As the NBA action heats up and the second-round of the playoffs begins, tonight's DFS slate presents an intriguing mix of games that promise excitement and ample opportunities for fantasy success. The spotlight shines on clashes between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, and the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder lock horns in a battle of skill and strategy, promising a showdown filled with high-flying plays and intense competition. With star-studded rosters and playoff implications at stake, tonight's games are poised to deliver exhilarating moments that DFS players won't want to miss

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New York Knicks @ Indiana Pacers

Total: 222.5

Spread: IND -6.5


NBA Injury Report

Knicks NBA DFS Injuries

Pacers NBA DFS Injuries

 

Knicks NBA DFS Breakdown

With the Knicks losing OG Anunoby for Game 3 and likely Game 4, what will the rotation look like? They’ve run seven guys this postseason, at least since Mitchell Robinson went down, but will they cut it to six or enter someone else into the equation? My lineup guesses below.

Starters: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Hartenstein

Bench: Miles McBride, Alec Burks (?), if they start Achiuwa maybe Jericho Sims can play a few minutes

It’s really hard to ignore the 37.6% USG rate and 1.3 FP/min that Jalen Brunson has averaged this postseason. With short-handed the Knicks are, Brunson’s going to play 40+ minutes. Miles McBride should play a prominent role off the bench given how short-handed the team is. He’s a decent option off the bench.

Donte DiVincenzo has been great for the Knicks over the last three games and has been making a TON of shots, particularly from three. He’s played 44+ minutes and 35+ DKP in three straight games. Josh Hart, like DiVincenzo, has been great. He’s coming off back-to-back 50+ FP games and has only sat two minutes in the previous four games total. He has put up 36+ DKP in all eight playoff games he’s played in. We’ll see if the Knicks get Alec Burks some minutes off the bench, too.

The front court will be interesting. It’s a safe assumption that Precious Achiuwa will start in place of OG Anunoby after seeing him play the final 15 minutes of Game 2 after Anunoby’s injury. He’s only 4.1K and makes a lot of sense as a value option. Isaiah Hartenstein is one of my favorite plays on the board. With Achiuwa likely starting, I’m not sure how much Hartenstein will sit here as we’ve already seen his minutes steadily rising playing 36 and 39 last game. 

Top Play(s): Jalen Brunson, Isaiah Hartenstein, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo

Secondary Play(s): Precious Achiuwa

Punt(s): Miles McBride


Pacers NBA DFS Breakdown

Down 2-0 in the series and heading home, the Pacers have had a chance in both games this series and came up empty-handed on the road. With OG Anunoby sidelined, the Pacers are 6.5-point favorites at home. The rotation, in terms of who’s playing, shouldn’t change much here.

Starters: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner

Bench: T.J. McConnell, Ben Sheppard, Obi Toppin, Isaiah Jackson

After a forgettable Game 1, Tyrese Haliburton was very good in Game 2, knocking down seven threes while going for 34-9-6 and 63.5 DKP. He said he needed to be better in Game 2 and was. Expect more of the same from Haliburton in Game 3 here. T.J. McConnell is averaging 1.2 FP/min this postseason, second on the team, and has a team-leading 26.6% USG as well. With how well he has played, it’ll be hard to imagine he’s next extended late in games and I could see his minutes tick way up here.

Andrew Nembhard has been solid offensively, but he has no answers for Jalen Brunson on the other end, so could we see him potentially lose some time at the end of games in favor of McConnell. Aaron Nesmith has not shot the ball well at the start of this series and made some bad defensive decisions late. If he can’t make shots, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Obi Toppin close the game over him if he continues to be as good as he’s been offensively. Ben Sheppard continues to make shots and is another option to see increased time if Nesmith continues to struggle.

Pascal Siakam SHOULD have an easier time with OG Anunoby out and is someone who will look to assert himself more offensively. Obi Toppin LEADS the Pacers in FP/min at 1.24 and continues to SHINE offensively. He scored 20 actual in Game 2 and for the second time in three games while pouring in double-digit points in six straight games.

Myles Turner had a rough Game 2 and only played 31 minutes, but he’s a very important piece to the puzzle with how well he spaces and how well he can protect the paint on the other end of the floor. Isaiah Jackson is a punt at 3.1K at the 13-15 minutes he’s playing.

Top Play(s): T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam

Secondary Play(s): Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith

Punt(s): Isaiah Jackson

 

Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Total: 204.5

Spread: MIN -4.5


NBA Injury Report

Nuggets NBA DFS Injuries

Timberwolves NBA DFS Injuries

 

Nuggets NBA DFS Breakdown

The defending NBA champions are in unfamiliar territory. They’re down 2-0 after being smoked on their homefloor in each of the first two games. Now two of their starters are on the injury report and three of their top six players overall are dealing with something. What scorcery can Denver pull out today?

I kind of expect Denver to play a shortened rotation, similar to Game 5 of their first round series against the Lakers.

Starters: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic

Bench: Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun, Justin Holiday, Peyton Watson (could see him cut out)

Jamal Murray is injured and that’s the reality of the situation. For Denver to have any success, he has to shoot the ball better than he did in Games 1 and 2 and that’ll be a challenge with Jaden McDaniels and Nickiel Alexander-Walker draped all over him. I do, however, like the price where it’s at in tournaments as everyone passes on him because of the matchup.

The assumption is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope plays, but that’s obviously a questionmark with the questionable tag on the injury report. If he plays, he’s a FINE last piece in and if he doesn’t, that will bolster Christian Braun and Justin Holiday into playable status.

Michael Porter Jr. did not shoot the ball well in Game 2, but has had an amazing postseason outside of that game. They’re going to need him to get going again and we’ve actually seen Jaden McDaniels on him at times when Nickiel Alexander-Walker’s been in the game guarding Murray. Aaron Gordon will continue to float between PF and C when Jokic is off the floor and that raises his ceiling quite a bit.

Then there’s that one guy. The three-time league MVP that could be a 4x MVP. Nkola Jokic HAS to be better than he has been in the first two games. He has to raise his level to one that we marvel at, in order to keep his team in the hunt for another title.

Top Play(s): Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr.

Secondary Play(s): Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon

Punt(s): None


Timberwolves NBA DFS Breakdown

Wow. That’s all anyone can say about the Timberwolves. Wow. They’ve been incredible this postseason and hold a 2-0 series lead against the Nuggets.

Starters: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert

Bench: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kyle Anderson, Naz Reid

Mike Conley has been very safe this entire postseason notching 22+ DKP in five straight games and 27+ in four of his last five. Five shots is tough in Game 2, but the volume had been there in every other postseason game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker will continue to operate as the backup of both guard spots and we saw in Game 2, when he makes shots he has an elite ceiling at a $4,000 price point.

Nobody’s been able to stop Anthony Edwards this postseason, including Denver, and at 9.3K he’s a great play. Not the best per-dollar play on Minnesota, but hard to argue against their number one option.

What version of Jaden McDaniels shows up seems like a daily question we’re asking. Can he stay out of foul trouble? If he does, he’ll approach 40 minutes. If he makes shots, that’s a bonus. Kyle Anderson will get some backup F run, but not enough to be a viable DFS play at 3.8K.

The front-court options are highly intriguing and to me, there aren’t many options better on a per-dollar basis than Karl-Anthony Towns at $7,000 on DraftKings. Towns has a 25% USG and averages 1.25 FP/min this postseason. In the two games he’s been extended past 35 minutes this postseason, he has at least 27 points and a double-double. Just PLEASE stay out of foul trouble. Rudy Gobert is going to play near 40 minutes and is a solid option at center and Naz Reid was a 23% USG, 1.07 FP/min player this season.

Top Play(s): Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards

Secondary Play(s): Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Punt(s): None

 

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