We have a two-game NBA DFS main slate on Tuesday, May 13th, as the Cleveland Cavaliers are fighting off elimination on their home floor against the Indiana Pacers and the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City are deadlocked in a 2-2 series.

The stars are out as Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, and Evan Mobley 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, 5/13

 

 

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.

Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Total: 230
  • Spread: CLE -7.5

Pacers NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 9th
  • Pace (Playoffs): 3rd

The Pacers are up 3-1 in the series and could close things out in Game 5 on the Cavaliers home floor. Tyrese Haliburton hasn't been great from a fantasy perspective this series, but this postseason, Haliburton sits at a 21.6% USG and averages 1.2 FP/min. T.J. McConnell has been awesome in each of the last two games of the series almost notching double-doubles. He's a great value.

Andrew Nembhard has been better between he and Aaron Nesmith, but Nesmith is cheaper and has better positional eligibility. Bennedict Mathurin has been very good this series posting 20+ minutes and 21+ DKP in all three games he wasn't ejected in.

Game 4 was easily the best game Pascal Siakam played all series and he was only needed for 21 minutes. He's an insane price tag, one that is nearly impossible to pass up on. Obi Toppin has been a FP/min player this postseason and is a solid price for his role.

Myles Turner's been GREAT this series scoring well over 1 FP/min and three times has put up at least 34 DKP in four games.

Cavaliers NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 6th
  • Pace (Playoffs): 6th

It's win or go home for the one seeded Cavs in this one and it's possible they'll be without Donovan Mitchell. I suspect Mitchell plays, but it's an unknown at this point if he does.

Without Mitchell this year;

With Mitchell on the floor;

Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

  • Total: 221
  • Spread: OKC -10.5

Nuggets NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 10th
  • Pace (Playoffs): 8th

There is no surprise at the Nuggets rotation at this point. In all three competitive games, Jamal Murray's played 40+ minutes. Nikola Jokic has played 40+ minutes. Christian Braun has played 40+ minutes. Aaron Gordon has played 38+ minutes. Then the two final pieces of their closing lineup is between Michael Porter and Russell Westbrook. It was Westbrook in Games 1 and 2 and Porter in 3 and 4.

Jokic hasn't been great, but he's the best player in the world, so he could blow-up at any point. Jamal Murray has had a very tough series outside of Game 3. Aaron Gordon is the safest of the bunch and Christian Braun is right behind him. I like Westbrook a little more than Porter because Porter is very hampered by the shoulder issue.

Thunder NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 1st
  • Pace (Playoffs): 2nd

This has been a wildly inconsistent series for most of Oklahoma City Thunder players. Including the likely MVP of the league, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. I like SGA here, but he hasn't shot the ball well in each of the last two games. Alex Caruso has staked his claim as one of the Thunder's five most important players and will likely continue to close games. He has played 23+ minutes in three of four. Cason Wallace also has played 20+ minutes in three of four games.

Luguentz Dort has not played well and needs to make shots to stay on the floor. If he doesn't, Dort will likely be replaced on the floor for the likes of Alex Caruso and/or Cason Wallace. 

Both Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have been incredibly inconsistent this series and I prefer Williams between the two because of his secondary playmaking responsibilities. Holmgren's having issues scoring and creating offense for himself.

I wasn't sure about Isaiah Hartenstein in this series, but he's been great in the last two games and has played a boatload of minutes. They need the bigger body to bother Nikola Jokic on the other side of the floor. 

NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks

High

Mid

Value