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 Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, and the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder 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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Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics

Total: 212.5

Spread: BOS -13.5


NBA Injury Report

Cavaliers NBA DFS Injuries

Celtics NBA DFS Injuries

 

Cavaliers NBA DFS Breakdown

It’s going to be tough for Cleveland in this series if Jarrett Allen can’t play. It doesn’t seem like Allen is getting any closer, but we’ll see if he can suit up after officially being listed as questionable.

Starters: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Isaac Okoro

Bench: Caris LeVert, Marcus Morris Sr., Sam Merrill, Tristan Thompson

Donovan Mitchell did it all in Game 1 and it still was a blowout. He’s going to have to continue to be that good and his teammates will need to elevate their play to have a chance. Mitchell has a 38% USG rate without Allen. Second without Allen is Darius Harland at 22.2% and Cleveland will need him to do better in Game 2.

Cleveland got nothing from Max Strus in Game 1 and that has to change in Game 2. They won’t be able to keep up with Boston if Strus isn’t spacing the floor like we know he can. Caris LeVert was fine off the bench, but his minutes were just OK if he didn’t close in the blowout.

Isaac Okoro has such a low floor. He didn’t score a SINGLE fantasy point in the second half of Game 1. Evan Mobley was really solid and it’s because he was aggressive offensively, something he hadn’t been in the two games prior. He’s put up 40+ DKP in back-to-back games and 37+ in four of five.

Top Play(s): Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley

Secondary Play(s): Max Strus, Darius Garland, Caris LeVert

Punt(s): None


Celtics NBA DFS Breakdown

The Celtics gave up 34 first-quarter points to the Cavaliers in Game 1 and decided that was enough. The Celtics even got to rest their starters for some time in the fourth due to the blowout. They’re VERY good.

Starters: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford

Bench: Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet

Jrue Holiday continues to be a solid cash game play putting up 27-30 DKP in three games without Kristaps Porzingis. Derrick White, however, has been elite. White has a 25% USG and is averaging 1.19 FP/min without Kristaps Porzingis this postseason. Payton Pritchard is a punt play if you believe the game could get out of hand or think he keeps up the work he did in Game 1.

Jaylen Brown was that dude in Game 1 scoring 32 points and 46 DKP and he has a 36.4% USG rate this postseason without Porzingis. Jayson Tatum has not played well, at least offensively, and is still consistently putting up 40+ DKP games. He’s going to get in a groove offensively one of these games and there’s going to be nothing Cleveland can do.

Al Horford was only needed for 27 minutes in Game 1 and Luke Kornet played 21 off the bench. Horford will be the dominant member of the split when the games are competitive and is a solid option considering how bad PF is and how he has multi-position eligibility. Kornet is definitely in play in GPPs as he continues to operate as the backup center.

Top Play(s): Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum

Secondary Play(s): Al Horford, Jrue Holiday

Punt(s): Payton Pritchard, Luke Kornet


Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Total: 218.5

Spread: OKC -4.5


NBA Injury Report

Mavericks NBA DFS Injuries

Thunder NBA DFS Injuries


Mavericks NBA DFS Breakdown

It looked really bad for the Mavericks in Game 1 and Luka Doncic did not look like himself. Maybe it’s because he was trapped in the Dorture Chamber, but the more likely scenario is a little bit of that and a lot of how bad his knee really is.

Let's take a look at the rotation from Game 1…before garbage time; 

Starters: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford

Bench: Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dereck Lively II

Everything Dallas related starts with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. They’re the only two players over 1 FP/min this postseason and usage rates over 20%. Both guys are solid DFS options, it’s just harder getting to Doncic with the knee injury, price, and Lu Dort matchup here.

The guard/wing rotation outside of them is interesting. Josh Green was very good off the Mavericks bench, but played the final five minutes of garbage time, so his minutes were pacing to be high teems, low-20s, not mid-20s. P.J. Washington was also in massive foul trouble, so it’s really not a comfortable roster outside of the fact he’s 3.2K. Tim Hardaway Jr. played 17 minutes and was playing with the starters in the fourth before they all got taken out, so if they need an offensive spark, THJ could be the guy Dallas turns too.

Derrick Jones Jr. and P.J. Washington are going to play big minutes as long as they stay out of foul trouble and both have a decent ceiling if they make shots, but low floors if they don’t.

The center room was very, very frustrating and I couldn’t have been more wrong. Daniel Gafford was great and made the Thunder miss a LOT at the rim. He blocked five shots and was honestly the Mavs most consistent player in Game 1. If that’s the version of Gafford we get and he stays out of foul trouble, he’s too cheap at 4.9K. I’m still OK getting to Lively. He was in first-half foul trouble himself, but he’s a very good FP/min player.

Top Play(s): Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford

Secondary Play(s): P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II

Punt(s): Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr. (GPPs)


Thunder NBA DFS Breakdown

The Thunder rotation played out exactly how we anticipated it would and boy, did this team look GREAT.

Starters: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren

Bench: Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Jaylin Williams

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is simply too cheap at his price point on DraftKings. This postseason, SGA is averaging 1.3 FP/min and has a 32% USG. He was pacing for 40 minutes again if they didn’t sub out the starters at the end of the game.

It was very predictable to see Josh Giddey taken off the floor if he couldn’t make a shot with a center on him and hey, guess what, that’ll be the case nightly. In a game they won by 22, Giddey was -7. In his stead, Cason Wallace played 22 minutes off the bench. Isaiah Joe played 14, but he’s the third-best bench option for OKC.

Luguentz Dort was in foul trouble for most of this game, which is live to happen this series having to guard Luka Doncic. If he keeps getting himself in foul trouble, Aaron Wiggins is the guy primed to blow up like he did in Game 1. He’s going to be MUCH more popular here, but it’s warranted. His 1.04 FP/min this postseason only trails Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.

Speaking of Williams and Holmgren, both are elite plays at their price points. Jaylin Williams was the option in front of Kenrich Williams as the backup center and his minutes were VERY good.

Top Play(s): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren

Secondary Play(s): Luguentz Dort

Punt(s): Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Jaylin Williams


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