There are two games tonight. The top seeds in each conference take the court once again. Both OKC and BOS won in convincing fashion on Tuesday and look to protect their home court and go up 2-0 in their respective series. Kristaps Porzingis and Maxi Kleber are out. Jarrett Allen ($6,800) is questionable. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
DraftKings Sportsbook has BOS -13.5 over CLE at home. The total is 212. In Game 1, BOS was -12 and the total was 211. OKC is -5 over DAL at home. The total is 218.5. In Game 1, OKC was -3.5 and the total was 218. BOS was 37-4 during the regular season and 2-1 in their first-round series. CLE was 22-19 on the road and lost all three away from home in the first round. OKC was 33-8 at home during the regular season and 2-0 in the first round. DAL was 25-16 on the road and 2-1 away from home in the first round. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
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Guard
Stud
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks ($9,500) – My fade on Doncic worked on Tuesday, but I got too cute going with Irving. I won’t be making the same mistake tonight. Gilgeous-Alexander is the alpha for OKC, garnering a usage rate well over 30 percent on a nightly basis. He went for 29 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, a steal and two blocks in Game 1, good for 59.75 DKFP. The floor is high and there’s a good chance he puts up the most points on the slate. Doncic has the highest ceiling, but the cost is prohibitive and I think the Thunder will keep him in relative check once again.
Other Options – Donovan Mitchell ($8,800), Jaylen Brown ($8,000), Jalen Williams ($7,600), Derrick White ($6,700)
Value
Isaiah Joe, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks ($3,200) – Yo, Joe! More like No, Joe, as I don’t really like this play. Joe likely won’t play more than 15 minutes but there is a chance he scores double-digit DKFP. He went for 15.75 DKFP in Game 1 and double digits in two of the games against the Pelicans. Joe doesn’t do much outside of hit the trey, but he has been known to NBA Jam the nets from time to time. This is strictly a play if you need salary.
Forward
Stud
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks ($7,600) – Williams played 36 minutes in Game 1, contributing 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and a block, good for 34.25 DKFP. The usage rate was 23.1 percent. That is the likely floor. In the four games against the Pelicans, the usage rate was in the 29 percent range. Ceiling games are likely out of the question playing alongside Shai, but 40 DKFP is well within the range of outcomes. The beauty of Williams’s game is that he contributes in every category.
Other Options – Jayson Tatum ($9,400), Jaylen Brown ($8,000), Evan Mobley ($7,700)
Value
Al Horford, Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ($5,700) – Porzingis is out for this series, so Horford will start. He only played 28 minutes in Game 1 due to the blowout, and there’s a definite risk that happens again. He was still able to manage 25.5 DKFP.
Other Options – PJ Washington ($5,600), Derrick Jones ($4,700), Aaron Wiggins ($4,000), Josh Green ($3,200), Isaiah Joe ($3,200)
Center
Stud
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks ($7,100) – Holmgren is such a unique player because he protects the rim due to his length, can make it rain from downtown and morph into a gazelle in transition. He has some guard-like skills as well. The frame is light but the Mavericks don’t possess huge bangers down low. Holmgren can contribute in every statistical category and, when it all comes together, it is truly a sight to behold. Back in November against the Warriors, Holmgren went for 36 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, two blocks and two treys, good for 64.5 DKFP. He will likely end up in the 30 DKFP range, and the price is palatable for that, but there is a ceiling if the stars align. In Game 1, Holmgren played 31 minutes and put up 39.75 DKFP. The price increased by $300, but he is still priced palatably.
Other Options – Evan Mobley ($7,700)
Value
Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder ($4,900) – With Maxi Kleber out, I thought the center minutes would be split right down the middle between Gafford and Lively. In Game 1, Gafford received 27 minutes while Lively only played 13 minutes. Things could change for Game 2, especially since OKC won easily in Game 1, but Gafford was so productive, producing 16 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks that it would be surprising if Kidd went away from him.
Other Options – Al Horford ($5,700), PJ Washington ($5,600), Luke Kornet ($3,800)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $350K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
