Happy Friday May 9th, we have two Game 3's as the Indiana Pacers are on their home floor up 2-0 on the Cleveland Cavaliers while the Oklahoma City Thunder travel to the Denver Nuggets tied 1-1 in their series.

The stars are out as Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell, and Tyrese Haliburton are taking the floor in their most meaningful games of the year.

 

 

Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.

  • News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
  • Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
  • Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
  • NBA DFS Projections
  • Lineup Generator
  • NBA Ownership
 

 

Pre/Post-Lock Update

This section will be used for anything that changes from the morning until right up to roster lock. 

Injury updates, players we’re higher on than we were in the morning and so much more.

All status updates after contest roster lock will be made in the Fantasy Alarm Discord: https://discord.gg/2yATJxXe8G

 

NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 5/9

 

 

NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews

In the section below, I’m listing the most notable things we need to look at in Las Vegas, including notable O/U and spreads. Not every game is listed, but every game listed has the pace and defensive numbers listed.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers

  • Total: 228.5
  • Spread: CLE -3.5

Cavaliers NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 4th
  • Pace (Playoffs): 7th

Who knows what's going to happen with Cleveland here. They were without Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De'Andre Hunter last game but there's nothing confirmed on with who's going to play and who isn't. Now, for what it's worth, all three players have been seen going through shootaround which bodes well for the team.

If Garland plays, there could potentially be some sort of limitations attached, but if there aren't, he's definitely a decent option. If Garland plays, that obviously hurts Ty Jerome's upside, but he's looked more comfortable coming off the bench. 5.5K with a healthy team is not comfy. Donovan Mitchell was a superhero in Game 2 and it wasn't enough, but if Garland or Mobley are at all limited, they're going to rely on him once again.

The wings are an interesting conversation if Hunter does end up playing. Max Strus played 40 minutes in Game 2, but it's not likely he'd play that much again if Hunter's available but if he continues to make shots, he's going to continue to play because of the spacing he provides. They could just elect to take one of their bigs off instead.

Will Evan Mobley be limited if he plays? To be determined. But if he isn't, it's a good matchup for him. If he can't suit up, lock Jarrett Allen into your lineups and move on. I think he's OK if Mobley plays, but is just a secondary play.

Pacers NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 3rd
  • Pace (Playoffs): 3rd

The Pacers have been incredible in this series and their resilience has been wonderful. Tyrese Haliburton has been quite good this series, but Andrew Nembhard has been a better per dollar play between the two. Nembhard has played 30+ DKP in four straight and in six of seven and is still under 6K on DK. 

As long as Aaron Nesmith stays out of foul trouble, he'll play 30+ minutes here and if he doesn't, it's likely that Benedict Mathurin is the guy that's extended. He had a 26% USG in Game 2 and was an essential scorer off the bench and the most minutes. More than T.J. McConnell who doesn't feel like much of a factor in this series, more than Obi Toppin. It's been a subpar stretch of games for Pascal Siakam and his price has dropped drastically because of it. GPPs for sure.

As Siakam has taken a step back, Myles Turner has elevated his game. He's scored 20+ points in three of four games and has 33+ DKP in four straight and 38+ in three.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets

  • Total: 232.5
  • Spread: OKC -5.5

Thunder NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 1st
  • Pace (Playoffs): 1st

If Oklahoma City treats Game 3 like the did in Game 2 there might not be anything that Denver can do, but the series shifts to Denver so that's something. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was incredible in Game 2 and is still sub-10K. With the game in hand early, the team was able to let Alex Caruso just chill. He didn't have to play at all but if you think this game is close, look for Caruso to get extended. I'd play the lower owned play between he and Luguentz Dort.

Jalen Williams was obviously going to shoot better than 5-for-20 and he did, putting up a solid fantasy number of 36 in just 26 minutes. He's put up 36+ DKP in every game this postseason. Will we see early early Andrew Wiggins again? he was GREAT for OKC in the second quarter but he hasn't played a lot this postseason.

Between Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, one of them will probably have a big outing. Holmgren is the guy between the two that is likely extended.

Nuggets NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 11st
  • Pace (Playoffs): 8th

We know how this goes for the Nuggets. They aren't play a deep rotation. There are six usable players in DFS and Michael Porter is a borderline option because of his shoulder.

Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon are tier-1 plays. Both Christian Braun and Russell Westbrook are both borderline tier-1 options too and I lean Westbrook between the two. Jamal Murray and Porter Jr. are tier-2 options.

NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks

High

Mid

Value