DraftKings daily picks: Building around Nuggets Nikola Jokic

DraftKings daily picks: Fantasy basketball lineup – May 1, 2019

DENVER, CO - APRIL 23: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a play against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffson April 23, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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DENVER, CO – APRIL 10: Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets celebrates after making a three over Andrew Wiggins (22) of the Minnesota Timberwolves to take the lead with 31 seconds left during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 99-95 win on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

High Salary Guards

Players costing over $8,333

Damian Lillard (at DEN – $12,400): Needs 59.5 fantasy points. LAST GAME – 52.75 fantasy points against Denver. Once again, I have no doubt about Lillard in the playoffs. I figured the rest of the Blazers would take a step back because the Nuggets are better than the Thunder, but Dame is Dame. I don’t know if I’d use the captain spot on him because it will cost you a lot of money, but you can spend less on the captain spot and still get strong production out of Dame. Diagnosis: Very reliable with a high ceiling.

Jamal Murray (vs POR – $9,600): Needs 44.6 fantasy points. LAST GAME – 40 fantasy points against Portland. I still like this matchup for Murray because of his talent and my reservations with the Portland defense. As always, he’s a streaky player but when he’s on, he can keep up with Lillard — okay, he can keep up with McCollumn, very few can keep up with Lillard — but I trust him at home and in this matchup. Diagnosis: Very reliable with a high ceiling.

CJ McCollum (at DEN – $10,000): Needs 46.5 fantasy points. LAST GAME – 27.5 fantasy points against Denver. I expressed my concerns with McCollum prior to Game 1 and they held true. He’s a streaky player and I didn’t buy into his great series against OKC because it’s OKC and he has always killed them. The ceiling remains high, but he’s not the reliable option that he was in the first round. Murray is at a better price and is a better option. Diagnosis: Reliable with a high ceiling.