NBA DFS Showdown Playbook May 5: Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Top Picks
We have the first Game 7 of the NBA Playoffs. With the Orlando Magic taking Game 6 at home the series shifts to Cleveland for the conclusion. This game will be very exciting with the young star-power in this matchup.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have been great for the Magic in this series. Looking at the Cleveland end of things Donovan Mitchell is fresh off a 50-point performance in the Game 6 loss.
This should be a fun grinded-out type of matchup, so buckle up, and let's dive into this NBA DFS showdown slate between the Magic and Cavaliers.
Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Total: 195
Spread: Cavs (-3)
NBA DFS Injury Report, 5/5
Magic Injuries
- Gary Harris - IN
Cavaliers Injuries
NBA DFS Showdown CPT/MVP Top Plays
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mitchell is coming off a huge performance in Orlando in the Game 6 loss scoring 50 game points. He finished with 62.5 DKP dishing out four assists and grabbing four rebounds as well. Mitchell has the highest ceiling on the slate, and he isn't much more expensive than Paolo sitting just $600 more. In Game 6, he saw a whopping 47% usage rate, and back-to-back games of over 35%. Cleveland will go as far as Mitchell will take them, and I expect him to have a big game at home.
Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Paolo Banchero is coming off three of his last four games being very good. He has scored at least 27 game points in three of those four games while also grabbing at least eight rebounds in those three games. He does not have quite the usage Mitchell has, but he has still seen usage of 39% in two of the last four games in the series. Paolo is in play if you need to save a few bucks from Mitchell, but with the pricing today, it will be hard to play both, that is why Mitchell is my top guy.
Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
For most of this series, it has been all Franz Wagner and Paolo on the offensive end. Franz is sitting at just a 22% usage rate for the playoffs which isn't as high as we would like, but his playing most of the minutes counter-acts the lack of usage. What we love about Franz is his aggressiveness taking the ball to the rim and getting to the free throw line 19 times in the past two games. The bad is he shooting just 2-11 from downtown. Franz could be in line for another big game if that corrects itself tonight.
NBA DFS Showdown UTIL Top Plays
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Evan Mobley was atrocious on the offensive end in the last game going just 1-5 from the floor. To be fair it was tough for him to get in a rhythm dealing with foul trouble. Even with him giving nothing on the offensive end Mobley has to play because of his defensive prowess. Mobley has blocked at least two shots in his last four games including five blocks in the last game. If Mobley stays out of foul he is in line to have a solid night with Allen out, however, his price is very high.
Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
Darius Garland is in play tonight with him being less passive in the last two games. Garland has gotten up 16 and 17 shots in the past two games while seeing usage of around 22%. If the Cavs want to win this game they are going to need a Robin next Batman Mitchell tonight, and Garland can give us that. Will he pay off at his $8,800 price tonight, I am not sure, but he should be solid.
Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic
Suggs is the third guy for Orlando averaging over 15 points per game throughout this series. The issue is from a DFS standpoint you do not know what you are going to get. Suggs can give you 40 DKP if he knocks down his shots, if the jumper is not falling there is a chance he gets you less than 20 DKP. If the latter is the case, that will kill your lineup at almost 8K on DraftKings.
Max Strus, Cleveland Cavaliers
When the Cavs have been in my playbook I have been writing about how Max Strus will break out of his shooting slump. In the first three games of the series, Strus shot just 2-12 from deep. In the last three games, he has finally gotten it going, going 7-17 from behind the arc. If his shot continues to fall in this one he has 30+ DKP upside.
Wendell Carter, Orlando Magic
With the way pricing is on this slate, you almost have to play Wendell Carter. He has played over 30 minutes in the last two games and has gone for at least 29 DKP in each game. The rebounding and block numbers are good also having 20 rebounds and four blocks during that span. There is a low floor here, but let's hope he stays out of foul trouble and continues to produce.
NBA DFS Showdown Value Top Plays
Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic
With Gary Harris missing the last game Isaac slid back into the starting lineup but played just 23 minutes. He didn't produce like we had hoped finishing with just over 12 DKP. The good with Isaac was he grabbed nine rebounds. The bad was him going 0-5 from the floor and not scoring a point. This is a guy who can get you 30+ DKP at under 5K or he can get you 10. I will be playing Isaac tonight because when its good, it's great.
Moritz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Wagner is not someone we love because he is only playing 12-15 minutes. However, he has been able to produce somewhat scoring double-digit DKP in every game of the series. Carter gets in foul trouble in this one, we could see him get some extended run. Just know that there isn't a ton of upside with this play, but there aren't many worthwhile options at around his price.
NBA DFS Showdown Value Top Punts
- Markelle Fultz, Orlando Magic - With Gary Harris out, Orlando opted for more of a defensive-minded approach. They started Jonathan Isaac and played Markelle Fultz for 23 minutes.
- Marcus Morris Cleveland Cavaliers - Like their counterpart Magic, Cleveland also went more defensive-minded by starting Marcus Morris for the injured Jarrett Allen. If he starts again Morris is locked into lineups.
- Issac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers - He played 20+ minutes off of the bench.
Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.