The NBA playoffs continue on Thursday with Game 3 matchups as series shift to the lower seeds` home courts. This change in venue can significantly impact team performance, especially in the postseason, a factor daily Fantasy basketball players should carefully consider when forming their NBA DFS strategies. Teams like the Detroit Pistons (vs. New York Knicks) and Los Angeles Clippers (vs. Denver Nuggets), who secured victories on the road, feature key players such as Cade Cunningham, James Harden, and Kawhi Leonard who will look to capitalize on playing in front of their home crowd for NBA DFS lineups.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Memphis Grizzlies in their initial two games in Oklahoma City, winning by an average margin of 35 points. The Grizzlies` offense struggled, failing to score 100 points in either contest. The question is whether returning to Memphis will spark improved performances from players like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. for Thursday`s NBA DFS contests.
Mike McClure is highlighted as a successful DFS professional with career winnings exceeding $2 million. He also works as a predictive data engineer at SportsLine, employing a powerful simulation model that runs thousands of game iterations, incorporating variables like matchups, statistical trends, and injuries. This method helps him identify valuable players on platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel to construct optimal lineups.
As an illustration of his expertise, McClure identified Heat forward/center Bam Adebayo as a top NBA DFS pick for Wednesday`s games. Adebayo delivered a near triple-double performance with 11 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists, resulting in 45 points on DraftKings and 42.3 points on FanDuel, proving to be a rewarding selection for those who included him in their lineups.
McClure has now focused his attention on the NBA action scheduled for Thursday and has pinpointed his top daily fantasy basketball picks.
For Thursday`s slate, one of McClure`s key NBA DFS recommendations is Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, available at $7,600 on DraftKings and $8,000 on FanDuel. Morant`s output in the first two games has been modest, averaging 20 points, 2.5 rebounds, and five assists, below his regular-season averages of 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. However, Morant, the talented No. 2 overall pick from the 2019 NBA Draft, is anticipated by McClure to elevate his performance closer to his superstar capabilities with the team returning home.
Thursday`s game is effectively a must-win situation for the Grizzlies, as overcoming a 3-0 deficit against a formidable Thunder team (who finished the regular season 68-14) is highly improbable. Morant`s contribution will be crucial for any chance Memphis has at an upset. Having faced increased scrutiny this year for various reasons, Morant will likely be motivated to silence doubters regarding his postseason play. His recent production has kept his price on DFS platforms relatively lower, which McClure believes offers value for Thursday`s contests.
Another player featured in McClure`s optimal NBA DFS strategy is Pistons center Jalen Duren, priced at $6,300 on DraftKings and $6,800 on FanDuel. Duren showcased a strong all-around performance in Game 2 with 12 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and three blocks. With the series moving to Detroit for Game 3, the 21-year-old`s home averages this season (12.6 points and 11.2 rebounds) are higher than his road numbers, suggesting the potential for increased productivity.
Duren previously recorded 18 points and 13 rebounds against the Knicks in Detroit on April 10, shooting a perfect 9-of-9 from the field in that game and making all four of his field goal attempts in their prior regular-season meeting. His 6-foot-10 size presents a challenging matchup for New York, which often employs smaller lineups. After shooting 75% from the field in the first two playoff games and averaging 9.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, McClure sees a path for Duren to deliver a stronger performance playing at home in Detroit.
Jasper Hawthorne