Sunday, May 8, features a pair of Game 4’s with each host team facing a 1-2 series deficit. There is an early start time of 3:30 p.m. ET, so do not procrastinate too long before registering for contests on Yahoo, DraftKings and FanDuel. Below we will examine the player pool and break down the best NBA DFS picks today for DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo lineups. Be sure to head over to the Awesemo NBA DFS & Fantasy Basketball home page for all the top fantasy basketball content for Sunday’s slate of games.
NBA DFS Picks: Fantasy Basketball Building Blocks Today | Sunday, May 8
Yahoo Play of the Day — Jimmy Butler: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 41.67 | DraftKings: 41.32
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 33.8% | FanDuel 16.8% | DraftKings 24.4%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $39 | FanDuel $10,400 | DraftKings $8,900
The return of Kyle Lowry benefited Jimmy Butler, as he was able to focus more on scoring rather than helping facilitate the offense. This led to a sterling 33-point performance on Friday along with a pair of assists. By comparison, through the first two games of this series he had 37 total points but contributed 15 dimes. In three regular-season matchups and three playoff games against the 76ers, Butler is averaging 1.2 fantasy points per minute with 21.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.1 combined steals and blocks. The all-around game is something that gives the 32-year-old wing a solid fantasy floor with attainable upside of 50 or more fantasy points.
Tobias Harris: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 32.83 | DraftKings: 33.62
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 46.6% | FanDuel 17.1% | DraftKings 26.4%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $23 | FanDuel $8,300 | DraftKings $7,000
Even with the return of Embiid, Tobias Harris continued to chug along, contributing across the box score in all statistical categories. Despite scoring a postseason-low 9 points, he still contributed 37 fantasy points on Yahoo. For the last eight games, Harris has seen his salary set in stone at a delightful $23 after being $22 in the first game against Toronto. This is bordering on ridiculous considering that through nine games he has averaged 39.9 minutes, 18.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists with a pair of combined blocks and steals. Continue to lock him in on Yahoo and look for differentiation elsewhere.
Luka Doncic: Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 58.19 | DraftKings: 63.33
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 39.4% | FanDuel 53.1% | DraftKings 44.0%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $56 | FanDuel $11,500 | DraftKings $11,000
Dallas managed to slow things down on Friday and come away with a victory. That is the expected plan for Sunday as well, and it means Luka Doncic will have the ball in his hands on nearly every possession. In a twist, it was actually Jalen Brunson who led the team with 28 points, though Doncic was right behind rolling up 26 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and a pair of steals in just 34 minutes. Only Joel Embiid has a median fantasy projection within a dozen points of Luka, and it is hard to trust the Cameroonian, as he is dealing with multiple injuries and hinderances. Doncic should be a core building block today, as he is the most likely player to produce 50 fantasy points and he still has another 10 or so in attainable upside.
Yahoo Discount Dandies
Maximilian Kleber: Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns ($11): In Game 3 Maximilian Kleber earned the lion’s share of minutes, seeing a tick shy of 33 while starter Dwight Powell ended up with just over 10 and none in the final frame. Kleber is not on the court to guard Ayton by any stretch of the imagination, but he can at least battle him on the glass while also contributing on offense both as a scoring option and a nontraditional facilitator from the wing or high post. The only knock against Kleber is that he only has center eligibility on Yahoo.
Look to Kleber against Phoenix this afternoon in the NBA player props market. Currently he has a 4.5 over/under on his rebound prop, and the Awesemo NBA player projections have him for 6.7 rebounds, which gives him a 75% probability of surpassing the over. Though he has not had more than three rebounds in this series, the trend of increased playing time should continue, and if he is going to be on the court for at least 30 minutes, there is a strong chance he can reach this threshold.
P.J. Tucker: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers ($10): It is never particularly fun rostering P.J. Tucker, and it is particularly painful watching him look like an old man “running” up the court on offense before taking up a position in either corner waiting for a potential 3-point attempt while the more dynamic players run the offense. Tucker still is a bulldog on the boards, and he can generally luck into an assist or two swinging the ball around the perimeter to Butler, Lowry and Tyler Herro. If he were anything more than the Yahoo minimum salary, it would be hard to recommend him as a player to target.
Final Thoughts on NBA DFS Picks for the Sunday, May 8 Fantasy Basketball Slate
Both home teams have a chance to even up these series with a victory today. If either loses, they will be facing elimination in Game 5. This should lead to plenty of nail-biting action for fans and viewers alike.
