We have VERY important NBA playoff action taking place tonight, Wednesday 5/15, as we have one elimination game and a Game 5 where one team will take a 3-2 series lead.

Gear up for an intense showdown as the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Boston Celtics in Boston, while the Dallas Mavericks travel to Oklahoma to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

 

 

With high-caliber players and playoff implications on the line, tonight's games are bound to deliver some heart-pounding moments for DFS fans. Check out my top NBA DFS picks for Wednesday, 5/15 right here!

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

Before you finalize your lineups, it's important to check out today's NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections. Take advantage of our NBA Consistency Report to identify players who have consistently exceeded expectations this season, along with utilizing our NBA DFS Lineup Generator!

 

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics

Total: 205.5

Spread: BOS -15.5

NBA Injury Report Today, 5/15

Celtics NBA DFS Injuries

Cavaliers NBA DFS Injuries


Cavaliers NBA DFS Breakdown

UPDATE - With Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert out, the Cavs are starting: 

I love Sam Merrill off the bench. We should see Georges Niang, Marcus Morris Sr. & Tristan Thompson round out their rotation.

Top Play(s): Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Max Strus, Sam Merrill (GPPs)

Secondary Play(s): Isaac Okoro

Punt(s): Dean Wade, Georges Niang


Celtics NBA DFS Breakdown

It is time. Time for Boston to close this series out in five games just like they did in the Miami series. They’re likely getting a very short-handed Cleveland team if Mitchell and Allen are out again. Boston checks in as a nearly 15-point favorite here.

With Jrue Holiday’s price and recent play, he’s likely going to be much higher rostered than Derrick White, but White’s been a better FP/min player than Holiday and has been all year. White’s just missed shots the past two games. Payton Pritchard is a solid punt as well. He’s just $4K on DK and plays mid-20 minutes anyway. If this game gets out of hand, it could be the Pritchard show to end the game.

I love both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in this spot. Tatum has dominated each of the last two games pouring in 30+ points and 60+ DKP. Brown has 37+ DKP in three of four games and continues to be the team leader in usage rate.

We assume Al Horford is eventually going to make a shot, right? He’s 0-for-10 from three over the last two games. That could shift here and he has value if the shots fall. Luke Kornet’s minutes have been hard to predict, but he’s been good when extended.

Top Play(s): Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White (GPPs), Jrue Holiday (Cash)

Secondary Play(s): Al Horford

Punt(s): Payton Pritchard, Luke Kornet
 

Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Total: 213.5

Spread: OKC -4.5

NBA Injury Report Today, 5/15

Thunder NBA DFS Injuries

Mavericks NBA DFS Injuries

 

Mavericks NBA DFS Breakdown

The Mavericks played an awful fourth quarter in game 4 and lost because of it and now head back to Oklahoma City in a tie game. Unfortunately, Dallas is getting a less than 100% Luka Doncic because he doesn’t look like himself at all.

Despite not looking like himself and shooting terribly, Luka Doncic is still stuffing the box score and his price is down to a number we’re not used to seeing it at. Kyrie Irving also hasn’t been great offensively because of how hard he’s working on the defensive end.

On the wing, Derrick Jones Jr. will start and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. If he makes shots he has a solid ceiling, but he did lose out a lot of time to Tim Hardaway Jr. in this one and ended at just 27 minutes. Speaking of THJ, he played nearly 23 minutes in Game 4 and was in the team's closing lineup. If he has the opportunity to be in the final five, I have a LOT of interest at his price. Josh Green plays minutes, but the minutes are on the decline as the series has gone on.

The best Maverick thus far in this series is P.J. Washington and it’s not all that close. He’s scored 20+ points and 40+ DKP in three straight games and the 17+ shot attempts and 40 minutes have been amazing to boot. Lock and load here.

The center room features two options in Daniel Gafford who will start and Dereck Lively II. Lively has played more minutes than Gafford for three straight games and is 1.2K cheaper. There is a case for Gafford in tournaments, however.

Top Play(s): P.J. Washington, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II

Secondary Play(s): Daniel Gafford, Derrick Jones Jr.

Punt(s): Tim Hardaway Jr.


Thunder NBA DFS Breakdown

The Thunder straight up STOLE Game 4 and now head back home with a chance to take the lead in the series.

It’s really hard to just simply want to play anyone other than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams here. The rest of the rotation is a nightmare. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been incredible this entire series and nothing Dallas can throw at him bothers his shot. He’s scored 29+ points and has 59+ DKP in all four games. The minutes being 40+ are tremendous too. Jalen Williams has NOT played well, but he’s too good to have a 5-for-19 shooting night. Chet Holmgren playing 40 minutes is as good as it’s going to get. 

Luguentz Dort is interesting because he’s the only other Thunder player than their “Big 3” who plays big minutes. He’s been making shots, too, he’s just been in constant foul trouble.

Maybe this is the game Josh Giddey is benched! We’ll see. If he is, the starter in his place is interesting for sure. The likes of Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins are all darts.

Top Play(s): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren

Secondary Play(s): Luguentz Dort

Punt(s): Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins

 

 

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