This is always a bittersweet time of the season. With that said, these are the most important games of the season, with Dallas and Boston dueling for an NBA Championship!
Let’s dive into this Game 1 slate! Here are our NBA DFS picks for Game 1 between the Mavericks and Celtics.
Core Plays
Kyrie Irving (PG/SG – DAL)
DraftKings: $9,200 | FanDuel: $13,500
Irving is one of the most dynamic point guards of all time, and he should be hungry to grab another ring. In his 13 Finals appearances, he has averaged 27.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He’s also performed well against the Celtics, averaging 23.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. Dallas needs him to play 40 minutes and take 20 shots to prevail as a heavy underdog.
Jrue Holiday (PG/SG – BOS)
DraftKings: $6,800 | FanDuel: $11,500
Holiday has been a fantasy asset in the postseason, scoring at least 32 DraftKings points in six of his last seven games, flirting with a 40-point average in that span. In his one Finals appearance, he averaged 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Holiday’s championship experience and defensive skills will be crucial for Boston.
Cash Game Considerations
Luka Doncic (PG – DAL)
DraftKings: $13,600 | FanDuel: $17,000
Doncic was the best DFS player during the regular season, leading the league with 66 DraftKings points per game. In the postseason, he has scored at least 60 fantasy points in seven straight games. Doncic also had amazing averages against Boston, scoring 74 and 83 DraftKings points in their two matchups.
Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS)
DraftKings: $11,800 | FanDuel: $15,500
Tatum is hungry to capture a Finals MVP. He has scored at least 56 DraftKings points in six of his last seven games, averaging 58 DK points per game in that span. Tatum has also averaged 65 DK points per game in his four matchups against Dallas since the start of last year.
GPP Targets
Dereck Lively (C – DAL)
DraftKings: $5,800 | FanDuel: $10,000
Lively has been better than Gafford in this postseason run, scoring at least 29 DraftKings points in the last five games he’s finished. The big man has done that in a 23-minute bench role, and it’s exciting to think what he could do if that creeps closer to 25-30 minutes. He averaged over 30 DK points per game as a starter before Gafford arrived.
Daniel Gafford (C – DAL)
DraftKings: $5,600 | FanDuel: $9,000
Gafford has been one of the best per-minute producers in the NBA. He played over 25 minutes in nearly half the games this season and averaged 37 DK points per game in that expanded role. Gafford has scored at least 32 DK points in two of his last four fixtures, making him an appealing, affordable option.
Value Plays
P.J. Washington (PF/C – DAL)
DraftKings: $6,400 | FanDuel: $9,500
Washington has been one of the best acquisitions at the trade deadline, regularly playing 35-40 minutes in the postseason. Despite struggling with his shot, he has scored at least 22 DraftKings points in nine of his last 10 games, averaging 31 DK points per game across 38 minutes a night. Dallas will need him to step up against Boston.
Al Horford (PF/C – BOS)
DraftKings: $6,000 | FanDuel: $8,500
With Kristaps Porzingis potentially limited, Horford could see more minutes. He averaged over 30 DK points per game during the regular season with Porzingis out, scoring at least 29 fantasy points in four of his last five fixtures. Horford’s veteran presence will be key for the Celtics.
Advantageous Pricing
| Player | DraftKings | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|
| Al Horford (PF/C – BOS) | $6,000 | $8,500 |
| Derrick White (PG/SG – BOS) | $7,400 | $12,500 |
| Kristaps Porzingis (PF/C – BOS) | $8,200 | $10,500 |
As the Finals commence, these picks offer strategic advantages for your DFS lineups. Let the games begin!(Superace88)