NBA DFS Picks & Playbook For Today: 2024 Playoffs, May 2nd

The first round of the NBA Playoffs continues to march toward the finish line in the Eastern Conference. We have a two-game NBA DFS main slate that includes two Game 6 elimination matchups.
The first game tips off at 6:40 so we have an earlier lineup lock. We have the Milwaukee Bucks taking on Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers. There was a report per Woj about mid-day saying that both Damian Lillard is working toward returning tonight.
Then the second matchup of the night is Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks taking on Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. This point guard matchup with Brunson and Tyrese Maxey is must-see TV right now.
So, buckle up as we dive head-first into the matchups and unearth the hidden gems that could propel your DFS lineups to victory on this pivotal night in the NBA postseason.
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Bucks vs. Pacers DFS
Total: 216.5
Spread: IND (-5.5)
NBA Injury Report Today, 5/2
Bucks NBA DFS Injuries
- Giannis Antetokounmpo - OUT
- Damian Lillard - IN
- Khris Middleton - Probable
- Patrick Beverley - Probable
Pacers NBA DFS Injuries
- Tyrese Haliburton - IN
Milwaukee Bucks NBA DFS Breakdown
The Bucks were able to extend the series back to Indiana on the Back of Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis. They both finished with 29-point double-doubles and played just about 40 minutes and scored close to 50 DKP. Now there is talk that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard could come back tonight. Lillard is more likely to play.
If Lillard plays, It might drop ownership for Khris Middleton making him an intriguing play no matter what tonight. With Lillard in the lineup in these playoffs his usage dro[s from 32% to 28% which is still solid. He is also still getting up close to 20 shots per game. Middleton is very much in play tonight.
As long as Giannis does not play Bobby Portis is a lineup lock tonight still sitting at under 8K on DraftKings. He is playing close to 40 minutes as long as he does not get ejected. Portis also has had a great floor in these playoffs grabbing double-digit rebounds in every game minus Game 4 when he was ejected. If Giannis plays, Portis likely go back to the bench making him less appealing.
Patrick Bervely and Malik Beasley are both in play in this one if the lineup stays the same. The Bucks need Beverley on the court giving them an edge with his tough-guy mentality. If Lillard stays out I like Beasley but if he is in, I like him much less as he is averaging just 15 minutes a game in this series when Lillard plays.
- Top Play(s): Khris Middleton
- Secondary Play(s): Bobby Portis, Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley
- Punt(s):
Indiana Pacers NBA DFS Breakdown
The Pacers have to be starting to get nervous with the reports of Lillard and Giannis on the break of the return. They had a chance to wrap things up in Game 5 and ended up getting blown out.
After scoring over 60 DKP Pascal Siakam has really taken a step backwards in this series failing to score over 20 DKP in the last game. In those two games he saw a usage rate of over 30%. Since that game, his usage rate hasn't gone over 22% and it is quite alarming. I will be passing on Siakam with him being the highest-priced player on the Pacers.
Haliburton is an interesting play tonight back at home. He is dealing with some back issues, but it hasn't affected his shot. Haliburton has knocked down at least four three-pointers in back-to-back games, as he still continues to shoot with confidence.
What we don't love to see is him having just a combined 10 assists over the last two games. I expect Haliburton to be a bit more aggressive and put together a complete game to make sure to close the series out.
The last guy I want to talk about on the Pacers is Myles Turner. I put him on the cover of the playbook on Tuesday and he let me down. I will make this quick just by saying I am going back to him tonight. Game 5 was an outlier of this series.
Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith are playing over 30 minutes a night which makes them cheaper, solid options. Toppin is coming off the bench but getting steady 17-23 minutes in the last four games and is averaging 2.2 fantasy points per minute.
- Top Play(s): Tyrese Haliburton
- Secondary Play(s): Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith
- Punt(s): Obi Toppin
Knicks vs. 76ers DFS
Total: 201
Spread: PHI (-3)
NBA Injury Report Today, 5/2
Knicks NBA DFS Injuries
- Mitchell Robinson - Questionable
- Bojan Bogdanovic - OUT
- Julius Randle - OUT
76ers NBA DFS Injuries
- Robert Covington - OUT
New York Knicks NBA DFS Breakdown
The Knicks rotation is very simple. They are going to play seven guys with just Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson off the bench if he plays. Both of those bench pieces are in play with them playing 25+ minutes each and sitting below $4,500 on DraftKings.
Jalen Bruson's price keeps going higher and higher. However, at this point if he is on the slate you almost have to build your lineup around him. His usage rate is sitting at a whopping 37.7% for the series and has gotten up at least 32 shots in back-to-back games.
Josh Hart is the other absolute must-play on this team as well just because of the floor he possesses with his rebounding numbers. Hart has grabbed at least nine rebounds in four of the past five games in this series. He shot 0-7 from the floor in Game 4 but it didn't shake his confidence. In Game 5 he took 17 shots scoring 18 game points while also dishing out four assists.
Og Anunoby is also in play for this Knicks team as well because of the sheer amount of minutes he is playing. He has played 39, 47, and 50 minutes in the last three games. Anunoby has also seen a price increase which makes it harder to fit him in your lineup, and that's when you pivot to Miles McBride or Mitchell Robinson
- Top Play(s): Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart
- Secondary Play(s): OG Anunoby, Miles McBride, Mitchell Robinson
- Punt(s):
Philadelphia 76ers NBA DFS Breakdown
It has been Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid so far in this series and will continue to be those two spearheading the offense. They each have a usage rate close to 30% while everyone else outside of Cameron Payne has a usage rate of under 20%.
It was nice to finally see Tobias Harris produce in this series saving his best game for when Philly needed him most. Harris chipped in with 19 game points while also grabbing eight rebounds. His rebounding has been solid the entire series grabbing at least eight in four of the last five games.
However, it is the lack of aggressiveness he has shown throughout the playoffs as he hasn't gotten up more than 11 shots in any game. It is still hard to trust him at his price, but we may have to play him with a lack of options with him at $5,500. Or if you want to play his teammate who is a few hundred dollars cheaper in Kelly Oubre, that is also ok.
Nicolas is a dart throw option in this one as he has been hit or miss in those series but keeps getting good run for the most part. Even though Kyle Lowry started it was Batum who played more minutes with Lowry dealing with foul trouble. Batum is worth a look in GPP's.
- Top Play(s): Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey
- Secondary Play(s): Tobias Harris, Kelly Oubre
- Punt(s): Nicolas Batum
Player News
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports Naz Reid plans to sign a five-year, $125 million deal to stay with the Timberwolves.
Fresh off their second consecutive trip to the Western Conference Finals, the Timberwolves hope to keep most of their core together for another run. Reid, who opted out of the final year of his current deal, has been a key piece off the bench for Chris Finch’s team, and retaining him would be immense. Finch said earlier this month that he expects Reid and Julius Randle to return to the team next season. Reid staying in Minnesota likely keeps him in the sixth-man role, which limits his fantasy ceiling. However, he’s still worth selecting in all league drafts.
According to Vinny Benedetto of the Denver Post, Trey Alexander will not return to the Nuggets next season.
Not selected in the 2024 NBA Draft, Alexander signed a two-way contract with the Nuggets last July. The former Creighton guard only appeared in 24 regular-season games for Denver, but he made his mark in the G League. Alexander averaged 25.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the Nuggets’ G League affiliate, earning league Rookie of the Year honors. His expected departure will not impact Denver from a fantasy basketball standpoint.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said Friday that he wants to give Cooper Flagg some reps at point guard during Summer League play.
The first overall pick in this week’s draft, Flagg will make his summer debut on July 10 when the Mavericks play the Lakers in Las Vegas. And his new head coach already has plans for how the prized rookie will be used. “I want to put him at point guard. … I’m excited to give him the ball against the Lakers and see what happens,” Kidd said, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. This will be something worth tracking, as the Mavericks will miss a significant portion of the 2025-26 season as he recovers from a torn ACL. While Dallas is expected to address the point guard position in free agency, there may also be times when Flagg initiates offense if he shows himself capable of doing so.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the 76ers have declined Justin Edwards’ team option to sign him to a new three-year contract.
Edwards was one of the few bright spots for the 76ers last season, playing well enough to earn a two-year, rest-of-season contract just after the February trade deadline. That deal included a team option for the 2025-26 season. According to Charania, the 76ers have declined that option in order to give Edwards a three-year contract with two guaranteed years. This gives the young forward added security, and it may be possible for Edwards to earn rotation minutes on a healthy 76ers squad next season.
According to PHLY Sports’ Kyle Neubeck, the 76ers are declining Jared Butler’s team option.
Butler appeared in 60 games last season, 28 as a member of the 76ers after being acquired from the Wizards at the February trade deadline. The former second-round pick was one of the players whose minutes increased once Philadelphia shifted its focus toward strengthening the odds that they would keep their first-round pick, which was top-6 protected. Butler averaged 11.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 24.4 minutes per game as a 76ers player. With Philadelphia declining his option, Butler will be an unrestricted free agent.
NBA contributor Evan Sidery reports that the Suns will not re-sign Bol Bol.
Bol will not return to Phoenix for a third season, and he’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The stretch five will likely garner interest from a number of teams, with the center-needy Lakers a potential suitor.