NBA DFS Showdown Playbook May 8: Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks Top Picks
After a wild Game 1, the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks matchup for Game 2 at Madison Square Garden at 8:00 pm ET. The Knicks look to hold serve at home court on the back of a possible fifth straight 40-point game from Jalen Brunson while the Pacers look to steal one on the road with Tyrese Haliburton getting back on track.
I think there are multiple ways to approach showdown slates, but when you have very expensive star power, don’t be afraid to use both guys and punt 1-2 spots in your lineup. Now, punt with guys that will see time, but you don’t need everyone to crush their price point. You’ll lose to those getting 80 FP at 1.5x in the captain’s spot.
Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks
Total: 219
Spread: NYK -5
Season Series: 1-0 NYK
NBA DFS Injury Report
Pacers Injuries
- Tyrese Haliburton - QUEST
- Bennedict Mathurin - OUT
Knicks Injuries
- Mitchell Robinson - OUT
- Julius Randle - OUT
- Bojan Bogdanovic - OUT
- Charlie Brown - OUT
- Duane Washington Jr. - OUT
NBA DFS Showdown CPT/MVP Top Plays
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
I mean, he can’t score 40 actual points every game..can he? CAN HE? HELLO? IS THIS THING ON? He’s scored 40+ points in four straight playoff games for just the fourth time EVER. Certainly he won’t do it for a fifth straight tonight, RIGHT?
Josh Hart, New York Knicks
48, 46, 53, 46, 43, 48, 42. Those aren’t lottery numbers, they’re the amount of time Josh Hart has spent on the floor during the postseason. He’s put up a floor of 36 DKP and has flashed a 50+ DKP ceiling twice as well. His rebounding rates could be on the rise even more with Mitchell Robinson ruled out for the rest of the postseason.
Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
Of all the starters in Game 1, Myles Turner dominated the squad in usage sitting at 25.4% and Pascal Siakam was second at 22.1. Turner had a great start in the Pacers opening round series and did so again in Game 1 of this series pouring in 23 points. He’s had a LOT of success against the Knicks this season from the three-point line shooting 10-for-16 (63%) and that should continue here.
NBA DFS Showdown UTIL Top Plays
Isaiah Hartenstein, New York Knicks
A few things stood out to me about Game 1. First, Hartenstein was stretched to 36 minutes. That was the first time this postseason he’s played north of 30 minutes. He averaged eight boards, had six, and averaged 2.2 stocks during the regular season and had none in the opener. I really like Hartenstein here.
Donte DiVincenzo, New York Knicks
There’s a $400 difference between he and OG Anunoby and one guy has a very high ceiling while the other is very safe. In back-to-back games, DiVincenzo has lit his opponent up from three making five threes in each game and he posted 35 and 50 DKP. If the Knicks continue to lean on his shooting and ball pressure on Tyrese Haliburton, he’s in for HEAVY minutes, which is why in tournaments I’d lean him over Anunoby if I had to choose.
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
He had an 11% USG rate in Game 1. 11%. That’s unacceptable. They scored 117 points and their best player had an 11% usage rate. I know the back injury he’s dealing with is an issue but look for him to be more assertive in this spot.
OG Anunoby, New York Knicks
Anunoby is very safe. He’s been great offensively, which we haven’t really been able to say about him since returning from his elbow injury, and has dominated on the glass too. Plus, it’s hard to dislike a guy who has played 42+ minutes in four straight.
NBA DFS Showdown Value Top Plays
T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers
Game 1 makes you think if McConnell has it going again, do you even consider taking him off the floor? He poured in 18 points AGAIN and has been the Pacers’ best player for two straight games. He’s put up 25+ DKP in three of four and leads Indiana in USG rate at 27.2% this postseason.
Aaron Nesmith, Indiana Pacers
If Nesmith stays out of foul trouble, he’ll play big minutes because of how good a defender he is. He shot 40% from three this year too, so he can space the floor and be a difference there for Indiana.
Obi Toppin, Indiana Pacers
Toppin has been great this postseason. He has put up 26+ DKP in three straight games and 21+ in five of six off the bench. He’s been a monster on the glass and he’s scoring the ball at a high clip, notching 12+ points in five straight outings.
NBA DFS Showdown Value Top Punts
Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers
Jackson checks in with the most risk of the punts because we never know when Rick Carlisle is going to decide to use him, Jalen Smith, or neither, but he has an incredible ceiling. He put up 21.75 DKP in 13 minutes in Game 1.
Precious Achiuwa, New York Knicks
With Mitchell Robinson out, Achiuwa will operate as the backup center. In the one game Robinson missed this preseason, Achiuwa played 20 minutes and had 20 DKP. He was nearly a FP/min guy during the regular season and is a solid punt as the backup five.
Ben Sheppard, Indiana Pacers
Sheppard is the guy at this tier playing the most. He also has a very low floor because outside of a few three’s he takes when he checks in, he doesn’t accrue many stats. That said, he’s very cheap and let’s you get a lot of expensive players.
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.