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 New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. These teams are going to 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: 218.5

Spread: IND -5.5
 

NBA Injury Report

Knicks NBA DFS Injuries

Pacers NBA DFS Injuries

 

Knicks NBA DFS Breakdown

Despite all of the injuries and Jalen Brunson’s struggles, the Knicks were in it until the final possession of the game and were a little unlucky with Andrew Nembhard bailing the Pacers out from 30 feet after an awful offensive possession.

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

Bench: Miles McBride, Alec Burks, Jericho Sims

Jalen Brunson didn’t look right and was subbed out very early in this game (after 5 minutes) and missed a LOT of shots with Aaron Nesmith draped all over him, but two things of note here. 38 minutes and 26 shots. That’s what we got from Brunson here. Two numbers I’d play him at – in this form – 10/10 times. He’s not listed on the injury report, which is something to note as well.

It was an incredible night of shooting from Donte DiVincenzo again and he did everything he could to pick up Jalen Brunson’s slack. He’s now played 44+ minutes and scored 23+ points and 35+ DKP in four straight games and with how short-handed they are, they’ll need a fifth straight.

The Knicks actually gave two players off the bench 20+ minutes in Miles McBride and Alec Burks. McBride closed the game over starter Precious Achuiwa and played seven more minutes than him. Burks played the entire second quarter and was a spark plug offensively pouring in 14 actual and 25 DKP. Burks will probably be the more popular option, but there’s a greater probability McBride plays more.

Another Josh Hart game in which he only takes seven shots, but puts up 42 DKP because he grabbed 18 (!!!) rebounds. Anytime we get the elite scoring output from Hart, there’s 50+ DKP in our future. It’s hard to play Previous Achiuwa if he’s only going to play low-20’s minutes, but there is the chance, that if he defends Pascal Siakam well, he will be extended.

Isaiah Hartenstein is just a good fantasy producer. He’s not a high-volume shooter, but he’s a good rebounder, he’s a really good passer and is a big-time stocks player too. The minutes are elite, the only thing we have to be concerned about is the 6K price point on DK.

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

Secondary Play(s): Miles McBride, Precious Achiuwa

Punt(s): Alec Burks


Pacers NBA DFS Breakdown

The Pacers finally got a game in this series after dropping the first two and will try and notch the series at two here with another home game. The Pacers hope their stars show up the way they did in Game 3 again.

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

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

The Pacers have now gotten back-to-back 30+ point games from Tyrese Haliburton and he took 26 (!) shots in Game 3, the second-most attempts he has had in a game this year. Haliburton’s aggressiveness has to continue here. Naturally, after the whole world wondered why T.J. McConnell didn’t close either of the first two games of the series, he played his worst game since Game 5 of the Milwaukee series.

Both Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, if Nesmith plays, are last pieces in. Nesmith was better during the regular season and has better position eligibility, but Nembhard has been the better fantasy producer this postseason.

The only thing that stopped Pascal Siakam in Game 3 was foul trouble. There’s serious comfort for him on the offensive end now that OG Anunoby isn’t around. Obi Toppin also had a bad game off the bench for the first time in a while. He had topped 26 DKP in four straight games and 21+ in six of seven playoff games before Game 3.

Things have been up and down for Myles Turner, but man he’s good when he stays out of foul trouble. If he does get in foul trouble, Isaiah Jackson has played 10+ minutes in four straight games and has 10+ DKP in three straight games. He’s not a bad punt.

Top Play(s): Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner

Secondary Play(s): T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith

Punt(s): Isaiah Jackson
 

 

 

Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Total: 203.5

Spread: MIN -2.5

 

NBA Injury Report

Nuggets NBA DFS Injuries

Timberwolves NBA DFS Injuries

Nuggets NBA DFS Breakdown

Did we just assume the defending champs would lay down and die? They blew Minnesota out in Game 3 on the road, so can they do it again in Game 4? 

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

Bench: Justin Holiday, Christian Braun, Reggie Jackson

If the version of Jamal Murray that showed up in Game 3 shows up in Game 4, there are few players in his pricing tier better than him, especially when he’s playing upwards of 40 minutes. This postseason, Murray has a 29% USG rate, which leads the team even ahead of Nikola Jokic. Reggie Jackson is playing a few minutes here and there, but not enough to play him in DFS.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the last piece in, nothing more, nothing less. On a small slate, it’s hard to find a player with 40-minute upside at 4.4K on DK. Christian Braun’s 19 minutes came at the expense of Michael Porter Jr. getting into some foul trouble. Not going down that path here.

Speaking of Michael Porter Jr., look at how differently Denver’s offense looks when he’s making shots. He went 4-for-5 from three and had 21 points across 30 minutes despite being in foul trouble the entire game. Justin Holiday is probably the only player I’d punt, he’s been Denver’s best bench player this series because he’s making a bunch of threes.

Aaron Gordon, starting power-forward, backup center, is safe at 6.1K. I’m OK if this is where you end up, but it’s not a priority for me. It’s hard to look at 11.2K for Nikola Jokic and not want all the exposure. He’s as good as it is if you’re comfortable with the slates value.

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

Secondary Play(s): Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Punt(s): None

 

Timberwolves NBA DFS Breakdown

First one to win a home game wins the series? Denver punched Minnesota in the mouth in Game 3 and we’ll see how the Timberwolves respond to the defending champions in Game 4, in Minnesota again.

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

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

We saw Mike Conley get back to his safe ways, so if you end up having 5.7K left in the bank, Conley has put up 27+ DKP in five of six games. Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s production is so up and down and nothing more than a GPP target because of it.

Anthony Edwards came out and said he fell flat in Game 3 and lacked energy so look for a BIG Game 4 response. He has a 32.5% USG rate while averaging 1.3 DKP/game this postseason. He’s one of the top spend-ups of the slate. Jaden McDaniels has spent the last two games in foul trouble and if Jamal Murray looks like he did in Game 3, that could very well happen again. GPPs only.

None of the Timberwolves front-court members did much of anything in Game 3. Karl-Anthony Towns has been the best on FP/min standpoint averaging 1.18 FP/min this postseason. I said it last slate and I’ll say it again; KAT is too cheap at 6.9K on DK. Rudy Gobert has been disappointing in the two games he’s played in this series as he’s an offensive afterthought. Naz Reid is ALWAYS a tournament play that could fill it up when he’s out there. He is the sixth man of the year after all.

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

Secondary Play(s): Mike Conley (Cash), Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels (GPPs), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (GPPs)

Punt(s): None