This opening week of the playoffs has been outstanding and gets better every night. We saw all of these teams play on Tuesday, and it was the first time we saw some road teams win. It’ll be critical for the road teams to keep performing, or these series could be over before you know it. We have a feeling that all of these could go deep, with the LA-Dallas series looking like a guarantee for seven games. With that in mind, let’s dive into this card!
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
This opening week of the playoffs has been outstanding and gets better every night. We saw all of these teams play on Tuesday, and it was the first time we saw some road teams win. It’ll be critical for the road teams to keep performing, or these series could be over before you know it. We have a feeling that all of these could go deep, with the LA-Dallas series looking like a guarantee for seven games. With that in mind, let’s dive into this card!
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer:
Schedule and Odds
- MIL at IND (IND -4) O/U: 224
- LAC at DAL (DAL -3.5) O/U: 210
- MIN at PHX (PHX -3.5) O/U: 209
Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.
Injury Report
Core Plays
Pascal Siakam (PF – IND): $8,300 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
We loved the Siakam trade in the middle of the season, and it’s proven to be a godsend in the playoffs. The former All-Star has taken over this offense in this series, scoring 63 DraftKings points in each of the first two games. Those are two of his three-highest-scoring games of the season, and it’s clear he wants to run the show for Indy. Facing Milwaukee is a great matchup, too, ranked 21st in total defense during the regular season.
Khris Middleton (SF/PF – MIL): $7,400 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
Middleton has been an All-Star player in the past, and he has to play that sort of role without Giannis. In games without the MVP, Middleton sees his usage rate rise above 30 percent, averaging over 35 DraftKings points per game in this expanded role. That’s no surprise with all the playmaking he has to do, making him enticing against an Indiana team that ranks 28th in total defense and first in pace.
Cash Game Considerations
Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,700 DraftKings, $12,100 FanDuel
Luka hasn’t played his best in this series, but scoring 58 and 62 DK points is nothing to scoff at. Saying that’s not his best tells you everything you need to know because Luka averaged over 70 DK points per game in the second half of the season. Nobody on this slate can match that average or floor, making him the safest cash game option on every slate.
Damian Lillard (PG – MIL): $9,300 DraftKings, $9,700 FanDuel
With Giannis sidelined, Dame has to take over this offense. That’s what he’s done in this series, scoring 49 and 51 DK points in the first two games. That’s the stud we remember from his Portland days, but it should continue since Dame is locked into 40 minutes and 25 shots a night. The matchup with Indiana is incredible, too, playing at the fastest pace in the NBA.
GPP Targets
Aaron Nesmith (SG – IND): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Nesmith is one of the best defensive players in the league, and that alone makes him a great GPP option. That guarantees this defensive stopper 35 minutes a night, playing 37 and 36 minutes in the first two games of this series. If you look at the 14 games that Nesmith has played at least 34 minutes this season, he’s averaging 32 DK points per game. If you get that from a player this cheap, you have a piece of the optimal lineup!
Dereck Lively (C – DAL): $4,300 DraftKings, $4,600 FanDuel
With Gafford being nicked up in the first two games of this series, it’s possible he sits here. Even if he’s limited, that should force Lively to play 20 minutes, and that’s all he needs to be successful. The rookie played at least 20 minutes in 39 games this year, generating a 29-point average in that role. That’s an absurd average from such an affordable player, and Lively would be a lock in everyone’s lineup if Gafford has to sit, but we like him either way.
Value Plays
Bobby Portis (PF/C – MIL): $6,900 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
Portis can be a frustrating player when he’s coming off the bench, but he’s one of the best fantasy options in a starting role. That’s what he’s doing with Giannis out, scoring at least 30 DraftKings points in nine of his last 10 games. BP is also flirting with a 40-point average when Antetokounmpo has been out this season, and he shouldn’t have any issues in one of the best matchups in fantasy!
Jaden McDaniels (SF – MIN): $4,600 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
This defensive stud was the most valuable player in Game 2, leading Minnesota with 25 points. We don’t expect him to lead the team in scoring ever again, but he should play 35 minutes to cover all of these Suns studs. We saw him drop 42 DK points across 41 minutes in Game 2, and that sort of ability is hard to overlook since McDaniels is so cheap. Don’t expect another 40-point gem, but all you need is 25-30 DK points for McDaniels to be of immense value.
Advantageous Pricing
- Pascal Siakam (PF – IND): $8,300 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
- Myles Turner (C – IND): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
- Kyrie Irving (PG/SG – DAL): $8.400 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel
- Kevin Durant (SF/PF – PHX): $8,200 DraftKings, $9,100 FanDuel
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker (PG/SG – MIN): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
