There are four NBA games on Tuesday’s slate.
As for injuries, Jaylen Brown, Russell Westbrook, Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Stewart are questionable. Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday are out.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, IND is -7.5 over MIL at home with the total at 223. NYK is -5.5 over DET at home with the total at 213.5. BOS is -11 over ORL at home with the total at 199.5. LAC is -1.5 over DEN on the road with the total at 208.5.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks ($9,800): Cade has attempted at least 20 shots in every game this series while garnering a usage rate of at least 30% in all – 33% in the last three games. He triple-doubled in Game 4 and just missed one in Game 3 by three rebounds. Cunningham’s put up over 60 FPTS in the last two contests. Cade and the Pistons have been spamming pick-and-roll action with Towns, and they will continue to keep going to it because KAT is no dawg on defense. Cunningham blocked two shots and racked up four steals in Game 3, so he can stuff the stat sheet. Cade is good. No, Cade is awesome. While his efforts will likely be Sisyphean, Cunningham is going to keep doing his thing, which will result in plenty of fantasy goodies.
Other Options: James Harden ($9,000), Jalen Brunson ($8,800), Tyrese Haliburton ($8,500), Derrick White ($7,000)
Value
Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers ($5,000): After Damian Lillard went down with an injury in Game 4, KPJ played 33 minutes and finished with 43.75 FPTS. He attempted 17 shots, grabbed five rebounds, dished out six dimes and racked up two steals. KPJ can get buckets and break down defenses by himself, something that will sorely be needed in Game 5 with Lillard likely done. He’s too cheap for the expected role and usage.
Other Options: Mikal Bridges ($5,900), Norman Powell ($5,700), Andrew Nembhard ($5,100), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,100)
Forward
Stud
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic ($9,500): Tatum put up 46.5 FPTS in Game 2. He finished with 55.75 FPTS in Game 3. In Game 4, he went bonkers for 67 FPTS. If the SATs taught me anything, it’s that Tatum is going for 76.25 FPTS on Tuesday! If it were only that easy. That said, I do think he scores in the same area as Giannis, and at a $1,800 discount, that would be very, very nice. Tatum is the alpha of the Celtics offense and has attempted at least 22 shots in every game. He’s been doing yeoman’s work on the glass while contributing a little something something in every statistical category. Jaylen Brown is questionable, so alpha could mean Alpha.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,300), Paolo Banchero ($9,200), Kawhi Leonard ($8,400), Franz Wagner ($8,200), Pascal Siakam ($7,200), Josh Hart ($7,100), Tobias Harris ($6,200)
Value
Tim Hardaway Jr., Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks ($4,100): THJ only played 28 and 21 minutes in the first two games. In Game 2, he shot 0-for-8 from the field, finishing with 2.25 FPTS. And that is the risk with THJ, as he doesn’t contribute much outside of points and treys. In the two games in Detroit, though, he played 37 and 36 minutes while draining 7-of-12 and 5-of-16 shots from the field. Was it good old home cooking for THJ? Will he continue to shoot well and play over 35 minutes? There’s risk for sure, but I side with him playing over 30 minutes and hoisting up shots. With the Knicks focused on Cunninghma, THJ is going to get plenty of looks. Whether he makes them or not is another issue, but the price is palatable.
Other Options: Aaron Gordon ($6,000), Mikal Bridges ($5,900), Bobby Portis ($5,800), Norman Powell ($5,700), Al Horford ($5,200)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers ($11,500): Jokic finished in the 60-FPTS range for the first three games of the series. After Game 3, I continued to tout Jokic, writing that he has the highest floor/ceiling combo in the game and is always in play to put up 100 FPTS. He “only” went for 82.25 FPTS. He’s expensive, but is he really?
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,300), Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,600), Ivica Zubac ($8,100), Jalen Duren ($6,600)
Value
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers ($5,800): Portis isn’t cheap and the range of outcomes is very wide, so it comes down to roster construction. If you want floor, then there are some other good options, but none can access the ceiling the Portis has already proven he can get to. In Game 2, Portis shot 11-of-19 from the field and 6-of-11 from downtown en route to 28 points and 12 rebounds, good for 51 FPTS. With Lillard out and the Bucks on the brink of elimination, I’ll take the chance that Portis has one of those “eyes popping out of the head” games.
Other Options: Aaron Gordon ($6,000), Wendell Carter Jr. ($5,300), Al Horford ($5,200)
