In a traditional FanDuel NBA lineup, you have a $60,000 salary cap to roster nine players. The salary cap is the same in the single-game setup, but the lineup requirements are different.
You select five players of any position. One of your players will be your MVP, whose FanDuel points are multiplied by two. You also choose a STAR player (whose production is multiplied by 1.5) and a PRO (multiplied by 1.2). Two UTIL players round out the roster, and they don't receive a multiplier for their production.
This makes the five players you select essential in more than one way; you need to focus on slotting in the best plays in the multiplier slots rather than just nailing the best overall plays of the game.
Read this piece by Brandon Gdula for some excellent in-depth analysis on how to attack a single-game slate in NBA DFS.
| Team | Opp | O/U | Spread | Implied Total |
| PHX | DEN | 226.5 | 3 | 111.75 |
| DEN | PHX | 226.5 | -3 | 114.75 |
Player Breakdown
At The Top
Nikola Jokic ($17,000): In a favorable matchup versus a Phoenix Suns' defense allowing 50.0 real-life points in the paint during the playoffs, Denver's superstar center is numberFire's top overall option with a 57.7 fantasy projection. "The Joker" is averaging 1.53 FanDuel points per minute and a 31.2% usage rate in 184 playoff minutes..
Devin Booker ($16,000): Among Phoenix's starting unit, Booker ranks first among his team in fantasy production (1.41 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (30.6%) during the postseason. The 26-year old is second overall with 45.9 expected FanDuel points against a Denver Nuggets' team standing fourth among current playoff teams in defensive rating.
Kevin Durant ($15,500): While Booker was the centerpiece of Phoenix's offense during their first round series, Durant remained efficient with his playing time, accounting for 1.13 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.0% usage rate. In two prior meetings in this matchup, Durant averaged 1.16 FanDuel points per minute and 43.1 per game.
Jamal Murray ($14,500): Denver's point guard is a high-ceiling option after he averaged 1.17 FanDuel points per minute during the first round. In 192 playoff minutes, Murray has produced 0.71 real-life points, 0.15 rebounds, and 0.17 assists per minute.
In the Middle
Chris Paul ($13,500): CP3 ranks fifth in value with a 3.01 rating and a 40.7 fantasy projection against an opponent he has averaged 34.9 FanDuel points against in two prior meetings with Durant on the floor. The veteran is third among the Suns' starting five in fantasy production (1.08 FanDuel points per minute) in 192 playoff minutes.
Deandre Ayton ($11,500): Despite a tough defensive assignment against Jokic, Phoenix's center is sixth overall with a 34.1 fantasy projection. In 107 minutes this postseason, Ayton is averaging 0.95 FanDuel points, 0.47 real-life points, 0.33 rebounds, and 0.38 shot attempts per minute.
Michael Porter Jr. ($10,000): At a salary ranked seventh among tonight's slate, Denver's small forward is third in value with a 3.32 rating and a 33.2 fantasy projection. The fourth-year player is recording 0.92 FanDuel points per minute during the playoffs despite an inconsistent 16.6% usage rate.
Aaron Gordon ($9,000): The 27-year old is numberFire's top value option with a 3.47 rating and a 31.2 fantasy projection against a Suns' defense allowing 42.1 FanDuel points per game to his position this regular season. Gordon has played well versus Phoenix in three prior contests, averaging 1.19 FanDuel points per minute and 40.7 per game.
At The Bottom
Bruce Brown Jr. ($8,500): Even in a second unit role, Denver's versatile guard has logged 26.8 minutes per game this postseason while producing 0.85 FanDuel points per minute and a 18.4% usage rate.
Torrey Craig ($7,000): Despite inconsistent playing time in the first round, the veteran accounted for 12.4 real-life points per game and 0.79 FanDuel points per minute.
Josh Okogie ($7,000): The 24-year old has seen the most playing time off the Suns' bench during the playoffs, recording 19.8 per appearance while averaging 0.77 FanDuel points per minute.