Daily Fantasy Basketball doesn’t take days off. The NBA doesn’t waste a day. There’s always NBA Playoffs action and there’s always a DFS slate at DraftKings. The Indiana Pacers host the Boston Celtics for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday night. Let’s highlight some players to consider for your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $500K Shootaround [$100K to 1st] (BOS vs IND)
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Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers
Captain’s Picks
Jayson Tatum ($17,700 CP) — This isn’t rocket science. DFS NBA hasn’t changed. The game is the same in the playoffs. Showdown and classic slates are the same. The rules are simple. The goal is to score the most fantasy points. That requires superstar players in good spots. What is a good spot? A matchup with a poor defense or a team that plays up-tempo basketball is a good spot. The Pacers present both. The Celtics make too much sense. Tatum scored over 60 DKFP in four straight games until the Game 2 blowout win.
Jaylen Brown ($14,100 CP) — Pick one: Tatum or Brown. Blowouts are only a concern for the NBA DFS picks not doing the blowing out. Tatum was tame in Game 2. Brown clowned the Pacers. He scored 52.25 DKFP in 37 minutes and carried a massive 41.1% usage rate. In Game 1, Brown barely came off the court. He played 44 minutes in the Celtics’ OT win (49.25 DKFP).
FLEX Plays
Jrue Holiday ($7,600) — The holiday continues this holiday weekend. In four of the last five games, Holiday has scored 36 DKFP or more. He’s played at least 37 minutes in each contest. The Celtics won all five. It’s safe to say that Holiday is taking this team to the next level. Is Holiday the missing piece? Was the addition of the 2020-21 NBA Finals Champ the final player needed for the Celtics to raise another banner?
Obi Toppin ($4,200) — Game 2 isn’t the best data point or maybe it is. If the Celtics blow out the Pacers again, then it is. If the Pacers put up a fight at home in Game 3, the Game 2 rotations and stats will be worthless. Toppin scored 16.75 DKFP in 22 minutes in Game 2 and 24 DKFP in 22 minutes in Game 1. The latter is more relevant. Toppin is a point-per-minute player with just enough minutes.
Sam Hauser ($2,200) — This matchup boosts the potential of each Celtic. The Pacers were a popular target all season. The Eastern Conference Finals change nothing. Hauser is a bet on a blowout. There will be blowout lineups and close-game lineups. The Celtics entered the fourth quarter of Game 2 at home with a 13-point lead. Hauser entered the game and only came off the court for a couple of minutes in the fourth.
Fade
Tyrese Haliburton ($9,600) — He has a history of hiding. Haliburton can go off and he can go away. In regular matchups, Haliburton can struggle. This isn’t a regular matchup. It’s as tough as it gets. The Celtics broke the Pacers’ hearts in Game 1. They ripped the Pacers’ hearts out of their chests in Game 2. On Saturday night, the Celtics eat the heart in front of the Pacers’ eyes. The game plan is simple: shutdown Haliburton.
The Outcome
It would be great to get another seven-game series or even six games. That doesn’t seem likely after Game 2. Teams have unexpectedly turned series around in the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs. The Pacers are at home. It’s only an 0-2 hole after two road games. The Pacers will have fight, but the Celtics will fight back.
Final score: Celtics 124, Pacers 119
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $500K Shootaround [$100K to 1st] (BOS vs IND)
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is greenflagradio2) 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.
