The second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs will conclude Sunday with two Game 7s on tap. The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks will battle in the afternoon contest while the Minnesota Timberwolves take on the Denver Nuggets in the late game. Stars will be the focus in these pressure games but role players can immortalize themselves with standout showings as well. When building a DFS lineup, adding quality role players who could shine in Game 7 will often make or break your chance of winning the contest.
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 four players that you need to put in your lineup.
T.J. McConnell, Pacers, $4,900
It’s amazing to see McConnell stay under the $5k mark, especially given his increased role in this series. If you believe in patterns, this might not be the best spot for the backup Pacers guard after he tallied 25 fantasy points in Game 7. Usage won’t be an issue for McConnell but he has alternated between strong showings and duds. There are some other Indiana role players to consider but I think McConnell is the safest bet when it comes to potential opportunities.
Miles McBrice, Knicks, $4,800
This is another obvious play as a value add in DFS lineups, even if there’s inevitably going to be a down showing. McBride has embraced his responsibilities in New York’s thin rotation, although he is potentially going to be out of the starting lineup depending on the status of OG Anunoby. I still see the point guard being heavily involved in Game 7, and he’s averaged 27.4 fantasy points per game over the last three. Back him to keep his stellar production going in Game 7.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nuggets, $4,100
Caldwell-Pope had a rough start to this series, as did most of the players on Denver. The shooting guard has bounced back over the last four games, averaging 22.3 fantasy points per game. He’s gone over 30 fantasy points once in that stretch, which happened in Game 5 at home. The Nuggets should get a solid performance out of him Sunday, and minutes won’t be an issue. He’s a great addition to your lineup at this price point.
Naz Reid, Timberwolves, $4,200
It’s hard to decipher much from Reid’s 28.8-fantasy point showing in Game 6, largely because of the blowout nature of the contest. You can pick between several Minnesota role players under the $5k line but Reid had two standout showings in Denver to begin this series. He averaged 29.2 fantasy points per game over those first two contests and could see more playing time if Karl-Anthony Towns gets in foul trouble. That makes Reid the preferred role player to back on Minnesota.