The 2024 NBA play-in tournament will will conclude on Friday and we’ll get the No. 8 seed game in the Eastern Conference as the Chicago Bulls will visit the Miami Heat. The winner will advance to the playoff bracket to face the No. 1 Boston Celtics in the first round. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will air on ESPN.
Here’s a look at one potential lineup strategy DFS managers can use in Showdown contests involving tonight’s game.
Captain’s Picks
Bam Adebayo ($14,700) – With Jimmy Butler sidelined with a sprained MCL, the burden falls on Adebayo to carry the Heat for this critical do-or-die showdown. The All-Star center played just 31 minutes in Wednesday’s loss to the 76ers but was still productive, producing a double-double effort with 10 points and 12 rebounds. He’s averaged 42 fantasy points a night for DFS users throughout the year and he may blow past that this evening as his usage should dramatically increase in a critical showdown like this one.
DeMar DeRozan ($14,100) – DeRozan took a backseat to Coby White in a victory over Atlanta on Wednesday, but he still made a major contribution with 22 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. That yielded 47 fantasy points in DFS, which is a normal occurrence as he’s regularly blown past 40 throughout the regular season. I’d imagine he’ll take back the controls in the scoring department for this contest, especially with the Heat missing such a critical defensive piece like Butler. He’s definitely worthy of a captain’s slot.
FLEX Plays
Alex Caruso ($6,600) – Caruso came into the day listed as questionable on the injury report with an ankle injury, but he has already indicated that he’ll suit up and be good to go for this matchup. The veteran guard averaged a nice 25.6 fantasy points per game and his ability to cross that threshold was tied to him generating at least five assists on offense. Butler’s absence opens up that possibility, so I’ll definitely consider him as a Flex option for tonight.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. ($6,000) – With Butler gone, everyone else in Miami’s lineup has to step up and that includes Jaquez. The rookie had a solid showing in his first career postseason game against the 76ers on Wednesday, producing 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists in just 22 minutes of action. An increased workload means more opportunities for looks from the field, particularly from downtown. He should log at least 30 minutes tonight, so expect a spike in his DFS production.
Fades
Coby White ($8,000) – This isn’t so much of a fade as much its a warning to taper your expectations for White tonight. The guard put up a career-high 42 points with nine rebounds and six assists against Atlanta on Wednesday, yielding a season-high 67.75 fantasy points for DFS users tonight. While fantastic, this was an outlier performance and as mentioned before, DeRozan should take back the reigns as the Bulls’ leading scorer for tonight.
Javonte Green ($6,200) – Green has been a very solid contributor for Chicago since signing on earlier in the month, averaging 26.6 fantasy points through 10 games with the team. He logged 21 minutes in Wednesday’s game against Atlanta but I’d imagine his role will diminish in such a high-stakes contest. Fade him.
The Outcome
The vibes around this Miami team are solemn in the aftermath of Butler’s injury/Wednesday’s loss and I don’t think it can #HeatCulture its way out of this one. On top of that, the Heat have shot under 45% in their last three games without Jimmy Buckets. Meanwhile, Chicago has plenty of confidence and momentum coming of its victory and there’s the extra motivating factor of revenge after it was eliminated by Miami one year ago. Give me the Bulls to win and pack their bags for Boston.
Final score: Bulls 112, Heat 102