DraftKings
Bruce Brown, SG/SF vs. CLE ($4,000) – With Joe Harris now sidelined for multiple games with an ankle injury, some one has to step up for Brooklyn, and for one night it was Brown. He got the start and played 26 minutes against the Warriors and was one of the few bright spots for the Nets as he scored 14 points while grabbing five rebounds and picking up three assists and three steals. Brown has had success at times this season and his price was locked in prior to last night.
Immanuel Quickley, PG vs. ORL ($3,700) – Based on how things going for the Knicks, the starting five has not been the finishing five and the latter unit has been having more success as of late. Quickley has been making his presence felt offensively averaging 13 points over his last five games along with three assists and 2.6 rebounds per game as New York has come to rely on his scoring. The second-year player has been reunited with Derrick Rose as they are picking up where they left off from a chemistry perspective.
FanDuel
Cade Cunningham, PG/SG vs. IND ($5,800) – I will fully admit that I’m taking the value part of this article to the limit here with Cunningham, and you also might accuse me of chasing some points. But at the same time, we have been working towards this moment with Cunningham as the rookie’s talent and potential is quite abundant. On Monday, Cunningham had the best game of his young career with 25 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists and enjoy this price for him while it lasts as it’s only going to go up from here.
Tim Hardaway, SG/SF at PHO ($5,200) – With Luka Doncic sidelined tonight, Dallas will have to look for perimeter scoring elsewhere, so why not Hardaway? He’s already playing around 30 to 35 minutes per game with a consistent role in Dallas’s offense and he can break the 20-point barrier with ease; although he does it inconsistently. The offense has never been the main question here so it is a good sign to see Hardaway grab seven rebounds and hand out four assists on Monday. Hardaway has at least six rebounds in four of last six games, and if he can keep that up coupled with a slight boost to his offensive usage tonight, and we are in business.
Yahoo!
Eric Gordon, SG at OKC ($10) – Almost by default, Houston relies on Gordon off the bench on a consistent basis and all signs to point to him playing around 30 minutes per night. We can generally count on Gordon to come in pretty close to his 13.1 point per game average and then if you sprinkle in a little of everything else, Gordon gets us to where we need to be.
Duncan Robinson, SG vs. NO ($13) – Why not ride the hot hand here as Robinson’s shot has been falling as of late and he has generally been productive overall. Robinson is coming off back-to-back games of 21 and 22 points while benefitting from the absence of Jimmy Butler. While we will have to monitor Butler’s status leading up to lineup lock, Robinson’s role won’t entirely go away should Butler be active but ultimately his value will come down to how his shot is falling from behind the arc.
Player News
Tony Bradley (hip) is questionable for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.
Bradley suffered a strained left hip flexor during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. While he was made available for Game 6 on Saturday, the Pacers’ backup center did not see any time, with Rick Carlisle deciding to go with Thomas Bryant as Myles Turner’s backup instead. Even if Bradley is available for Thursday’s series opener in Oklahoma City, that does not guarantee he’ll get on the court.
Pelicans lead executive Joe Dumars told NOLA.com that Zion Williamson remains a “focal point” for the franchise moving forward.
While Williamson has shown flashes of the talent many expected him to be when selected first overall in the 2019 draft, there have been availability concerns. He’s surpassed 60 games twice in six seasons in New Orleans, most recently making 30 appearances in 2024-25. Add in the off-court concerns, including Williamson being named in a recent lawsuit , and it’s fair to question his place within the Pelicans’ hierarchy. Based on his recent comments, Dumars does not appear to share those concerns. “I’ve had really good conversations with Zion,” Dumars said. “We’ve had lunch. Dinner. Watched playoff games together. We’ve done it all. I’ve had some real honest conversations with him. Some real direct and honest conversations. We’re going to go forward with Zion. He’s going to continue to be a focal point here as we go forward.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the Phoenix Suns have hired Jordan Ott as their next head coach.
Ott will replace Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after just one season in Phoenix. Five of the Suns’ last six head coaches have been one-and-dones, and Ott will look to buck that trend with a successful inaugural campaign. He has experience with the Hawks, Nets, Lakers and most recently, the Cavs. According to Shams, Ott got the stamp of approval from Devin Booker, who was actively engaged in the coaching search.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the Knicks have relieved Tom Thibodeau of his duties as head coach.
One year after signing a three-year extension, Thibodeau is out as head coach of the Knicks. New York had back-to-back 50-win seasons and made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years under Thibodeau, but the team is looking for a new voice to help the organization get over the hump after five years with coach Thibs. The Knicks’ pursuit of a championship for the first time since 1973 will begin this offseason with the search for a new coach.
The Suns have been aggressive in pursuit of trading Kevin Durant and regaining control of draft capital, according to Kelly Iko of the Athletic.
Since the end of the season, according to Iko, the Houston Rockets have fielded several calls from the Suns, who have gradually lowered their asking price for Durant. The Suns are interested in getting some of their first round picks back as Houston controls their first round selections in 2025, 2027 and 2029. The asking price is still not low enough for the Rockets, who aren’t keen on breaking up their young core of players for the 36-year-old small forward, casting doubt over a deal ever materializing.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Jarace Walker will miss at least Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder.
At the earliest, Walker could return for Game 3 on June 11. Though Walker has had some solid minutes, he hasn’t played a significant role for the Pacers in the playoffs to this point. Obi Toppin will continue to fill out the majority of the backup power forward minutes.