NBA Grind Down: Sunday, May 22nd
Welcome to the RotoGrinders NBA Grind Down. In this all-encompassing preview of today’s NBA action, every game will be broken down statistically, with several key elements highlighted in our charts.
Vegas lines are broken down to show projected team totals, to give you an idea of who is favored to win, and often more importantly, how many points they’re expected to score. We also provide pace numbers, so you can spot a game that might have a few extra possessions and more opportunities for fantasy points.
We also provide position-by-position matchup rankings for every team, to give you an idea of the players who will be in better situations to succeed. Using Defense versus Position data, every projected starter is listed along with his opponent’s rank in points allowed to players of his position. These color-coded charts will help you spot the best matchups of the night at a glance.
Every game is also broken down by our NBA experts, providing an overview of the game and a selection of players to consider from each contest.
Note: As always, if you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use our DraftKings promo code and FanDuel promo code to receive the best perks in the industry.
Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City Thunder – 8:00 PM
- Vegas Line – Golden State -3, 220.5 Over/Under
- Golden State Warriors Proj. Starters – Curry-Thompson-Barnes-Green-Bogut
- Oklahoma City Thunder Proj. Starters – Westbrook-Roberson-Durant-Ibaka-Adams
| Golden State Warriors | Oklahoma City Thunder | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 220.5 |  | Vegas Total | 220.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -3.0 | Vegas Sprd | 3.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 111.8 | Team Proj. | 108.8 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 101.60 | Team Pace | 99.40 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proj. Starter | Stephen Curry | Klay Thompson | Harrison Barnes | Draymond Green | Andrew Bogut | Proj. Starter | Russell Westbrook | Andre Roberson | Kevin Durant | Serge Ibaka | Steven Adams | |
| Opp. Season | 16 | 21 | 13 | 7 | 4 | Opp. Season | 20 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 19 | |
| Last 3 Weeks | 6 | 20 | 26 | 5 | 5 | Last 3 Weeks | 10 | 10 | 25 | 28 | 6 | |
Golden State Warriors
- Golden State Warriors Offense
Points Scored Per Game: 114.9 (1 of 30)
Implied Team Total: 111.8 (1 of 4)
The Warriors came out and did exactly what they needed to – they stomped the Thunders at home in Game 2. They now head to Oklahoma City with the series tied at a game a piece. Both teams have to feel pretty good about the spot they are in. The Warriors only need to win one of the three games in Oklahoma City to steal back homecourt advantage. Despite being on the road, the Warriors are 2.5-point favorites in Game 3. Once again, they have the highest team total on the board. Stephen Curry did bang his elbow the other night, but he is not listed on the injury report and is fully expected to play.
- Injury Watch:
NO INJURIES
Elite Plays
| Stephen Curry | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $9,900 | Salary: | $10,700 | ||
| Position: | PG | Position: | PG | ||
| FP/Min: | 1.32 | FP/Min: | 1.73 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 34.2 | 30.1 | -4.1 | 35.3 | 1.1 |
| FPPG (FD) | 47.9 | 39.6 | -8.3 | 43.6 | -4.3 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 27.8 | 28.0 | 0.1 | 25.1 | -2.7 |
Curry has yet to have a huge game in this series, but it is coming. He has played well, he just hasn’t taken over offensively for more than a few spurts here and there. He draws the best matchup of the five starters and the Warriors’ may have to lean on him a bit more now that the series shifts to Oklahoma City. There are enough value plays in the slate that we can easily fit both Curry and Westbrook in the same lineup.
| Klay Thompson | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $7,400 | Salary: | $7,900 | ||
| Position: | SG | Position: | SG | ||
| FP/Min: | 1.00 | FP/Min: | 0.96 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 33.3 | 35.9 | 2.6 | 34.7 | 1.4 |
| FPPG (FD) | 30.9 | 36.0 | 5.1 | 33.6 | 2.7 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 22.3 | 24.3 | 2.0 | 23.9 | 1.6 |
Thompson had a disappointing Game 2, but he didn’t see a full complement of minutes in the blowout. He has played very well in the postseason, averaging 36 fantasy points in just under 36 minutes per game. He is the top shooting guard left in the playoffs and he is never shy about putting shots up. He remains an elite play heading into Game 3.
| Harrison Barnes | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $4,500 | Salary: | $4,300 | ||
| Position: | SF | Position: | SF | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.58 | FP/Min: | 0.69 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 30.9 | 31.6 | 0.7 | 33.2 | 2.3 |
| FPPG (FD) | 21.0 | 18.2 | -2.8 | 20.2 | -0.8 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 13.8 | 12.5 | -1.3 | 10.6 | -3.3 |
Barnes has played well in the first two games of the series, scoring 20 and 23 fantasy points. Of the three value small forwards (Barnes, Iguodala, Carroll), he has the highest floor, which makes him the best cash game target. He should see 32-35 minutes in Game 3 and hopefully he can keep his 20+ fantasy point streak alive.
Secondary Plays
| Draymond Green | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $9,400 | Salary: | $9,500 | ||
| Position: | PF | Position: | PF | ||
| FP/Min: | 1.20 | FP/Min: | 1.16 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 34.7 | 37.3 | 2.6 | 36.0 | 1.3 |
| FPPG (FD) | 39.1 | 44.7 | 5.6 | 37.2 | -1.9 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 16.0 | 18.4 | 2.5 | 17.9 | 1.9 |
Green remains an elite tournament play and an interesting contrarian target for cash games. We all know the type of upside that he provides and the Warriors are going to need him to show up in a big way on the road. So far in the playoffs, Green has averaged 44.7 fantasy points in over 37 minutes per contest.
| Andre Iguodala | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $4,500 | Salary: | $4,200 | ||
| Position: | SF | Position: | SF | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.72 | FP/Min: | 0.68 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 26.6 | 29.6 | 3.0 | 29.2 | 2.6 |
| FPPG (FD) | 18.5 | 21.2 | 2.7 | 21.7 | 3.2 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 10.7 | 11.6 | 0.9 | 11.0 | 0.3 |
Iguodala has rewarded fantasy owners in the first two games of the series, scoring 23 and 25 fantasy points. He is playing a big role in this series, as the Warriors need his length to defend Kevin Durant. I slightly prefer Barnes in cash games, but Iguodala has more upside. There isn’t much separation between the two in terms of fantasy appeal.
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Oklahoma City Thunder Offense
Points Scored Per Game: 110.2 (2 of 30)
Implied Team Total: 108.8 (2 of 4)
The Thunder may have gotten blown out by the Warriors in Game 2, but they have to feel good about heading home with the series all tied. They can now move on to the NBA Finals if they can protect their home floor. That will be a tall task though, as they are taking on the defending champions. The Thunder are listed as 2.5-point underdogs in what should be a terrific Game 3. There should be a ton of fantasy points to go around in this one and I highly recommend getting as much exposure to this game as possible.
- Injury Watch:
NO INJURIES
Elite Plays
| Russell Westbrook | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $9,800 | Salary: | $11,100 | ||
| Position: | PG | Position: | PG | ||
| FP/Min: | 1.37 | FP/Min: | 1.48 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 34.4 | 36.3 | 1.9 | 36.7 | 2.3 |
| FPPG (FD) | 48.8 | 49.7 | 0.9 | 49.0 | 0.2 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 28.3 | 30.2 | 1.8 | 28.3 | 0.0 |
Westbrook has not shot the ball well in this series, but he is still averaging 50 fantasy points per game. As soon as his shot starts to fall, lookout. He is my favorite play at any position heading into Game 3, as he will be fired up in front of the Thunder home crowd. Westbrook has triple-double upside every time he takes the floor and I expect him to bounce back in an important game for the Thunder.
| Kevin Durant | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $9,800 | Salary: | $10,300 | ||
| Position: | SF | Position: | SF | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.98 | FP/Min: | 1.24 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 35.8 | 39.8 | 4.0 | 41.2 | 5.4 |
| FPPG (FD) | 46.4 | 39.2 | -7.3 | 41.8 | -4.7 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 26.3 | 26.3 | 0.0 | 27.0 | 0.7 |
Durant really played well against the Warriors during the regular season. He has struggled with his shot so far in this series, but eventually those shots are going to fall. It will be interesting to see how the ownership for Durant and LeBron James will be. Both players are in a great spot, but the game environment is expected to be much better for Durant.
| Serge Ibaka | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $5,000 | Salary: | $5,600 | ||
| Position: | PF | Position: | PF | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.70 | FP/Min: | 0.83 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 32.1 | 32.1 | 0.0 | 33.2 | 1.1 |
| FPPG (FD) | 25.4 | 22.6 | -2.7 | 24.4 | -1.0 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 14.8 | 10.7 | -4.1 | 11.1 | -3.7 |
Ibaka was one of the many Thunder players that struggled in Game 2 against the Warriors. Don’t be discouraged though, as he is going to have a major role in this series. The Thunder are committed to playing big, even when the Warriors go small. Ibaka is cheap enough that he should be considered an elite play in all league formats.
| Steven Adams | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $5,200 | Salary: | $6,300 | ||
| Position: | C | Position: | C | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.77 | FP/Min: | 0.65 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 25.2 | 32.7 | 7.5 | 37.6 | 12.4 |
| FPPG (FD) | 19.3 | 25.3 | 5.9 | 29.6 | 10.3 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 10.4 | 9.8 | -0.7 | 9.7 | -0.8 |
Adams has seen a major boost in minutes in the playoffs. He is averaging 33 minutes per game and just over 25 fantasy points. He is playing a major role in this series and he should continue to play all of the minutes that he can handle. He is my favorite center to target in this two-game slate. I have him ranked ahead of Bismack Biyombo and Tristan Thompson (on FD).
Secondary Plays
| Dion Waiters | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $3,800 | Salary: | $3,900 | ||
| Position: | SG | Position: | SG | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.62 | FP/Min: | 0.71 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 27.6 | 25.4 | -2.2 | 25.7 | -1.9 |
| FPPG (FD) | 16.7 | 15.7 | -1.0 | 14.8 | -1.9 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 15.2 | 14.0 | -1.2 | 14.0 | -1.3 |
Waiters is seeing big minutes in this series. He has played at least 29 minutes in each of the first two games, scoring at least 15 fantasy points in each contest. The Thunder need his scoring on the floor and he has actually played some decent defense as well. He is the top value at shooting guard once again.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors – 8:30 PM
- Vegas Line – Cleveland -6, 197.5 Over/Under
- Cleveland Cavaliers Proj. Starters – Irving-Smith-James-Love-Thompson
- Toronto Raptors Proj. Starters – Lowry-DeRozan-Carroll-Scola-Biyombo
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Toronto Raptors | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 197.5 |  | Vegas Total | 197.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -6.0 | Vegas Sprd | 6.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 101.8 | Team Proj. | 95.8 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.50 | Team Pace | 95.30 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proj. Starter | Kyrie Irving | J.R. Smith | LeBron James | Kevin Love | Tristan Thompson | Proj. Starter | Kyle Lowry | DeMar DeRozan | DeMarre Carroll | Luis Scola | Bismack Biyombo | |
| Opp. Season | 2 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 7 | Opp. Season | 17 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | |
| Last 3 Weeks | 8 | 16 | 21 | 18 | 4 | Last 3 Weeks | 21 | 5 | 24 | 9 | 11 | |
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Cleveland Cavaliers Offense
Points Scored Per Game: 104.3 (8 of 30)
Implied Team Total: 101.8 (3 of 4)
The Cavaliers playoff streak came to an end after losing to the Raptors in Game 3, but they are still the clear favorites in this series. Game 4 is an important one for both teams, as the Cavaliers would like to head home with a chance to clinch the series in five games. The Cavaliers are listed as 6-point favorites with an implied team total of 101.8 points.
- Injury Watch:
NO INJURIES
Elite Plays
| LeBron James | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $10,100 | Salary: | $10,500 | ||
| Position: | SF | Position: | SF | ||
| FP/Min: | 1.27 | FP/Min: | 1.30 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 35.6 | 37.3 | 1.7 | 33.3 | -2.3 |
| FPPG (FD) | 45.0 | 47.3 | 2.3 | 47.4 | 2.4 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 27.4 | 25.2 | -2.2 | 27.7 | 0.4 |
James and the Cavaliers didn’t have the best outing in Game 3, but they should bounce back nicely in Game 4. James has been dominant in the postseason and as I have mentioned in the past, he hasn’t reached his ceiling when it comes to minutes. A lot of these games have been blowouts, so if James ends up playing around 40 minutes, his fantasy production is only going to get better.
| J.R. Smith | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $4,600 | Salary: | $4,900 | ||
| Position: | SG | Position: | SG | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.60 | FP/Min: | 0.66 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 30.7 | 33.4 | 2.7 | 30.0 | -0.7 |
| FPPG (FD) | 20.3 | 20.1 | -0.2 | 13.6 | -6.8 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 16.0 | 11.2 | -4.8 | 8.9 | -7.1 |
Smith had his best game of the series in Game 3, finishing with 30 fantasy points in 37 minutes of action. He is the best mid-range shooting guard option in this slate and if you can find the extra cap space to go Smith over Dion Waiters, it could be the right move.
Secondary Plays
| Kyrie Irving | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $7,400 | Salary: | $8,300 | ||
| Position: | PG | Position: | PG | ||
| FP/Min: | 1.04 | FP/Min: | 0.94 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 31.5 | 35.8 | 4.3 | 36.5 | 5.0 |
| FPPG (FD) | 30.8 | 37.1 | 6.4 | 37.5 | 6.7 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 25.7 | 25.5 | -0.3 | 24.5 | -1.2 |
Irving played well in the first two games of the series, but couldn’t seem to hit a shot in Game 3. We shouldn’t be too concerned though, and he is still significantly cheaper than Kyle Lowry on FanDuel. I have the two ranked close overall, so I prefer the cheaper of the two.
| Kevin Love | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $7,300 | Salary: | $8,100 | ||
| Position: | PF | Position: | PF | ||
| FP/Min: | 1.05 | FP/Min: | 1.07 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 31.5 | 33.2 | 1.7 | 31.8 | 0.3 |
| FPPG (FD) | 32.4 | 34.8 | 2.5 | 32.9 | 0.5 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 19.9 | 21.8 | 1.8 | 21.8 | 1.8 |
Love has yet to score more than 29 fantasy points in this series. He is not reaching expectations based on his current salary, which leaves him as a secondary play. He has shown that he can have those big outings that we are looking for, but he has yet to prove it in this series.
| Tristan Thompson | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $4,800 | Salary: | $4,800 | ||
| Position: | C | Position: | PF | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.64 | FP/Min: | 0.76 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 27.7 | 28.9 | 1.2 | 29.3 | 1.6 |
| FPPG (FD) | 21.3 | 18.5 | -2.8 | 20.7 | -0.6 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 9.9 | 8.5 | -1.4 | 8.1 | -1.8 |
Thompson has not played well in this series, but the minutes have been there. It’s only a matter of time before he grabs 10+ rebounds, with some of those coming on the offensive end of the floor. I’m not giving up on him just yet, although I don’t consider him an elite play anymore.
Toronto Raptors
- Toronto Raptors Offense
Points Scored Per Game: 102.7 (13 of 30)
Implied Team Total: 95.8 (4 of 4)
On the strength of their home crowd, the Raptors picked up a much needed win in Game 3. They now have a chance to even the series at two games a piece if they are able to win Game 4. The big question with the Raptors is the availability of Jonas Valanciunas. He has been nearing a return to the lineup, but is listed as questionable ahead of the next game. If he is unable to suit up, Bismack Biyombo would draw another start at center.
- Injury Watch:
Jonas Valanciunas (Questionable)
Elite Plays
NONE
Secondary Plays
| Kyle Lowry | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $8,000 | Salary: | $8,000 | ||
| Position: | PG | Position: | PG | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.87 | FP/Min: | 1.06 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 37.0 | 38.6 | 1.6 | 35.5 | -1.5 |
| FPPG (FD) | 38.5 | 33.5 | -5.1 | 32.1 | -6.5 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 22.8 | 22.2 | -0.6 | 22.9 | 0.1 |
Lowry had his best game of the series in Game 3, but he still only put up 28 fantasy points. He is an interesting pivot off of the other three point guard targets in GPPs, but he is not the safest cash game play. Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry remain the top plays at the position.
| DeMar DeRozan | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $7,800 | Salary: | $7,200 | ||
| Position: | SG | Position: | SG | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.79 | FP/Min: | 0.97 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 35.9 | 37.0 | 1.1 | 35.2 | -0.7 |
| FPPG (FD) | 35.3 | 29.3 | -6.0 | 29.8 | -5.5 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 26.0 | 26.4 | 0.4 | 28.2 | 2.1 |
DeRozan also had his best game of the season, posting 44 fantasy points in 40 minutes of action. He is probably the top overall play from the Raptors, but again, Klay Thompson is priced similarly and finds himself in a much better game environment.
| Bismack Biyombo | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $5,700 | Salary: | $5,800 | ||
| Position: | C | Position: | C | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.80 | FP/Min: | 0.84 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 22.0 | 23.6 | 1.6 | 33.6 | 11.6 |
| FPPG (FD) | 18.4 | 18.9 | 0.5 | 24.4 | 6.0 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 9.1 | 8.8 | -0.3 | 9.3 | 0.2 |
Biyombo had himself a career game, grabbing 26 rebounds and scoring 47 fantasy points. He is a borderline elite play in Game 4 (assuming Jonas Valanciunas is out again), but he hasn’t shown any kind of consistency in this series. I still prefer Steven Adams for cash games.
| Cory Joseph | |||||
 | FanDuel | DraftKings | |||
| Salary: | $3,700 | Salary: | $3,200 | ||
| Position: | PG | Position: | PG | ||
| FP/Min: | 0.68 | FP/Min: | 0.76 | ||
| Statistics | Season Average | Playoffs | Playoffs +/- | Last 3 Games | Last 3 +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 25.6 | 23.8 | -1.8 | 20.4 | -5.2 |
| FPPG (FD) | 17.2 | 16.3 | -0.9 | 14.5 | -2.7 |
| TO-Adj. Usage | 14.9 | 16.1 | 1.1 | 19.9 | 5.0 |
Joseph has played well in the last two games, scoring 25 and 23 fantasy points. He has been rewarded with more playing time each and every game, playing 31 minutes in Game 3. He is one of the best value plays on the board, especially on DraftKings ($3,200).