This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
We've got a late showdown slate in the NBA on DraftKings this Sunday with the Atlanta Hawks taking on the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final at 8:30 p.m. EDT. The series is tied at 1-1 and this will be the first matchup in Atlanta.
The Hawks stole Game 1 thanks to a tremendous performance from Trae Young. He scored 45 real-life points to continue his playoff heroics. Game 2 didn't go so well, as Milwaukee cruised to a 125-91 victory.
I believe the Hawks will come out fighting and this contest will be closer. As NBA fans, we can only hope. There's not much to cover as far as injuries go, so let's get into the breakdown:
Injuries to Monitor
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL (knee)/Status: QUESTIONABLE
Bogdanovic has been playing through a knee issue, but is once again listed as questionable. He hasn't really played well of late, so the injury could be nagging him. I would stay away.
Elite Players
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,000) and Trae Young ($11,200) will be the most popular players on the slate. Expect them to be in almost every lineup when the player pool is this thin. You're going to want both in your lineup. Whether or not you place them at captain is another question.
You can save a lot of salary if you play Khris Middleton ($10,000) or Jrue Holiday ($9,600) in the captain spot. This will also be an easy way to differentiate yourself from the field. Doing this would allow you to also fit a better player as the utility.
I have personally had luck with Holiday in the captain spot of late, but both he and Middleton represent viable options.
Expected Chalk
In a showdown slate, there is always going to be a few players in a large percentage of lineups. Giannis and Young fit that bill easily today, but who else will be chalk?
Middleton and Holiday certainly will be as well. Other than them, I personally like P.J. Tucker ($4,000) and Bobby Portis ($3,200).
Key Values
P.J. Tucker, MIL ($4,000)
Tucker has the potential to burn you, but he could also be a necessary player to include. Even though he only scored one point in Game 2, he recorded seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks. That was enough to turn in a respectable 20.3 DraftKings points. If Tucker finds his shot in Game 3 and continues to add the extra stats, he could reach 30 fantasy points. We've seen him catch fire from 3-point land these playoffs when he went 3-for-5 in Game 7 against Brooklyn.
Bobby Portis, MIL ($3,200)
Portis is a great point-per-minute performer with the ability to rack up points and rebounds in a hurry. He played 18 minutes in a blowout in Game 2, but still got 15 in a close contest in the opener. Portis is the lowest-salaried player I would consider on this slate. You could maybe go to Bryn Forbes ($2,400), who can reach value when he's dropping his 3-pointers. Ultimately all of these plays are risky, so go with whomever you feel most comfortable with.
