RADIO
The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on September 4, 2020. Dennis Clausen provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
As part of the world heads toward the unofficial last weekend of summer, the play inside the bubble is getting hotter than ever. On Thursday night, we saw the Raptors stun the Celtics after OG Anunoby drained a desperation three-point shot, which resulted in a 104-103 victory over Boston. In the West, the Clippers handled the Nuggets decisively to take Game 1 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. On Friday, we once again have two games on the agenda, with the Bucks hoping to avoid going down three games to none against the surging Miami Heat, while the Lakers and Rockets will kick things off after Houston needed all seven games to get rid of OKC.
Looking at injuries heading into Friday night, Andre Iguodala (ankle) and Kelly Olynyk (knee) are listed as questionable for the Heat. LeBron James (groin) and Anthony Davis (finger) are also once again making appearances on the latest injury report for Los Angeles, just like they have been doing for most of the season. However, as usual, they are expected to play. Rajon Rondo, who had missed time while dealing with a back issue, has a strong chance of making his first appearance of the postseason.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 9/4/20. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. Feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @DennisMClausen. Good luck.
FanDuel DFS Guards
Khris Middleton, SG @ MIA ($7,500)
Middleton got off to a slow start in Game 2 against the Heat but managed to finish with 39 fantasy points. Although it hasn't translated to wins as of late, he has been a reliable source of production during this series and is averaging 25.5 points throughout 35 minutes of play. The likelihood that Middleton will continue to play heavy minutes is high, and he could also potentially finish Game 3 as Milwaukee's leading scorer while the Heat does everything it can to slow down Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Goran Dragic, PG - vs. MIL ($7,200)
Dragic is a key reason why Miami has been so successful during the postseason. In this series alone, he is averaging 33 minutes on the floor per game and hasn't dipped below 39 fantasy points. Though he occasionally battled for playing time with Kendrick Nunn during the regular season, that hasn't been an issue lately as the rookie has been relegated to minimal playing time for most of the postseason.
Eric Bledsoe, PG - @ MIA ($5,600)
Bledsoe couldn't suit up in Game 1 due to a strained hamstring but returned to the lineup in Game 2. While most thought he would be limited from a minutes perspective, he looked relatively solid after logging 31 minutes of action and walking away with 16 points, seven boards, and two assists. He was a little rocky on the shooting end, but luckily, the pace of play allowed the veteran to make a difference on the fantasy end. His rostering cost is still a bargain, especially with so many big names on the slate on Friday night.
Also Consider: Jimmy Butler ($8,700), Tyler Herro ($5,400)
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Bam Adebayo, PF - vs. MIL ($8,000)
Adebayo is always a double-double threat, and before Game 2, he had one in four of his previous five games. He was only one board shy of doing it again on Wednesday night, but he made amends by scoring 15 points and draining seven of his eight attempts from the charity stripe. He played well against the Bucks during the regular season, a trend that has transitioned into the postseason. He has a great chance of keeping things moving in a favorable direction in Game 3.
Eric Gordon, SF - @ LAL ($5,600)
Despite Russell Westbrook working his way back into the lineup after missing some time, Gordon remained a consistent producer for the Rockets against OKC. He averaged 18 points across 34 minutes in Round 1. Although he is a streaky shooter, he should have no issues hitting his value, especially since coach D'Antoni loves leaning on a small group of players for consistent playing time.
Jae Crowder, SF - vs. MIL ($5,000)
Due to Crowder's defensive prowess, he has seen plenty of playing time against the Bucks. Although he doesn't routinely fill it up on the scoring end, he can still make his baskets when it counts. That trend could continue in Game 3, and even though the journeyman may not hit the double-digit mark in scoring, he can potentially make up for it both on the glass and the defensive end.
Also Consider: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,600), Robert Covington ($6,800)
FanDuel DFS Centers
Brook Lopez, C - @ MIA ($5,700)
The options at the center position on Friday night are atrocious, and unless you feel comfortable rolling the dice on P.J. Tucker, fantasy managers should put some cash aside for Lopez. The veteran has played extremely well and has been shooting lights out from deep, especially from the corner.
