With the opening round of the NBA playoffs winding down, the schedule dwindles to a single game on Friday. The Atlanta Hawks have a narrow 3-2 series lead in Game 6 against the Brooklyn Nets and they’ll have a chance to end that series. With only one game on the slate for Friday, the NBA DraftKings Daily Fantasy League selection pool is limited to two rosters and with the room for error so slim every mistake is magnified that much more. Here is a look at the best bets on the board for Friday’s NBA fantasy action.
PG: Deron Williams, Brooklyn
Salary: $8,200
Williams looked awful in Game 5 but it’s important to remember that Jeff Teague is dealing with an ankle injury that could limit his production. As for Williams, his team is facing an elimination game and last time he was back home, he had a game-high 35 points in Game 4. Williams has the potential to go off again in this contest and considering Teague’s potential injury situation, it makes much more sense to go with Brooklyn’s starting point guard in this spot.
SG: Joe Johnson, Brooklyn
Salary: $6,500
Johnson played 44 minutes for the Nets in Game 5 and should see similar minutes in Game 6 as they look to stave off elimination at home. Johnson had a solid stat line in that loss when he put up 18 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three three-point shots and it makes sense to go back to him here at home knowing Brooklyn will put it all on the line to win this game.
SF: DeMarre Carroll, Atlanta
Salary: $5,600
Carroll has been the best value play all series and he will be again in Game 6, filling the small forward spot for just $5,600. Carroll had a team-high 24 points with seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two three-point shots in Game 5. With both Teague and Al Horford dealing with injuries, it makes sense to go back to him expecting a big performance in Game 6 on Friday.
PF: Paul Millsap, Atlanta
Salary: $8,800
Horford suffered a dislocated finger against the Nets in Game 5 and that could mean they turn to Millsap even more than they already have for Game 6 as they try to wrap up the series on the road. Millsap had only 10 points in Game 5 but the fact that he grabbed six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a three-point shot in that contest was a reward for fantasy GM’s that banked on him for his ability to contribute in so many areas across the board once again. Millsap will be primed for another big performance in Game 6 so it makes a lot of sense to plug him in here again for Friday’s contest.
C: Brook Lopez, Brooklyn
Salary: $6,900
Lionel Hollins talked about Lopez being fatigued in the last two games and needing to get him more rest but this is an elimination game and if anything he should get a boost from the home fans as the Nets try to extend this series to seven games. Lopez averaged 24.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in the two home games in this series and if he can hit that average mark again in this game it will be worth plugging him in at the center spot.
G: Dennis Schroder, Atlanta
Salary: $3,500
Jarrett Jack is an option here but with Teague dealing with an ankle injury, it could mean more minutes for Schroder in Game 6 and the opportunity to really register perhaps his strongest stat line of the series. Schroder was very good for the Hawks all year when called upon, so look for a solid stat line at a decent price from him in this spot.
F: Thaddeus Young, Brooklyn
Salary: $7,100
Young didn’t look nearly as good in his last two games for Brooklyn as he did in Game 4, but with the Nets back home and facing elimination they will be banking on him having his best game of the series. We will too since he is the best forward still available on the board that we can plug in based on the remaining cash we need for our FLEX spot.
FLEX: Alan Anderson, Brooklyn
Salary: $3,000
Anderson is the perfect value play to complete our lineup after he scored a team-high 23 points with seven rebounds and four three-point shots in Game 5. Anderson is the one lock for all lineups based on his production versus cost for Friday’s game.
