DraftKings NBA: Sunday Cheat Sheet

Written by

Published on June 20, 2021

Slate Overview

Sunday brings us another pair of enticing NBA playoff games.

Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Clippers and Suns tips things off at 3:30 p.m. EDT. After that, Atlanta and Philadelphia battle it out in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semls.

Two-game slates are beginning to become the norm on DraftKings, and soon we'll only have showdowns to look forward to. Let's dive into the slate and realize this could be the most options we have for a while:

Injury News to Monitor

Kawhi Leonard, LAC (knee)/Status: OUT

Leonard is out indefinitely and did not travel with the Clippers. I would say it's very unlikely we see him anytime soon.

Chris Paul, PHO (COVID-19 protocols)/Status: OUT

Both teams will be missing a star player as the Suns will be without Paul for Game 1. The point guard tested positive for COVID-19 and it's unclear how much time he'll miss.

Joel Embiid, PHI (knee)/Status: QUESTIONABLE

Embiid has been listed questionable every game this series. I'd be shocked if he sat out Game 7.

Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL (knee)/Status: QUESTIONABLE

The Hawks could have to play without Bogdanovic, who is dealing with knee soreness.

Danny Green, PHI (calf)/Status: OUT

Green is still nursing a calf injury. We can expect to continue to see big minutes for Furkan Korkmaz in his absence.

Elite Players

Joel Embiid ($10,900) leads the way and is closely followed by Trae Young ($10,100). Facing each other in a win-or-go-home situation, both look like fine options.

Paul George ($10,300) and Devin Booker ($8,900) will both shoulder a heavier load with Leonard and Paul out. Don't sleep on Tobias Harris ($7,900) or Ben Simmons ($7,700) either.

Expected Chalk

Both Embiid and Young should come in on a lot of rosters. I also think Cameron Payne ($4,000) will be popular with Paul sidelined. The same can be said for Devin Booker.

Key Value Plays

Cameron Payne, PHO vs. LAC ($4,000)

As a Thunder fan, it's bittersweet to see Payne excelling in these playoffs. The point guard stepped up big in the first round when Paul went down with a shoulder injury. I expect Payne to do the same here as he may end up starting and playing around 30 minutes. He's a no-brainer for me and should be in everyone's lineups.

Furkan Korkmaz, PHI vs. ATL ($4,200)

Korkmaz has stepped up since Danny Green went down with a calf injury. The guard has the ability to get hot from deep and that can be especially beneficial with DraftKings' 3-point bonus. One would think Korkmaz will lay it all out on the line in Game 7, and I like his chances of reaching value if he sees about 25 minutes.

Terance Mann, LAC at PHO ($4,900)

Mann burst on the NBA scene in Game 6 against Utah by scoring 39 real-life points. I doubt he will match that production today, but it's clear the Clippers have a lot of trust in the youngster. Mann has logged at least 20 minutes in three of the past four games and his recent performance is only going to solidify his spot in the rotation. Could we be witnessing a breakout after Leonard went down?

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.