There are two games tonight. We have the No. 2 seeds from each conference both traversing to hostile territory for the first time in the series. The difference is that the Knicks are up 2-0 while the defending champion Nuggets got swept at home. In 452 series in which a team fell behind 2-0, 33 have come back to win (7.3 percent). There has yet to be a team to come back from a 3-0 deficit. OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson are out. NYK was 13-18 without Anunoby in the lineup, which included a 1-2 record against IND. The defense was middle of the pack without Anunoby while being tops in the league with him. Jamal Murray ($7,800), Tyrese Haliburton ($8,300) and Jalen Brunson ($9,800) are questionable. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
DraftKings Sportsbook has IND -7 over NYK at home. The total is 222.5. MIN is -4 over DEN at home. The total is 204.5.During the regular season, IND was 26-15 at home while NYK was 23-18 on the road. MIN was 30-11 at home while DEN was 24-17 on the road. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
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Guard
Stud
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers ($9,800) – The opportunities for fantasy goodies should be robust tonight. DraftKings Sportsbook has the total for this game at a healthy 222.5. OG Anunoby is out. With him off the court this season, the Knicks defense goes from best in the league to middle of the pack. The Pacers play at a slightly faster pace and averaged four more points at home than on the road during the regular season. They will also be flying around like a pack of banshees with the home crowd spurring them on and facing the prospects of going down 3-0 in the series.
Therefore, the Knicks will have to respond with the same type of aggression and points will need to be scored tonight. Brunson has been Atlas for the Knicks all season and I don’t see him passing the load to anyone else. There is a slight concern about the foot issue, but he did finish out Game 2 in fine fashion. In the prior five games, he played at least 43 minutes in all while going over 60 DKFP in four. The high was 71 DKFP and the game he failed to hit the work was 58.8 DKFP.
Other Options – Anthony Edwards ($9,300), Tyrese Haliburton ($8,300), Donte DiVincenzo ($6,300)
Value
T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks ($4,800) – McConnell obviously doesn’t start and he played 23 and 22 minutes in the first two games of this series. That said, he’s highly productive when he’s on the floor, garnering a high usage rate and he went for 29.3 and 33.5 DKFP in the first two games of this series. In the closeout game against Milwaukee, he put up 44.5 DKFP in only 23 minutes. As mentioned in the Brunson section, I expect this game to be fast paced with a ton of possessions. McConnell should do what McConnell does.
Other Options – Other Options –Mike Conley ($5,600), Andrew Nembhard ($5,100), Aaron Nesmith ($5,000), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($4,000), Ben Sheppard ($3,200)
Forward
Stud
Josh Hart, New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers ($7,700) – Hart has played every minute so far this series. L. O. L. In the 76ers series, he received 47, 53, 46, 44, 48 and 42 minutes. L. O. L. Despite having a usage rate in the high-teens, Hart has put up 51.8 and 59.8 DKFP in this series. He hits the open J, but it’s his ability to grab a rebound and be a one-man fast break that has made him so dangerous. He is a beast on the glass, pulling down 15 and 13 rebounds in the first two games. He has also dished out dimes and contributed defensive stats. He’s stuffing the stat sheet while playing every minute. With Anunoby out, I don’t see that situation changing.
Other Options – Anthony Edwards ($9.300), Karl-Anthony Towns ($7,000), Donte DiVincenzo ($6,300), Aaron Gordon ($6,100)
Value
Obi Toppin, Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks ($4,600) – The Force has been strong for Obi in the first two games of the series, as he’s converted 7-of-10 and 5-of-7 from the field. Despite playing only 20 and 19 minutes, he put up 28.3 and 27 DKFP. I expect this to be an up-and-down affair, which is the type of game Toppin thrives in, as it allows him to get out in transition and flush hoops. He also spaces out the floor and makes it rain from downtown, and he should get plenty of good looks tonight.
Other Options – Aaron Nesmith ($5,000), Naz Reid ($4,700), Precious Achiuwa ($4,100), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($4,000)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves ($11,200) – Jokic has been relatively bottled up this series, going for 49.5 and 59 DKFP. He was held to 5-of-13 shooting in Game 2. I expect the Nuggets to make adjustments and bounce back tonight, and Jokic will be at the epicenter of it all. Gobert is back for this one, which is obviously great for Minnesota for the long term, but there could be a short-term adjustment. This combined with the Nuggets making some adjustments, I wouldn’t expect the same defensive performance from Game 2.
Other Options – Karl-Anthony Towns ($7,000), Rudy Gobert ($6,900), Myles Turner ($6,800)
Value
Isaiah Hartenstein, New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers ($5,700) – With no Mitchell Robinson, Hartenstein will play as many minutes as he can. In games one and two, he received 39 and 36 minutes, producing 44 and 26.5 DKFP. This should be a high-scoring affair with tons of possessions, which means more chances for rebounds and little floaters in the paint.
Other Options – Naz Reid ($4,700), Obi Toppin ($4,600), Precious Achiuwa ($4,100)
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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.
