The 2024 NBA playoffs are intense as ever since the second round kicked off. Tonight's DFS lineup presents a couple DFS opportunities and chances for daily fantasy success!

Prepare yourself for a thrilling night on the hardwood as the Cleveland Cavaliers go head-to-head with the Boston Celtics, while the Dallas Mavericks take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

 

 

 

Featuring top-tier players and playoff stakes, tonight's games are sure to provide thrilling experiences for DFS enthusiasts. Explore my top NBA DFS picks for Monday, 5/13 listed below!

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

Be sure to examine the NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections for today before setting your lineups. Use our NBA Consistency Report to identify players who have been exceeding their value this season, and don't forget to utilize our NBA DFS Lineup Generator!

Celtics vs. Cavaliers DFS

Total: 207.5

Spread: BOS -8.5

NBA Injury Report Today, 5/13

Celtics NBA DFS Injuries

Cavaliers NBA DFS Injuries

 

 

 

Boston Celtics NBA DFS Breakdown

The Celtics took control of the series in Game 3 on the backs of the J’s; Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Jrue Holiday. Even without Kristaps Porzingis, Boston is a powerhouse.

The Game 3 Jrue Holiday played was the best game he’s played this entire postseason, and we know he’s capable of it, we also just know where he sits on the totem pole on a nightly basis. Payton Pritchard, the only backup guard being used, is the only Boston bench player I have any interest in using on this slate.

On the wing, Derrick White has shot the ball poorly the last two games, but we know what his ceiling is. He’s the pivot off of Jrue Holiday. Jaylen Brown still leads this team in USG this postseason at 30.6% and has a 32.4% USG without Kristaps Porzingis. His price continues to drop too.

Jayson Tatum was terrific in Game 3 and is a great price tag once again. Without Kristaps Porzingis this postseason, Tatum has a 29.2% USG (2nd) and 1.32 DKP/min (1st) on the team. Al Horford played 38 minutes and barely did anything while on the floor. He’s OK as a last piece in and it’s great to know Boston is comfortable playing him that much in competitive settings.

 

 

 

Cleveland Cavaliers NBA DFS Breakdown

UPDATE – Donovan Mitchell has been ruled OUT due to a calf strain.

This is not great news; Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen are not going through shootaround this morning. Allen did go through shootaround before Game 4, so this isn’t great that he’s seemingly back-tracking here. Mitchell, who’s been dealing with a knee injury, is now listed with a calf injury. Not great, Bob. Without BOTH of those guys the Cavs have little to no chance in this game.

The Cavaliers haven’t gotten much from Darius Garland this postseason outside of two games in the Orlando series and if Donovan Mitchell is really banged up, they will need more from him. It’s that simple. He’s OK at 6.1K if Mitchell/Jarrett Allen are in, but if they’re both out, Garland becomes much more of a priority.

Donovan Mitchell has been one of the best, if not THE best, player across the entire league this postseason, but is compromised as he’s going into this game with multiple injuries. Mitchell is great, but if this game isn’t competitive, will Cleveland play it safe and keep Mitchell from hurting himself more? We’ll see. Caris LeVert has been very solid lately and should continue to be their primary option off the bench.

Max Strus continues to get a LOT of cardio in but does not accrue a whole lot of stats. Because he’s playing so much and IS a good shooter, he’s at least a tier-two option. I suspect Dean Wade leapfrogs Isaac Okoro in the rotation again, but the problem with Wade here is he’s center-eligible only.

Evan Mobley is a solid option but takes a hit if Jarrett Allen plays. Allen will be limited, the Cavs have been transparent about that, but Mobley having the freedom as the team's center has helped him.

Thunder vs. Mavericks DFS

Total: 214.5

Spread: DAL -1.5

NBA Injury Report Today, 5/13

Thunder NBA DFS Injuries

Mavericks NBA DFS Injuries

 

 

 

Oklahoma City Thunder NBA DFS Breakdown

The Mavericks really can’t slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but can anyone else REALLY get it going for OKC to help them notch this series at 2? That’s the question. ALSO, I think we could potentially see a lineup change considering how bad and ineffective Josh Giddey has been. The Thunder have no more wiggle room.

I mentioned Gilgeous-Alexander has been a one-man wrecking ball and is something that will likely continue here. He’s averaging 1.37 DKP/min and has a 32.8% USG rate. Without Giddey on the floor, that USG balloons to 38.9% and is at 1.47 FP/min. He’s my top spend-up of the slate.

As I mentioned above, I think the Thunder move Josh Giddey out of their starting lineup and even if they don’t, he’s not long for this game or this series if he can’t make shots. Especially since Dallas is guarding him with a center and he still can’t make them pay. 

My guess would be Cason Wallace or Aaron Wiggins in the starting lineup. Both guys would be viable value options in that case. Isaiah Joe is also a very good value option if he’s extended, which we saw in Game 3. Even if Giddey starts, I’m not playing him despite where his price has dropped to.

Luguentz Dort has lived in foul trouble in this series but has defended Luka Doncic very well overall. Dort is a fine last piece. Jalen Williams needs to get going more in this series, either he or Chet Holmgren needs to give Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a little more help offensively. For a guy who was well over 1 FP/min this entire season, .98 FP/min in the postseason with Josh Giddey sidelined is not going to cut it.

I mentioned Chet Holmgren above, but they need him to be better offensively. He averaged 16.4 PPG during the regular season and has only scored north of 14 ONCE in their last five playoff games. He’s been a menace defensively, so if he can pair those things together, he could break the slate. Jaylin Williams is a decent punt as he’s been north of 1 FP/min this postseason.

 

 

 

Dallas Mavericks NBA DFS Breakdown

Despite Luka Doncic being injured and not playing all too well, the Mavericks are up 2-1 on their home floor with a chance to take complete control of the series. Can they continue to get the same output from P.J. Washington in this game? He’s been the difference maker.

Despite Doncic not playing well, he’s still consistently giving us 50+ DKP and is at an unfamiliar price point. 11.2K is the cheapest he’s been since January 22nd. Kyrie Irving’s price tag also continues to drop as he has been good, not great, in this series. Both guys are firmly in play.

The wing options start with Derrick Jones Jr. who played 36 minutes in Game 3, he just missed all his shots (1-for-10) after going 3-for-12 in Game 2. He’s OK at 4.4K, especially if he has a game where shots do fall. Tim Hardaway Jr. will continue to draw attention in DFS because he shoots a lot when he’s out there. He took 10 shots in 19 minutes in Game 2 and 9 shots in Game 3 in 16 minutes. At 3.7K, he’s a very viable value. Better than Josh Green at similar minutes.

I mentioned it above: can P.J. Washington keep shooting the ball THIS well? He’s made 12 threes over the past two games and has scored 27 and 29 points in those outings. With how bad the PF position is, he’ll be one of the highest-rostered players on the slate.

Naturally, the Dereck Lively II game comes in Game 3, but a LOT was working in his favor here. He took 12 free throws, mostly because OKC deployed a Hack-a-Lively strategy, and he made them pay. He also played more minutes than Daniel Gafford partly due to Gafford’s shoulder injury that had him go back to the locker room. 

Gafford isn’t listed on the injury report today and I lean his way if he’s good to go. He’s been better on a per-minute basis. Lively has the price advantage going his way.

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