There are two games on hand for tonight’s NBA DFS main slate for the NBA Playoffs on DraftKings and FanDuel. Both the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors were able to stave off elimination, but now the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers can close out their battles on their home floor. Knicks backup guard Immanuel Quickley doesn’t seem ready to return to action just yet and starting guard Jalen Brunson played the entire game in game five. The Warriors could be without forward Andrew Wiggins as he’s dealing with a rib injury and is questionable for tonight’s contest. If Wiggins can’t suit up, Donte DiVincenzo will see more minutes and the Warriors will need more production from Jordan Poole. Make sure to check out our NBA DFS Tools before setting your lineups! Here are tonight’s prioritized DFS NBA plays for the NBA Playoffs. 

 

New York Knicks @ Miami Heat-Game 6-(MIA Leads 3-2)

O/U: 208.5

Spread: MIA -5.5

New York Knicks Injuries:

-Immanuel Quickley-Doubtful

-Jericho Sims-Out

New York Knicks DFS NBA Breakdown:

For the first time since the first half of game one of this series, the Knicks were able to have the upper hand against Miami. The Heat maintained control of this series for most of it because of the Knicks poor shooting. New York shot over 49 percent from the field and 38 percent from downtown. The Heat have eliminated the Knicks play in the paint for the most part and if the Knicks are going to extend this series to a seventh game, they’ll have to hit shots from beyond the arc. Quentin Grimes didn’t leave the floor last game and that makes him an intriguing value play tonight. He can help produce from the outside and he was excellent on defense and provided a multi-steal and multi-block effort last game. Mitchell Robinson also made more of an impact by pulling down 11 rebounds. 

The Knicks main scorers should continue to be relied on. Brunson is an obvious must-start player for DFS and we saw Julius Randle notch his third 20-point game in his last 4. Randle has shot over 53 percent in both of his last 2 contests, and he hit 4 three-pointers. The Knicks in general had a lot easier of a time playing in the paint last time out as the Heat weren’t as strong defensively and if the Knicks continue to find openings, the Heat are in trouble. The strength of the Knicks offense comes from their play inside and RJ Barrett has been their most successful attacker in the paint. Even when the Knicks were struggling in the games they played on the road, Barrett was able to find success. He scored no fewer than 24 points and shot no lower than 47 percent in all but 1 game in this series. He should be looking at another 15-18 shots tonight. Josh Hart has become hard to trust for DFS after logging just nine minutes last game and he barely produced in the game before. For the Knicks to stay alive in this series, they must box out and out-rebound the Heat and they must hit long-range shots.

Tier 1 Play(s): Jalen Brunson

Tier 2 Play(s): Julius Randle, RJ Barrett

 

Miami Heat Injuries:

-Tyler Herro-Out

-Victor Oladipo-Out

Miami Heat DFS NBA Breakdown:

The Heat weren’t moving as well last game and they have another two chances to close out this series and they were able to stifle the Knicks in games three and four in Miami. The Heat got help off the bench from Duncan Robinson who dropped 17 points and hit 5 three-pointers. Jimmy Butler didn’t take as many shots and that is certainly going to change tonight as he’s been Miami’s most successful offensive weapon. Bam Adebayo upped his scoring as the series has continued scoring 17-plus points in 3 straight games and has produced 2 double-doubles in his last 3 battles. He’s been more patient in the post and his one-handed post moves are starting to make more of an impact. It isn’t hard faking out Mitchell Robinson to draw contact in the post and Adebayo should play around 40 minutes tonight. Adebayo has also grabbed swipes in his last two and blocked shots in three of his last four battles. 

The Heat have been getting help from Max Strus on offense and he’s been more productive lately than Gabe Vincent. He’s scored 14 points or more in each of his last 4 games hitting at least 45 percent of his shots in all 4 games during that span and knocking down 40 percent of his threes in 3 of those contests. Meanwhile, Vincent has been shooting awful from the field and he hasn’t scored in double figures since game two of this series. He’s been more consistently dropping dimes and stealing the ball than scoring and his minutes have certainly dropped. Caleb Martin is an intriguing value play after hitting the 21-point mark on DraftKings for the second straight time last game. He’s scored 10 points or more in 3 of his last 4 outings. The Heat will have to make sure they heavily prioritize the paint on defense and force the Knicks, the worst three-point shooting team in the postseason, to hit long-range shots. If they can get the Knicks out of rhythm on offense as they have for most of the series, they’ll advance to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals tonight. 

Tier 1 Play(s): Jimmy Butler

Tier 2 Play(s): Bam Adebayo

 

Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Lakers-Game 6-(LAL Leads 3-2)

O/U:  221

Spread: LAL -2.5

Golden State Warriors Injuries: 

-Andrew Wiggins-Questionable

-Andre Iguodala-Out

Golden State Warriors DFS NBA Breakdown:

The Warriors haven’t played well on the road during the regular-season and they lost both road games to the Lakers in this series and they could be without one of their best defensive players tonight as Andrew Wiggins has injured ribs. Wiggins is coming off a 25-point effort last game and he’ll be very missed if he sits tonight. Stephen Curry has been struggling hitting shots from downtown over his last couple of games, but he’ll still look to take 25-30 shots tonight. He had more success getting to the rim and hit 50 percent of his field goals for the 2nd time in his last 4 contests. The Warriors are coming off their best shooting game as a team this series and they got a major contribution from Draymond Green on offense. Green scored 20 points and he pulled down double-digit rebounds for the 3rd time in his last 4 contests. I’ve questioned the Warriors messing with their lineup because Kevon Looney was very impactful on the glass, but Green did a great job on both sides of the floor, especially toggling between center and power forward and the Warriors will look to implore the same strategy leaving Looney with a lower ceiling when it comes to his playing time.

Golden State hasn’t been getting much from Klay Thompson. He’s hit under 36 percent of his field goals in 3 straight games. He and Jordan Poole need to produce more if the Warriors are going to keep their hopes of winning back-to-back championships alive and the Lakers defense is much better than Sacramento’s. Poole has barely made an impact this series and with Wiggins possibly out of the mix, someone else from Golden State will have to step up to help Curry. As stated above, DiVincenzo could be looking at more shots and time with the ball if Wiggins sits. Gary Payton II continues to be an intriguing value play and he’s scored 13-plus points in both of his last 2 contests and should continue starting. His defense is much better than Jordan Poole’s defense and Payton has also grabbed no fewer than three rebounds in every game this series.

Tier 1 Play(s): Stephen Curry, Draymond Green

Tier 2 Play(s): Gary Payton II, Donte DiVincenzo (If Wiggins sits)

 

Los Angeles Lakers Injuries:

-Mo Bamba-Questionable

Los Angeles Lakers DFS NBA Breakdown:

The Lakers don’t want to give the Warriors anymore momentum by having this series extend to a seventh game which will be played in San Francisco, and they will just need to defend better than they did last game. Their offense was on point as they hit 48 percent of their shots and LeBron James scored 25 points and Anthony Davis scored 23 points. After having a quiet start to the series, Austin Reaves has been more productive and with him playing 30-plus minutes, he can be trusted heading into this game. Reaves scored 15 points or more in both of his last 2 games and he’s been more successful setting up other teammates. The key for Reaves will be his three-point shooting as he’s hit 50 percent from downtown over his last 2 outings. Reaves has also compiled four steals over his last three games, and we should see him take at least 10 shots. 

Los Angeles will need their other guards like D’Angelo Russell and Dennis Schroder to come through as well as both scored in double figures last game. Russell has hit 60 percent of his shots in 2 of his last 3 contests, but he hasn’t been as productive moving the ball around and hasn’t been registering assists. The Lakers will have to rely on quickness to win. If they slow down their offense and try to muscle their way in the post on designed post plays, the Warriors will have enough time to adjust, and Green will help shut down the paint. The Lakers will need to focus on attacking from the start of the possession once they cross the mid-court line and either drive with force to draw contact or pass off to an open bailout shooter from the arc if the Warriors defense collapses. The Lakers are better than the Warriors defensively and if they play as good defensively as they have most of this series, they will advance to the next round with the Denver Nuggets waiting. 

Tier 1 Play(s): LeBron James, Anthony Davis

Tier 2 Play(s):  Austin Reaves