Two second-round series will get kicked off Tuesday with Games 1 featuring the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks. DFS managers will be able to pick from a handful of stars across the board in their lineups but value plays will be hard to identify on these rosters.
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.
Dereck Lively, Mavericks, $4,300
Daniel Gafford ($4,500) also comes in under the value line but Lively has been the more consistent player. He’s logged 23+ fantasy points in the last two games and offers more defensively than Gafford, which is going to lead to him getting more playing time in this series. The Thunder aren’t that imposing on the interior, which means Lively’s aggressiveness and tenacity will be rewarded in this series. He should deliver strong production for managers who roster him.
Caris LeVert, Cavaliers, $4,500
After being quiet for basically the entire series against the Magic, LeVert broke out at the perfect time in Game 7 to provide some support for Donovan Mitchell. He sparked Cleveland’s comeback victory and seems like someone who will get more playing time against Boston. LeVert tallied 30.3 fantasy points in 30 minutes in Game 7, his best output in both categories for the series. I think he’ll continue to have some success against the Celtics tonight.
Lu Dort, Thunder, $4,700
Dort is known for his defense but he remains a starter for one of the most efficient teams in the league. The small forward has improved substantially as a three-point shooter and he may be tasked with hitting some big shots if the Mavericks focus on stopping others. Dort has a big responsibility defensively but should do enough of everything in this contest to pay off for managers at this price.
Sam Hauser, Celtics, $3,700
Boston basically has three players routinely in the value category in Hauser, Payton Pritchard ($4,200) and Luke Kornet ($4,000). All three should see minutes, especially with Kristaps Porzingis out, but Hauser has the most consistent role in the rotation. He’s also got the most upside as a three-point shooter, highlighted by Game 5 against the Heat where he tallied 27.3 fantasy points. The Cavaliers struggled to contain Orlando’s role players in Games 3 and 4, so Hauser has a great opportunity to break out tonight. He’s worth adding at this bargain price.