We have a two-game NBA DFS main slate on Wednesday, May 14th, as two series could come to a close tonight as the New York Knicks are up 3-1 on the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves are one win away from taking their second round series against the Golden State Warriors.

The stars are out as Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Jimmy Butler, and Jaylen Brown 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, 5/14

 

 

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.

New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics

  • Total: 208
  • Spread: BOS -4.5

Knicks NBA DFS Breakdown

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

The Knicks are in the drivers seat up 3-1 in the series and Boston is without their best player. The Knicks have a simple rotation to understand.

The starting five of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns all play a LOT. It's possible that four starters play 40 minutes. Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride will be extended with one of them possibly playing into the 20's while the other is in the high-teens of minutes. Nobody else matters.

 The Knicks are priced really nice from top to bottom. Brunson has been amazing this postseason. So has Mikal Bridges. Anunoby being the cheapest of all the Knicks wings and now doesn't have to guard Jayson Tatum, maybe making life easier for him on both ends of the floor.

Mitchell Robinson actually looks like quite a solid value option on this slate, especially if Boston rolls out their double-big lineup. Towns' price is on the rise and he's OK at it.

Celtics NBA DFS Breakdown

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

How does Boston respond after going down 3-1 in their series and losing Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles?

Here are some numbers without Tatum this year (regular season):

Brown, White, and Pritchard are tier one options from the Celtics and Porzingis could be that too if he's in the starting lineup. He played 26 minutes (series high) last time out. The rest of the guys listed above are interesting, but secondary plays.

Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

  • Total: 202.5
  • Spread: MIN -11

Warriors NBA DFS Breakdown

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

The Warriors have not found a way to win any of the previous three games without Stephen Curry and now have to do it in Game 5 in Minnesota to fight off elimination. How do they do it?

It starts with Jimmy Butler. Butler's 17% USG in Game 4 will absolutely not cut it in Game 5 and they'll need him to channel his inner batman here. Brandin Podziemski has not been great this postseason, especially this series, but he's cheap and the minutes are great without Curry.

Buddy Hield will continue to start while Gary Payton is going to play off the bench. Hield has a very high ceiling when his shots falling and Payton could be extended if Hield doesn't make anything. Moses Moody has basically been removed from their rotation. 

Draymond Green is so, so, so, so cheap. So cheap. Has he been great? No. Is he too cheap? Absolutely. Jonathan Kuminga coming off the bench has been the Warriors best offensive option in each of the games Curry has missed scoring 18+ points in all three, and 23+ in the last two. Kuminga will be very popular.

Is there a case to play Trayce Jackson-Davis? I'm not sure I'd play him before Mitchell Robinson, but TJD likely starts and was extended to 19 minutes last time out.

Timberwolves NBA DFS Breakdown

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

Eight man rotation. That does not change. The minutes do usually change game-to-game.

The Timberwolves continue to win when they extend Mike Conley and Conley's still under 4K. They're 4-0 this postseason when Conley plays 25 minutes. He's a safe value option on this slate. Donte DiVincenzo is a candidate to be extended if/when he makes shots. Not sure when that'll be, however.

Anthony Edwards continues to deliver 47+ DKP nightly, so if you want to spend up on him you can. If you want to save some money and spend up on the other Minnesota superstar, play Julius Randle because boy oh boy has he been great. He's put up 45+ DKP in three straight games. Nothing changes on the Jaden McDaniels front. When he stays on the floor, he plays 40 minutes and has a really nice floor.

Neither Rudy Gobert or Naz Reid have been great this series and both guys are last pieces in. I'd lean Naz Reid for the salary savings, but Gobert has definitely played more.

NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks

High

Mid

Value