7.25, 14.5, 18, and 11 DK points coming into tonight, but before that he put up 24.75, 18.25, and 30.75 DK points to start the series against Phoenix. He's pretty much there to shoot open threes and cobble together hustle stats, and I think it's a good bet that he bounces back from his last two games (2-for-9 from 3PT) tonight.
Others to consider (FanDuel): Dorian Finney-Smith, Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney, Spencer Dinwiddie
Others to consider (DraftKings): Kevon Looney, Andrew Wiggins, Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jalen Brunson, Otto Porter Jr., Klay Thompson, Nemanja Bjelica
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