This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The Bucks find themselves down two to start a series for the second time this postseason. They'll hope to earn inspiration - and a win - from what should be a very friendly home environment. Both sides come into the contest at what is essentially full health, setting up what should be a wire-to-wire battle in a critical Game 3.
With just one game on the ledger, we're dealing with FanDuel's single-game contest rosters, which are comprised as follows:
· MVP- (Garners points at 2x the normal rate)
· STAR- (Garners points at 1.5x the normal rate)
· PRO- (Garners points at 1.2x the normal rate)
· Two Utility spots- (Garner points at normal rate)
With the valuation also being different than in conventional FanDuel contests on multi-game slates and top players inevitably headed for heavy rostering, there are definitely strategic elements particular to single-game lineups. Finding key value plays for the two utility spots is undoubtedly vital, as it enables you to fill out the multiplier spots with some of the top projected producers.
Slate Overview
Phoenix Suns at Milwaukee Bucks (Projected total: 222.0 points):
The Suns have managed to score 118 points apiece in each of the first two games, which have both ended with totals slightly above this one. Therefore, the 222.0-point number is certainly within range. The Bucks only scored a relatively modest 213 total points in the first pair of contests, but they do have tallies of 123, 125 and 132 points at home during this postseason. Meanwhile, Phoenix, which has had no trouble getting its starting five going offensively during the first two games, has three scores of 116 points or greater on the road during these playoffs and will hope that the hot Game 2 shooting of Mikal Bridges and Devin Booker carries over.
Positional Breakdown
FanDuel single-game rosters don't have traditional positions that match those on a starting five, so we'll instead break down some candidates for the top three multiplier positions instead:
MVP (2x): The top two candidates for this sport are also the two sporting the highest salaries -- Giannis Antetokounmpo ($16,000) and Chris Paul ($15,000). Giannis has shown no significant effects from his hyperextended knee so far the series while displaying impressive mobility and compiling 52.4 and 71.4 FD points. Paul has been excellent in his own right and staying heavily involved offensively (19.5 shot attempts per game thus far in the Finals) while averaging 44.0 FD points with the help of 56.3 percent shooting, including 58.3 percent from three-point range.
STAR (1.5x): Whichever of the two stars mentioned above doesn't make your MVP spot is naturally the prime candidate here, but Devin Booker ($14,000) and Khris Middleton ($13,500) represent two strong alternatives. Booker finally rediscovered his stroke on Thursday after struggling from the field to varying degree for six straight playoff contests, posting 44.4 FD points while going 7-for-12 from distance. Middleton went back to scuffling to find the net after mostly having righted his ship shooting-wise for a few games, but he still put up 34.2 FD points. He's also back at Fiserv Forum, where he's accumulated five hauls of at least 44.8 FD points or more during the postseason, including a pair of efforts over 60.
PRO (1.2x): Whichever of the duo mentioned for the STAR position doesn't make that spot would be a natural for this spot. Deandre Ayton ($13,000) and Jrue Holiday ($12,000) are also applicable here. Ayton has registered over 40 FD points in each of the first two Finals contests and is averaging 38.1 FD points over the last 12 postseason outings dating back to Game 1 of the semis against the Nuggets. Meanwhile, Holiday is averaging 36.7 FD points over the first two games of the series despite having shot just 31.4 percent in that span, but he's back home Sunday, where he has five totals of more than 40 FD points this postseason.
Injury Situations to Monitor
NOTE: Injury reporting is especially fluid in the NBA, where the status of multiple players can change during the course of a day. Therefore, although the following serves as a foundation for the latest injury report as of the time the article is written (usually late morning Eastern time), check back throughout the course of the day with RotoWire for the latest news regarding the status of all players on that night's slate.
Torrey Craig, PHO (knee)/ Status: PROBABLE
Craig appears likely to fill his usual role off the bench in Game 3 after leaving Game 2 early with a contusion.
Elite Players
The two highest-salaried players on the slate are Antetokounmpo and Paul. As already detailed in Positional Breakdown section, each player is certainly more than capable of delivering elite scores and have already done so in each of the first two games.
The players directly underneath Paul in salary –- Booker and Middleton –- are also capable of breaking out for ceiling games, as each has demonstrated on multiple occasions this postseason.
Expected Chalk
With only one game on the ledger, the likes of Ayton and Brook Lopez ($11,000) should also be very popular due to their expected usage and body of work in recent matchups.
Key Values
Note: On a multi-game slate, I typically try to highlight players that would be considered under-the-radar plays in this section. Naturally, with such a limited player pool, there will be very few low-rostered players that are likely to also be viable from a DFS perspective, so I'll instead focus on two of the best candidates to provide a strong return relative to salary for the two Utility spots in single-game lineups:
Brook Lopez, MIL ($11,000)
As just alluded to, Lopez has been a key complementary piece in recent postseason games for Milwaukee, whether or not Antetokounmpo has been on the floor. The big man has scored 28.2 to 57.4 FD points in the last four postseason games, and he's averaging 29.8 FD points over the first two games of the Finals while putting up a solid 12.0 shot attempts in those contests. Lopez has eclipsed 20 FD points on 15 occasions overall since the start of the playoffs and should once again be heavily involved on his home floor in a matchup down low against Ayton and Jae Crowder that he's had a solid amount of success with thus far.
Mikal Bridges, PHO ($9,500)
Coach Monty Williams may have found a little something matchup-wise with Bridges in Game 2, as the talented-but-at-times-inconsistent wing got hot to the tune of 27 points and 38.9 FD points across 38 minutes. He drained eight of 15 shots from the field and also managed seven rebounds. The breakout was far from Bridges' only strong fantasy effort this postseason, as he's eclipsed 20 FD points on 10 occasions. While the fact his offensive usage can fluctuate –- he recently notched single-digit shot attempts in five straight –- makes him much more of a tournament play, his salary and upside certainly make him viable and offers you solid flexibility elsewhere.
Other value play to consider: Jae Crowder, PHO ($10,000)
