We have three pivotal Game 3s in the 2024 NBA Playoffs Thursday as the Magic, 76ers and Lakers attempt to climb their way back into their respective series while the Cavaliers, Knicks and Nuggets attempt to take control with a 3-0 lead. A short slate always means limited bargain options in DFS lineups but that doesn’t mean there isn’t value to be had.
In NBA DFS, you can find quality value plays $5K or under that can give you a quick 10 points off the bench, grab some rebounds, or stuff the stat sheet. We are going to provide you with three players that you need to put in your lineup.
Jonathan Isaac, Magic, $4,800
After back-to-back games with 30+ fantasy points, Isaac cooled off significantly in Game 2 against Cleveland with just 12 fantasy points. The combo forward has been up and down during most of his NBA career but he should be able to bounce back as the series shifts to Orlando. The Cavaliers are strong defensively, though they have been soft against opposing bigs as they rank 20th in fantasy points allowed to the position. Isaac is worth taking a flier on tonight.
Nicolas Batum, 76ers, $4,100
Batum hasn’t been able to replicate his ridiculous effort against the Heat in the play-in game, where he hit six three-pointers en route to 20 points and 30.3 fantasy points. However, he did log 33 minutes in Game 2 and should have a similar workload in Game 3 Thursday evening. The 76ers are going to need someone outside of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to step up, with the veteran Batum being a good candidate due to his versatility and playoff experience. I like him at this price point.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nuggets, $4,900
Despite having an impressive fastbreak dunk in Game 2, Caldwell-Pope was relatively quiet on the DFS front with just 12.8 fantasy points. The good news is his minutes have been consistent, and eventually the shooting will come around. KCP gets to go to a building he’s familiar with for Game 3 and that might spark the shooting guard from deep. The Lakers rank 27th in fantasy points allowed to opposing shooting guards and that’ll eventually turn the tide for KCP, even if it hasn’t happened through two games. He’s worth backing for tonight’s contests.