FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 5/7/23

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Devin Booker ($10,500): At his highest salary this postseason, Booker is third overall with 48.8 expected FanDuel points against a Denver Nuggets' team ranked third among playoff teams in defensive rating. Phoenix's shooting guard is averaging 1.34 FanDuel points per minute and a 32.7% usage rate this season with Chris Paul off the floor.

Jamal Murray ($9,200): Among his team's starting lineup during the playoffs, Murray is second in fantasy production (1.15 FanDuel points) and usage rate (29.8%). In five appearances versus Phoenix this season, the 26-year old is producing 23.6 real-life points and 40.3 FanDuel points per game.

James Harden ($8,500): After a disappointing performance in Game 3, Harden's salary has decreased by 8.6% to his lowest point in the postseason. "The Beard" currently ranks fifth overall in value with a 5.04 rating and a 42.8 fantasy projection against a Boston Celtics' team he has averaged 46.3 FanDuel points against.

Tyrese Maxey ($6,700): In the past week, Maxey's salary has dropped by 10.6% to his lowest point since the start of Philadelphia's playoff run. The third year guard is recording 0.92 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.5% usage rate in 254 playoff minutes.

Malcolm Brogdon ($5,700): If Marcus Smart is unable to play on Sunday, Brogdon's fantasy output moves up to 1.06 FanDuel points per minute with a 25.5% usage rate. Boston's award winning sixth man is currently fourth among guards in value with a 4.83 rating and a 27.6 fantasy expectation.

Derrick White ($5,000): At his median salary during this series, White is second among guards in value with a 5.25 rating and a 26.3 fantasy projection. In 1452 minutes with Smart off the floor, the 28-year old has accounted for 0.98 FanDuel points per minute and a 20.7% usage rate.

Bruce Brown Jr. ($4,900): Despite playing off the bench, Denver's versatile guard has logged 25.8 minutes per game while averaging 0.87 FanDuel points per minute and a 18.7% usage rate.

Cameron Payne ($4,800): In 1002 minutes with Paul off the floor, Payne is recording an efficient 1.01 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.1% usage rate. After a 4% salary decrease, Phoenix's starting point guard stands first overall in value with a 5.76 rating and a 27.6 fantasy expectation.

De'Anthony Melton ($4,700): The 76ers' guard has accounted for 0.91 FanDuel points per minute during the postseason while his salary has jumped by 9.3% after he scored 39.1 FanDuel points in Game 3.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($4,400): At his median salary during this series, the Nuggets' veteran is sixth among guards in value with a 4.66 rating and a 20.5 fantasy projection.

Forwards

Jayson Tatum ($10,600): Boston's superstar is fifth overall with 47.4 expected FanDuel points at his second lowest postseason salary. Tatum is leading his team in fantasy production (1.28 FanDuel points per minute) and usage rate (28.9%) in their last nine playoff games.

Kevin Durant ($10,300): After a vintage 67.8 fantasy point performance, Durant's salary has increased by 5.0% to his highest point since April 20th. The Suns' forward is averaging an eye-popping 1.50 FanDuel points per minute and a 35.5% usage rate in 166 minutes with today's current inactives.

Jaylen Brown ($8,300): At his lowest playoff salary, Brown is eighth overall in value with a 4.72 rating and a 39.2 fantasy projection. In 331 postseason minutes, the Celtics' small forward ranks second among his team's starting lineup in fantasy output (1.06 FanDuel points per minute) and usage rate (28.4%).

Michael Porter Jr. ($6,500): Despite an inconsistent 16.3% usage percentage, MPJ is producing 0.88 FanDuel points in 269 playoff minutes while his salary has dropped by 4.4% since the start of May.

Tobias Harris ($6,400): Philadelphia's veteran has quietly played well during the playoffs, accounting for 17.4 real-life points per game and 0.93 FanDuel points per minute.

Aaron Gordon ($5,600): At his lowest playoff salary, Gordon is second overall in value with a 5.65 rating and 31.6 fantasy projection. Denver's big man is recording 0.76 FanDuel points per minute and a 16.5% usage rate in 279 postseason minutes.

T.J. Warren ($3,700): After logging 25 minutes in Game 3, the 29-year old could be a sneaky value option in a second unit role, averaging 0.87 FanDuel points per minute with today's expected rotation.

Centers

Nikola Jokic ($12,200): Despite a 6.0% salary jump to his highest point during the playoffs after a monster 72.9 fantasy point triple-double, "The Joker" is numberFire's top option with 56.0 expected FanDuel points. Denver's most valuable player leads his team in usage (27.5%) and fantasy production (1.64 FanDuel points per minute).

Joel Embiid ($11,200): At his highest salary during Round 2, "The Process" is fourth overall with a 48.2 fantasy projection against a Boston defense he has averaged 55.7 FanDuel points against. Philadelphia's superstar is recording 1.31 FanDuel points per minute and 29.0% usage rate in 173 playoff minutes.