NBA DFS Picks & Building Blocks Today: It’s Showdown Time! (May 2)

Friday features the first single-game action for this postseason, with a later 9:00 p.m. ET tipoff on FanDuel and DraftKings. Let’s get into the top NBA DFS picks and building blocks: Look for the stars like newcomer Alperen Sengun, established veterans in Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, with a pair of pivotmen as punts with New Zealander Steven Adams and Dutchman Quinten Post.

These picks are based on the latest available data. For real-time lineup updates, check out our NBA DFS Starting Lineups Page.

NBA DFS Picks Today – Building Blocks: Friday, May 2

NBA DFS Picks Today: Building Blocks

That big picture view is key, since the Warriors are back at home as 5.5-point favorites, with a chance to end the series tonight. They also have a mulligan, if things go sideways, with a last chance effort in H-town on Sunday in a Game 7 for all the marbles.

From a DFS perspective, this is the first single-game slate for the postseason, with only one game on the docket. That brings about a whole different set of strategies, especially on FanDuel, which has revised their game format to include a 1.5x salary multiplier in addition to the 1.5x fantasy points multiplier on the MVP slot, now mirroring DraftKings.

Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and of course Stephen Curry are the unflappable veterans, who have been there and done that countless times in the postseason. That edge is going to be key tonight, with the younger Rockets squad somewhat over their skis.

Green gets the nod as an overlooked option, well as overlooked as anyone can be in a two-team player pool. Though he has not done much on offense, he continues to chug along with rebounds, assists, blocks and steals, which gives him a strong foundation projection. Both teams are going to be focused on defense, which in turn should eliminate easy buckets. That is also supported by the 205.5 game total, which feels a little high. This all comes together enough, that with the expected paucity of points, the other stats are going to have a larger impact in the DFS world.

Curry of course can make his own magic from anywhere on the court and who really wants to count him out at home, with advancement on the line. The most prolific long-range shooter in the history of the game, has lead the league in both 3-points attempts and makes in four of the last five seasons, with a 40.6% success rate on the insane volume.

Despite a never-ending stream of defenders and the defense continually rolling his way, Curry has converted on his long-range shots at a 39.6% clip, which is right in line with his career postseason efficacy. There is little margin for error however, with the future Hall of Famer having been assigned the highest salary for either team. The former Davidson star is likely to be the most rostered option on FanDuel and the second-most popular player on DraftKings.

Butler is one spot behind Curry in the early runs for projected popularity, which makes sense as the legend of “Playoff Jimmy” is well known and revered among gamers. Similar to Curry, that makes going against him a potential leverage spot. The NBA nomad has the second-highest salary cap hit on FanDuel, ranking third on DraftKings. The floor is “safe” though there is not a lot of room for profit potential against his salary. Of course in the context of “raw points” he has an advantage, but that is not how DFS games are constructed.

Quinten Post is excellent salary relief and the rookie has carved out a nice role off the bench, able to serve as a screen-setter, dive/role man or float out behind the arc as a scoring threat. Defense is an issue, which is why his minutes are projected for the low-20s, but he is a player savvy gamers will want to have well-represented in their player portfolios.

Brandin Podziemski has seen his production all over the place, dealing with a stomach ailment in Game 2 and short minutes in Game 5, but posting a stellar 26 points, five rebounds, five assists and three stocks (combined steals and blocks) in Game 3. He is $200 more than Green on DraftKings and $400 less on FanDuel, which is pushing up his popularity. In a “main” lineup, he is the preferred choice over Green, but for those going for the brass ring, this is another way to find leverage with Golden State.

Buddy Hield brings offense, Gary Payton II defense and Moses Moody youth. Each is a flawed player, but together they give coach Kerr a variety of options to mix and match. Let personal preference be your guide when deciding between these discount dandies.

R.I.P Jonathan Kuminga and good luck with your next team. From winning a championship as a rookie, to turning down a solid contract extension in the hopes of getting something in the $150 million range, it has been a wild ride for the former G-League Ignite star. That leaves Kevon Looney and Gui Santos as the volatile frontcourt punts. The former is safer and more likely to play, though the latter has had first quarter run in the last two games, with mop-up duty another potential path towards relevancy.

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Green tweaked his knee in the last game, though it appeared he avoided a significant injury. He has 11 or fewer points in every game, except for the second tilt of the series, when he erupted for 38 points, on 8-of-18 (44%) from long-range. In the other four games, he was a combined 4-for-18 (22%), which is exactly what Golden State is hoping to force again tonight.

Fred VanVleet has stepped up in the last two games, finally getting off the snide, with twin 8-for-13 (62%) performances, bolstered by 12-for-18 (66%) from 3-point range. If Houston has any hope of winning tonight, he is going to need to continue this production AND Green is going to have to contribute as well.

Amen Thompson laid down a monster in the last game, ordering a 50-burger. That was nearly his production from the two preceding games, which goes to show the upside of the eldest Thompson twin, when he is able to put the biscuit in the basket. Similar to Curry, Green and Butler, Thompson has an appropriate, if slightly elevated salary for his median projection, which makes him an interesting leverage point when assessing the Houston side.

Steven Adams remains a decent discount dandy, though he is getting pressure from his counterpart Post, from the ‘Dubs. Dillon Brooks, Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. have a lot of overlap in their skills, which gives each a path for success and also being replaced by two of the others. This is where additional decision points exist, which makes for a fun slate. Let your personal preference guide your decisions with this trio and if you are building north of 20 lineups, be sure to have each sprinkled across the mix.

Today’s Top Sports Betting Picks

If you’re serious about winning in NBA DFS, you know the edge comes from having the right tools. The same principle applies to sports betting — and that’s where Portfolio EV steps in.

Take Fred VanVleet over 14.5 points tonight, for example. It’s a +EV bet, meaning it has positive expected value when compared to the best odds available across the market. But the real strength of Portfolio EV isn’t about finding just one good bet — it’s about consistently finding dozens. With the Mass Entry tool, you can scale up, place a high volume of +EV bets, and let the math do the heavy lifting.

Just like you wouldn’t count on one DFS lineup to ship a GPP, you don’t count on one bet to carry your night.

Portfolio EV is built for long-term profitability. It helps you spot market inefficiencies, compare lines across books and generate a steady stream of +EV bets. It doesn’t chase heaters, but rather trusts the numbers, follows a process and builds sustainable profit over time.

This is a fun wager for VanVleet, who finally seems to be locked in and with a little luck, could clear this threshold in the first half. Of course despite playing 40 and 42 minutes in the first two games of the series, he scored only 10 and seven points. We know he is a streaky shooter, so let’s hope things keep rolling for one more night!

Final Thoughts on NBA DFS Picks & Building Blocks Today

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