NBA DFS Picks for May 12 2021

We have six games to talk about for tonight and the injury news has been pouring in. The first thing that we must mention tonight is all the news that has came up for the Boston Celtics. The Celtics just announced that Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker are joining Jaylen Brown on the sideline for tonight. We now have a ton of value from Boston and are looking at the Celtics for a lot of our lineup. We can get a ton of upside in our lineups for this slate, as we can get all the value we need from the Celtics without sacrificing much FPT potential. We are going back to a stars and scrubs style lineup here, as that is the obvious way to approach slates with a lot of value.

Here’s a stars and scrubs lineup For DFS Basketball 5/12/21 (using DraftKings Values)

Trae Young was a priority for us last time around with a fantastic matchup against the Wizards. Young was great last time scoring 54,5 FPTS, but for some reason his price has dropped to $9,100. At this price, Young has a lot of upside as he gives us some nice value if he can store over 50 FPTS again. Young only hit one of his seven threes last game, and we could see a much bigger game tonight. Young has the same matchup against Washington here, and we are happy taking the salary savings on him in this spot.

Evan Fournier struggled for a little bit when he was first traded to the Celtics. However, he has turned it around with some great play lately and is a lock for us here with all the injuries. Fournier has been the biggest beneficiary of Browns absence, and he has really found a role in the Celtics offence. Fournier has scored well over 30 FPTS in each of his last five games, with upside over 50 FPTS in that span. Fournier has been on fire lately and he would be an enticing play in any case given his recent production. However, we expect him to play a much bigger role with Smart and Walker out. Fournier is only $5.500 here, although he has smashed this price in five straight games. Fournier could be in for a massive game, but we are expecting solid value regardless.

The New Orleans Pelicans are a fantastic team to go after here as Lonzo Ball is joining the stud forwards on the sideline. There is a ton of upside for the Pelicans left healthy,        one guy we are all over is Naji Marshall. Marshall has a ton of potential here as we are expecting him to play some nice floor time with all the guys out. Marshall played 31 minutes and went for 38.25 FPTS last time around. We are expecting a similar opportunity tonight, which gives Marshall a lot of potential for his $4,800 price tag. 

We have had some smash plays from the Houston Rockets over the past few slates, and we expect that will be the case again tonight. Christian Wood is listed questionable for tonight, and we are all over Kelly Olynyk if Wood remains out. Olynyk has been emerging as a titan in DFS over the past few weeks. Olynyk has been priced up to $7,800, which is still far too cheap for the production he has been showing. Olynyk has been constantly scoring over 45 FPTS and has showed upside over 60 FPTS. No doubt Olynyk will se another nice opportunity here, and he is giving us a ton of upside at a middling price.

Tristan Thompson – C ($5,000 DK) We expect Thompson to remain as the starting center for the Gutted Celtics tonight. Thompson has been all over the place lately in terms of production, however we have a ton of interest in him given tonight’s situation. We expect Thompson is in for some nice floor time as the Celtics don’t have too many options here. Furthermore, with all the shot creators out we expect Thompson to see a nice usage boost, which is enough to give him spectacular upside in this spot. 

Payton Pritchard – G ($3,100 DK) Pritchard has not been great over the last few slates, as his minutes are often in question when Walker is available to play. However, with all the guys out for Boston, Pritchard should start at point guard here and he will need to do a lot offensively. Pritchard should be closer to $6,000 given today’s situation, and he is a lock for us at this price point. Pritchard could be in for a massive game here, as we have seen him show a lot of upside when the Boston guards were out. This is one of those spots where it is hard to imagine Pritchard giving us production for the price.

Jayson Tatum – F ($9,400 DK) Tatum is our favorite spend up option on this slate, as he has a ton of upside with all the Celtics guys out. Tatum has shown bright in opportunities without Brown and Walker in the past. The Celtics are seriously lacking on offensive creators tonight, and we expect Tatum takes a lot of the offensive responsibilities himself. We have seen Tatum show some of the league’s best upside, going for 82 FPTS just last week. Tatum has been having some crazy games in terms of real points scored, which is what we are betting on tonight with all the extra usage.  

Jakob Poeltl – Util ($5,300 DK) Poeltl is another play we are looking to for the upside. In his past five games Poeltl has either crushed this price point or disappointed. Tonight, the Spurs are looking at a fantastic matchup with the Nets, who are at the bottom of the league in defending centers. Poeltl could smash this Brookyln frontcourt, and we are hoping we see one of his big games.

Here’s a stars and scrubs lineup For DFS Basketball 5/12/21 (using FanDuel Values)

Eric Bledsoe – SG (5,900 FD) Bledsoe is a fantastic play on both sites tonight, as he should be in for a huge opportunity without Ball. Bledsoe has been great lately with some of the Pelicans out, scoring 50 FPTS a few games back. We expect Bledsoe to have to do a lot more with Ball out, which makes him a smash play. Bledsoe has tremendous upside for this price as there is no ceiling on his role for tonight.

Khyri Thomas – SG (4,500 FD) Thomas is a lot cheaper on FanDuel then DraftKings tonight, the difference is enough that he is much more of a priority over on FD. Thomas has been dominant in the absence of Kevin Porter for the Rockets, which will be the case again tonight. Thomas has showed massive upside in his three games as a Rocket, and we love getting to him at this steal of a price point. 

Kenyon Martin – PF (7,300 FD) Martin is a risky play here as he has seen a significant price bump over the last few slates. With that said, the price bump is fully warranted, as he has been showing some crazy upside with all the guys out. Martin has been good for this price in every game since Houston has had all the injuries. If Wood remains out for this one, we are happy taking some shots on Martin again.

Good luck tonight, make sure to keep an eye the Lakers, Rockets, and the rest of the slate for injuries.

Go win your lineup and tell us how you did. Twitter (@FantasyDFSX) is a good place for that.