Tuesday night features another great trifecta of NBA playoff contests with three Game 2 matchups on tap. The Timberwolves, Bucks, and Pacers all won Game 1 at home and will look to go up 2-0 in their series just like the Cavs, Knicks, and Nuggets all did on Monday. Home teams are an insane 11-0 so far in the playoffs, but the Pacers, Suns, and Mavs will look to snap that streak and break through to get a road team their first win and even their series before heading home.
The injury report is pretty straightforward for Tuesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is doubtful, and Kawhi Leonard (knee) is questionable after both stars missed Game 1, but their teams won anyway. Grayson Allen (ankle) is questionable as well after spraining his ankle in Game 1.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Despite a tough loss in Game 1, Luka Doncic had a solid fantasy performance with 33 points, 13 boards, and six assists for 61.75 DraftKings points, slightly exceeding salary-based projections. The superstar guard has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection at point guard and on the entire slate again on Tuesday.
Doncic has a 36.2% usage projection, which is almost 5% higher than any other player on the slate, even stars helping to cover for absences. He gets so many shots and dominates the ball so much that he has a very high floor to go with his sky-high ceiling. If he goes off, he can entirely break the slate, but even if he doesn’t, he’ll likely produce enough DraftKings points to be worth trying to fit his salary of almost $12,000 in your lineup if possible.
Despite that massive price tag, Doncic has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard, indicating our projections expect him to outpace his salary-based expectations even though he’s so much more expensive than every other player on the slate.
We’ve seen Doncic do it all season, and a monster triple-double is definitely within the range of outcomes for Game 2 in L.A.
Value
Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks bring plenty of value to Tuesday’s projections. Patrick Beverley has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all point guards and all shooting guards, with the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all the players on Tuesday’s slate. Due to their matchup against the up-tempo Pacers, the Bucks have the highest implied team total this Monday, even with their best player doubtful.
While it was Damian Lillard who carried the scoring load in Game 1, Beverley also had a busy game, logging 37 minutes and totaling 29.75 DraftKings points on five points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals. He has a projection of 32.9 minutes in Game 2, and if he is on the floor that long, the veteran will continue to find ways to fill up the box score with low-volume contributions.
Since joining the Bucks, Beverley has produced 0.82 DraftKings points per minute, and if he gets the work he’s expected to, that rate should be enough to make him a great value at his salary of just $4,500.
Fast Break
Lillard has the second-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at point guard on Tuesday behind only Luka, but his salary is more than $2,500 lower than Luka’s. Game 1 was definitely Dame time, as he dropped 35 points in the first half to help Milwaukee open a big lead. He finished with 48.5 DraftKings points and will need to carry the load if Giannis is out as expected. Without Giannis on the floor this season, Dame has produced 1.38 DraftKings points per minute with a team-high 35.1% usage rate.
If Tyrese Haliburton wants to be counted in the same star conversations with Dame, Giannis, and Luka, this is his chance to step up. He didn’t shine in Game 1, scoring just nine points and 32.75 DraftKings points in 38 minutes. He could be a great bounce-back candidate but will be a high-risk play until he shows he’s ready to deliver in the playoffs.
Timberwolves veteran Mike Conley will also be looking to bounce back from a rough Game 1. He’s a solid mid-range target with an established role, but there is so much star power at point guard that it’s hard to pass on all the stars with much higher ceilings.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
While his backcourt-mate Conley was struggling, Anthony Edwards came up huge in Game 1 for the Timberwolves, delivering 33 points and 56.25 DraftKings points in 36 minutes in Game 1. Edwards has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections of all shooting guards on this slate and the highest ceiling projection of all small forwards as well.
Edwards proved he can carry the load this season while Karl-Anthony Towns was out, and he has continued his rise to stardom in the playoffs. While he is more expensive than some of the other star plays discussed below, Edwards is much cheaper the Luka and even comes in below Dame’s salary. If you pass on Doncic, you can build around multiple stars with Edwards as a key piece. He hasn’t been as consistent as Luka, but his ceiling is very close to the same level, and he comes at a much more workable salary.
Value
Even with Kevin Durant going off in Game 1 against Minnesota, Bradley Beal still delivered good value. He has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at shooting guard on Tuesday and is tied for the second-highest Pts/Sal at the position.
Beal has exceeded salary-based expectations in six straight games dating back to the regular season, but his salary remains pretty steady in the low $6,000s. He posted an average Plus/Minus of +12.0 during that span by averaging 1.21 DraftKings points per minute. In Game 1, Beal took just 10 shots from the field, but that could increase in Game 2, especially if Grayson Allen is out.
Beal should be able to at least return value at his salary and has the potential for much more if the Suns run their offense more through him and Devin Booker instead of Durant.
Fast Break
Speaking of Booker, he only had 18 points in 38 minutes in Game 1. He finished the season on a much stronger run and should bounce back with a better Game 2. While Durant is a proven and impressive playoff performer, the Suns offense is more efficient across the board when Booker and Beal are more of the focus.
Aaron Nesmith has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards and the second-highest of all small forwards as well. He only had seven points in Game 1 but did play 37 minutes. During the regular season, he averaged 0.83 DraftKings points per minute with a 16.4% usage rate. He should be able to fill in the box score enough to be a solid play at just $5,000 if he continues to get so many minutes.
If you opt to go ultra-cheap at shooting guard, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has the best Projected Plus/Minus of the options with salaries under $4,500. He had 18 points and 35.5 DraftKings points off the bench for the TWolves in Game 1, and he has been a very solid part of the team’s second unit for most of the season.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Without Giannis, Khris Middleton also had to step up for the Bucks in Game 1. While his numbers didn’t quite spike like Dame’s, he did deliver a solid 45 DraftKings points with 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and a block in his 35 minutes. While Dame carried the load in the first half, it was Middleton who stepped up in the second half and sealed the win.
Despite that big game, Middleton’s salary is still very affordable. He has averaged 1.19 DraftKings points per minute since returning from an ankle injury in mid-March, but with Giannis off the floor, his production has risen to 1.23 DraftKings points per minute over that stretch with his usage rate increasing 3.6 percentage points to 27.6%.
Middleton has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards and the fourth-highest ceiling and median projections at the position. He’s a solid play to build around and costs less than many of the star options at other positions.
Value
Jaden McDaniels has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards on Tuesday night’s slate and is a great way to still get minutes and production at a very affordable salary. McDaniels played 38 minutes in Game 1 and averaged 29.2 minutes during the regular season as a key piece of the Timberwolves starting five.
He doesn’t usually take a ton of shots but averaged 19.4 DraftKings points per game this season since he regularly found ways to chip in. McDaniels can get hot from long range, but normally his production is more from rebounds and defensive stats along with an occasional three-pointer.
At just $4,100, he is a solid salary saver at small forward, and his workload of so many minutes makes him relatively low-risk even though his upside is limited by his low usage.
Fast Break
Paul George and James Harden both have high ceilings, but they could be limited if Kawhi Leonard returns and takes on a ton of usage. Harden carried the load in Game 1, but George looked solid with 22 points as well. PG has the third-highest ceiling projection of small forwards on this slate, but the unknown Kawhi factor makes him risky.
If Grayson Allen is out, Royce O’Neale could end up a great value play for the Suns. He’s a little like McDaniels in that he typically plays a lot of minutes and contributes counting stats even if he’s not scoring. O’Neale had 14 points in 26 minutes in Game 1, and he’ll be a very strong value option if Allen is out.
On the wing, Pat Connaughton also brings some value as a cheap option for the Bucks as he helps fill some of Giannis’ minutes.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
No player on Tuesday’s entire slate has a higher Projected Plus/Minus than Pascal Siakam. Siakam also has the highest ceiling, median, and floor projections at power forward on Tuesday’s slate. Spicy P has been extra hot over the last few weeks after joining the Pacers at the trade deadline and becoming a key part of their team’s offense and culture.
Siakam had an impressive 36 points, 13 rebounds, and 62.75 DraftKings points in Game 1, and he should be in a good matchup to dominate for as long as Giannis is out. Siakam also has a high floor to go with that high ceiling since he is playing so many minutes. He logged over 40 minutes in Game 1 and is in line for a similar workload with a high usage rate in Game 2, according to our projections.
Value
While Siakam is the top value on the entire slate by Projected Plus/Minus, there are other solid values at power forward as well. Bobby Portis has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at power forward and the second-highest at center as well.
In Game 1, Portis had 15 points and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes but fell just short of salary-based expectations. His salary has climbed a little, but overall, he is still a good value with extra work. With Giannis off the floor over the last month, Portis produced 1.33 DraftKings points per minute with a 27.2% usage rate, which is a significant increase from his season-long average of 23.2% usage.
Fast Break
Kevin Durant has the second-highest median, ceiling, and floor projection at power forward behind only Siakam. Since his salary is higher than Spicy P’s, it looks like a fade spot for Durant, especially if the Suns rely more on their guards. However, if everyone is going away from KD, he could be a great source of leverage. He is a proven playoff performer with a high ceiling, and his upside makes him too attractive to ignore, especially if public sentiment drains his ownership.
Trade deadline acquisition P.J. Washington has been decent since joining the Mavs, and he is a solid mid-range value on Tuesday’s slate with the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position. In Game 1, he played 37 minutes but struggled with his shot a bit, totaling just 26.75 DraftKings points. He should bounce back if he’s in a similar role on Tuesday and end up a very decent value at both power forward and center.
O’Neale will be a great bargain play at power forward if Allen is out, and Maxi Kleber and Obi Toppin are also candidates to bring good value from under $4,000.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
The superstar centers were mostly in action on Monday, but Rudy Gobert stands out from the crowd on Tuesday’s slate. He has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at the position along with the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all centers. Gobert’s Projected Plus/Minus is second on the entire slate behind only Siakam’s.
In Game 1, Gobert posted 38 DraftKings points on 14 points and 16 boards. He didn’t get a block or steal, but he always brings the defensive intensity as well. The Stifle Tower seems to be in for a slightly larger role while Karl-Anthony Towns continues to work his way back to full strength. At some point, Towns may be a better play, but for now, Gobert’s consistency on the glass and defensive end of the floor make him the stronger option of the Timberwolves’ twin towers and the best center option on Tuesday’s slate.
Value
Ivica Zubac dominated Game 1 for the Clippers, finishing with 20 points and 15 boards in 34 minutes for an impressive 45.25 DraftKings points. The Mavericks rebuilt their front line at the trade deadline and attempted to build enough depth to be a tough matchup for Zubac. At least in Game 1, though, Zubac didn’t seem slowed at all.
During the regular season, Zubac didn’t consistently post such good numbers, which is why he only has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of centers under $6,000 on this slate. However, he was dominant enough in the matchup in Game 1 to go back to the well in Game 2. If the Clippers get this version of their center and Kawhi back at full strength, they could be ready to make some noise in the Western Conference far beyond just this one game against the Mavs.
Fast Break
In addition to Portis, Brook Lopez is a solid value from the Bucks. He actually has a slightly higher Projected Plus/Minus than Zubac, but he can’t match Zubac’s ceiling. BroLo has been more consistent this season, averaging 0.91 DraftKings points per minute, and he will continue to be a key to the Bucks’ success without Giannis.
If you’re looking for a bargain center, Mavs rookie Dereck Lively has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of the options with salaries under $4,000. He only had three points and four rebounds in Game 1, but that was his first game in almost a month. He should get a few more minutes off the bench going forward and may prove to be Dallas’ best matchup against Zubac. If so, he could end up a great value under $4,000, allowing you to pay up for some of the big-name guards on Tuesday’s slate.
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