As the NBA playoffs continue to heat up, today's main slate showcases four electrifying matchups set to captivate both fans and fantasy basketball enthusiasts alike. With stakes higher than ever and every possession holding the potential to swing the tide of a series, the intensity on the hardwood is palpable, and so are our NBA DFS picks. 

 

 

 

As DFS managers, navigating this landscape requires keen insight into player form, team dynamics, and strategic matchups. From perennial powerhouses to rising underdogs, tonight's slate promises a thrilling spectacle of athleticism, skill, and drama.

So, buckle up as we delve into the matchups and unearth the hidden gems that could propel your DFS lineups to victory on this pivotal night in the NBA postseason.

NBA DFS Tools To Dominate Tonight's NBA DFS Slate!

Don't forget to review the NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections for today before locking in your lineups. Take advantage of our NBA Consistency Report to pinpoint players who have been outperforming their price tags this season, and don't miss out on our NBA DFS Lineup Generator!

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Heat vs. Celtics DFS

Total: 204

Spread: BOS -14.5

NBA Injury Report, 4/24

Miami Heat Injuries

Boston Celtics Injuries

 

 

 

Miami Heat NBA DFS Breakdown

  • Pace (since All-Star break): 29th (95.6)
  • Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 2nd

As we saw in Game 1, the Miami Heat are outmatched, but that’s been the case for basically all of Boston’s opponents this year. Three Heat starters played 34+ minutes: Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Jaime Jaquez. I prefer getting to Adebayo and Jaquez as Tyler Herro is having a tough time being guarded by Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.

Outside of those three, I like Nikola Jovic as a value play as he’s played 26+ minutes in back-to-back games. Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith are GPP plays with low floors. Delon Wright is probably a fairly popular punt play considering how well he’s played and the minutes in the mid-20’s continue to be there.

The wild card here is Kevin Love. Maybe we see Spo lean into the double-big lineup a little more considering we saw Love and Adebayo share the floor for just three minutes in Game 1. They won those minutes 11-8, for the record. Duncan Robinson outwardly told the media until he’s able to get some rest, he won’t be the Duncan Robinson of old. That’s a fade for me, dawg.

 

 

 

Boston Celtics NBA DFS Breakdown

  • Pace (since All-Star break): 25th (95.9)
  • Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 8th

Boston looked, well, like Boston in Game 1. They took and made a ton of threes and blew Miami out. They’re now 38-4 at home including Game 1. You can look at ANY of the Celtics tonight with how they’re being priced. 

Jayson Tatum is the top dog and he triple-doubled despite going 7-of-18 from the field and 1-of-8 from three. He’s the top option here but getting the likes of Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis for $7.6K and $7.3K respectively is great for both. It’s kind of an aberration for Porzingis to grab just four rebounds, so expect positive regression there.

Getting to both Derrick White and Jrue Holiday works, too. White has a higher ceiling because of his shot volume but Holiday’s a little cheaper.

The bench unit of Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser made up the remainder of the minutes with the first two listed as the two we’d prioritize. Horford played the backup PF and C and has a solid price tag. Pritchard was extended to 24 minutes because of how well he was playing and that is seemingly an option each and every slate. It comes with risk, however, because if he’s not spacing the floor well, the Celtics will just shrink their rotation even more.

Pelicans vs. Thunder DFS

Total: 212

Spread: OKC -7.5

NBA Injury Report, 4/24

New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

  • None

 

 

 

New Orleans Pelicans NBA DFS Breakdown

  • Pace (since All-Star break): 16th (97.5)
  • Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 6th

The Pelicans have started their postseason off running a really tight rotation using eight guys for any sort of real minutes. Four of their five starters played 33+ minutes while Jonas Valanciunas played 29. I think that’s where we should start: the center room.

During the regular season, here were Jonas Valanciunas’ minutes against OKC:

11/1 - 21

1/26 - 20

3/26 - 10

Are we SURE based on one game he’s DEFINITELY the guy they’re going to play and not Larry Nance? He obviously has a higher ceiling and that’s not debatable, but that ceiling shrinks if he’s only playing 20 minutes. Especially considering his price is on the rise. I actually prefer Larry Nance in DFS for $1,000 cheaper, stubborn take or not.

We saw Brandon Ingram in the “Dorture Chamber” in Game 1, and that’s the likely scenario throughout the postseason. The 37 minutes and 17 shots were great, but the efficiency..not so much. GPPs for me. CJ McCollum is solid playing 40 minutes and taking 20+ shots, but Trey Murphy III might be my favorite option. He played 44 minutes in Game 1 and did a little of everything.

Herbert Jones top priority is guarding SGA, so how much will he have in the tank offensively in this series? He’s cheap, but a secondary option for me. The bench unit of the aforementioned Nance, Jose Alvarado, and Naji Marshall are interesting. Alvarado and Marshall are solid fantasy producers at .92 FP/min and .89 FP/min respectively without Zion Williamson this year.

 

 

 

Oklahoma City Thunder NBA DFS Breakdown

  • Pace (since All-Star break): 3rd (101.2)
  • Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 4th

The Thunder were fifth in offensive rating during the regular season but only mustered up 94 points in Game 1. They won, that’s the most important thing, but their big three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren scored 62 of the 94. These three are really the only options you should look towards heavily.

You can get to Luguentz Dort if he’s going to play 35 minutes, but like Herbert Jones on the other side of this game, Dort’s priority is following Brandon Ingram around wherever he goes.

Josh Giddey is a full fade for me at just 20 minutes and salute to those that play him in the games he puts up 40 FP despite barely being on the floor. They played an 11-man rotation and didn’t change their ways really at all, just extended their starters a bit.