This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
The NBA Finals feature two teams that likely weren't at the top of anyone's lists to start the postseason.
Phoenix has bested Milwaukee to take a 2-0 lead. Although Game 1 was a bit of a blowout, the Bucks kept it close on Thursday behind 42 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
This is obviously a crucial game for Milwaukee. A loss here isn't the end, but it would definitely be a sign this series is pretty much over. If the Greek Freak can get enough help from his supporting cast, the Bucks have a decent shot of hanging around.
Let's go ahead and jump in to the breakdown:
Injury News to Monitor
Torrey Craig, PHO (knee)/Status: PROBABLE
Craig took a scary fall in Game 2, but it appears he's ready to play.
Elite Players
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,800) is going to be the most popular play and captain of the slate. If Milwaukee wins, it's more than likely going to be because of a big game from him. We could see Jrue Holiday ($8,800) or Khris Middleton ($9,600) take over, but the safer bet is Giannis.
On the Phoenix side, Devin Booker ($10,600) and Chris Paul ($9,800) represent the main options. Honestly, either one could be the leader and they seem like identical picks to me.
Expected Chalk
Giannis will be the most covered player, with Booker and Paul close behind.
I think Miles Bridges ($7,200) could draw more attention following his big Game 2. Pat Connaughton ($3,800) may also be heavily rostered.
Key Values
Pat Connaughton, MIL ($3,800)
Connaughton went off in Game 2 by hitting 4-of-9 3-pointers. He's a sharpshooter, so it's not out of the realm of possibility for him to replicate that performance tonight. The real reason you should buy into Connaughton is his playing time with at least 28 minutes in each of the last three contests.
Cameron Johnson, PHO ($4,600)
Johnson has been a nice bench player for the Suns these playoffs having scored at least 15 DraftKings points in six of seven outings. He'll likely log around 15-20 minutes, but can really do damage in a short amount of time.
P.J. Tucker, MIL ($4,200)
As with Connaughton, you're buying into the minutes with Tucker. The veteran has been a crucial part of Milwaukee's playoff run and has regularly been playing more than 30 minutes a night. Tucker isn't the greatest point-per-minute performer, but he can definitely pay off if he's hitting his shots and collecting rebounds.
