Mitchell Thoennes 
Starting the week off we have an eight-game slate for NBA GPP Picks 5/3. There again will be plenty of injury news to watch starting with Lebron who left last night with ankle soreness. The news won’t stop there as Nikola Vucevic and Malcolm Brogdon are other big names entering today questionable. Late in the season like we are there is always potential for rest as well. Just join the WinDaily family in the Discord Chat rooms to keep up with all the news and best ways to adjust to this slate. We have two games that stand out in GSW vs NO and POR vs ATL as both games opened at 236-point totals.
In today’s article, I will be using DraftKings pricing to select my two top players at each position using a GPP/Tournament mindset.
Bombcarlo’s NBA GPP Picks 5/3
Point Guard
Cole Anthony – ($6,900)
Orlando has tons of players out and that benefits Anthony tonight. When taking all these players out, Anthony leads the team in usage at 27.3% averaging 1.2 fantasy points per minute. Tonight, he gets a matchup to drool over with Detroit allowing hands down the most fantasy points to point guards over the last ten games. He did just flash a 50-point upside while playing 36 minutes last game.
Tj McConnell – ($5,400)
Indiana’s starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon is questionable again after missing Saturday’s game. That game was a massive blowout and McConnell only played 20 minutes. When Brogdon is out McConnell averages over a fantasy point per minute and gets the chance to play the fastest team in the league tonight. In one game against Washington TJ scored 26 fantasy points in just 21 minutes.
Shooting Guard
Frank Jackson – ($4,700)
The Pistons will be sitting Grant, Plumlee, and Cory Joseph again tonight. In the past two games without those two Jackson led the team in usage at 29.4% and 30.2%. Orlando presents a great matchup as they rank second-worst in defensive rating over the last 15 games. He played 34 minutes last game which is also an encouraging sign.
Lonnie Walker – ($3,900)
If Dejounte Murray sits out another game Walker is in play. Last night without Murray Walker had a 32% usage rate although Derozan was out but will play tonight. When Murray and White both sit Walker averages a 22% usage rate not a bad number for this price. He has played 29 or more minutes in three straight games and hasn’t scored under 24.75 fantasy points to go with it.
Small Forward
Michael Porter Jr. – ($8,400)
Taking Jamal Murray, Will Barton, and Monte Morris off the floor Porter slots in second for the Nuggets in usage at 26.2%. During that time, he is averaging 1.17 fantasy points per minute. Since Barton joined the other two on the injury list Porter has scored under 40 fantasy points just one time. Let us put the cherry on top by saying Porter has played 35 or more minutes in six straight games now.
Kent Bazemore – ($5,200)
This is not the prettiest play but if the Warriors are without Wiggins as well tonight the wing minutes will be plentiful. Just without Oubre, Bazemore has played 29 and 33 minutes to record 28 and 34.5 fantasy points in both of those games. With Wiggins and Oubre off the court, Bazemore sees over a fantasy point per minute. That looks good especially in a good matchup against the fourth-worst defensive team this season. If Wiggin’s sits several Warriors will be excellent options especially Steph.
Power Forward
Bojan Bogdanovic – ($6,900)
Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell will miss another game tonight. When those two are absent Bogdanovic sees a 6.2% usage increase. In the past three games without those two, Bogdanovic has led Utah in usage. He has yet to record a usage rate of under 30% in those three games. In one game against the Spurs Bogdanovic scored 38 fantasy points in just 26 minutes.
Thaddeus Young – ($6,100)
If Vucevic sits again is the only way I consider Young. When Lavine and Vucevic are out Young is second on the Bulls in usage at 23.4%. He averages 1.2 fantasy points per minute when they are out and he just played 33 minutes last game. The matchup is not great but Chicago could be without their two highest usage players again so someone needs to absorb it.
Center
Anthony Davis – ($9,700)
Lebron departed last night with apparent soreness in his ankle and I would say Is unlikely to play. I wanted to list Davis because it’s always possible he could sit the second leg of a back-to-back as well. Davis sees a 5.1% usage increase without James bringing his usage to 34%. The Laker star should avoid facing Jokic defense and have a favorable matchup against the likes of Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr.
Isaiah Stewart – ($6,300)
With Mason Plumlee and Jahlil Okafor both ruled out Stewart will see as many minutes as he can handle. Taking off all Detroit players ruled out Stewart is averaging 1.13 fantasy points per minute. Tonight, he has an amazing matchup as Orlando has been the second-worst defensive team and given up the second-most fantasy points to center in the past ten games.
Closing Bombcarlo’s NBA GPP Picks 5/3
That will wrap it up for NBA GPP Picks 5/3. It is important on this slate to be in Discord with several big names entering today questionable including Lebron. There is plenty of star power to be had tonight which will go great with some of these high totals we see. Do not forget to check out the Projection models to follow all the best point-per-dollar plays for tonight’s slate. Best of luck on this slate and let’s win some money!
