With eight games on tonight’s DFS NBA slate, we’re looking at Lakers/Rockets and Thunder/Kings with highest expected game totals across sports-books. Minnesota is still without a lot of key players and Toronto has players in and out of the lineup. Cole Anthony will be sidelined for Orlando tonight and it isn’t looking good regarding Brandon Ingram suiting up.
Here’s tonight’s DFS NBA Starting-5.
PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9200FD, 9500DK, 36Y!): The Thunder’s leading scorer has taken 20 or more shots in each of his last three games and the Kings are the weakest team in the league at defending point guards. This game is also a pace-up spot for Oklahoma City. Gilgeous-Alexander has hit at least 50 percent of his shots in three of his last five outings. He’s grabbing nearly five rebounds per game and he’s dished seven or more dimes in two of his last three contests. He also logs one steal per game and has swatted away shots in three straight games. He’ll continue to play deep into games and he’s exceeded his 22.4 scoring average in each of his last four games. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 points and collected two steals the last time he matched up against the Kings. With this sportsbook total being as high as it is, we need a piece of it and Gilgeous-Alexander is worth spending up for.
SG: R.J. Hampton (5300FD, 3200DK, 11Y!): The Magic are without a lot of players heading into tonight and Jrue Holiday is a terrible defender and we should try to take advantage of that this evening and Hampton has played 27 minutes or more in his last two games. He’s scored at least 14 points in both and dished four or more dimes. With some of the more impactful Magic players out, Hampton has been averaging 1.36 fantasy points per minute with a 24 percent usage rate. The pace works in Orlando’s favor tonight and Hampton has taken at least nine shots in both of the Magic’s last two outings. Hampton shoots over 40 percent from long-range and he’s recorded steals in two of his last three outings. Between the personnel issues in Orlando and the Bucks being a bottom five team at guarding point guards, let’s shift Hampton over and start him in our shooting guard spot like you can on FanDuel and DraftKings.
SF: Jimmy Butler (8500FD, 9300DK, 44Y!): After recording a double-double against the Magic a couple of nights ago, Butler is absolutely in play despite just returning to action and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope being an excellent defender. The Heat don’t have a lot of reliable frontcourt options available and with the Heat even getting a minor pace boost, it’s worth spending on Butler. He’s scored 32 and 29 points in two games against the Wizards this season. He’s shooting over 50 percent from the field and he should take 15-18 shots in this contest. Dating back to before he got hurt, Butler has recorded three straight games in which he’s grabbed three or more steals. He swipes 2.2 balls per game for the year. Butler will help bring the ball up as well and investors have been able to rely on him dishing five or more dimes per game. He plays heavy minutes and is looking at more action with Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry still out of commission.
PF: LeBron James (10900FD, 11300DK, 50Y!): The Rockets are dead last in the league at guarding power forwards and James will be toggling between both forward spots tonight and with the Lakers and Rockets both being top-five in the league in pace of play, we should expect a lot of scoring tonight. James has posted four straight 30-point games and he’s taken 25 or more shots in two of those contests. He’s shooting nearly 52 percent from the floor and has grabbed nine or more rebounds in four of his last five games. He’s actually shot at least 56 percent from the floor in each of his last three games. Anthony Davis is out and both James and Russell Westbrook will be plenty busy this evening. He blocks one shot per game and has posted swipes in six straight outings. Let’s not forget about James’ playmaking ability and in a fast pace environment like tonight presents, he should be able to drop a few dimes especially in transition and he’s dishing 6.5 per game.
C: Omer Yurtseven (5400FD, 4800DK, 12Y!): He’s played over 20 minutes in four of his last five games and the Heat are pretty depleted when it comes to frontcourt options with both Bam Adebayo and Dewayne Dedmon out of action. Yurtseven has exploded recently pulling down no fewer than 12 rebounds in five straight contests. He’s picked up his scoring a bit and he’s starting to take more shots. He’s scored at least eight points in three straight games and he’s coming off of a 16-point performance in which he shot the ball 15 times. He’s even produced two multi-block games in his last four. The Wizards rank 26th in the league at defending centers and Washington will already be without Montrezl Harrell. He’s shot at least 50 percent from the floor in his last two games and he’s even grabbed steals in two of his last three outings.
Player News
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Zach Edey will undergo surgery to re-stabilize his left ankle.
Charania’s report indicates that Edey re-sprained the same ankle that forced him to miss some time last season. It came during an offseason workout, and he is expected to miss time to start next season. Edey secured the starting center spot for Memphis late last season after playing an inconsistent role for most of his rookie year. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo could opt to use Brandon Clarke as the starting center if he’s healthy, or he could use a smaller starting lineup with Jaren Jackson Jr. to start next season. The Grizzlies’ PR team announced that a preliminary timeline will be provided after he has the surgery, but as of now, the expectation is that he won’t be available for opening night.
De’Aaron Fox (finger) has been cleared for on-court work and will be ready for the start of next season.
Fox underwent season-ending surgery on his left pinkie finger in mid-March, about six weeks after being traded to the Spurs from Sacramento. He recently told Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle that he’s been cleared to resume on-court activities, which have included some 5-on-5 play. Also, Fox hopes to ink a contract extension with the Spurs this offseason. With one year remaining on his current deal, the point guard will be eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $229 million on August 3.
NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Mannix said recently that Sam Hauser could be a trade candidate this offseason if the Celtics decide to shed salary.
The cost of contending for championships has gotten steeper, especially with the salary cap rules instituted in recent years. For the Celtics, the Achilles tendon rupture suffered by Jayson Tatum may impact how the front office approaches this offseason. If the team decides that a group that won’t have Tatum for most of the season can’t be a factor in the East, the decision could be made to shed salary. And Hauser, whose four-year, $45 million extension goes into effect next season, may be a prime candidate to be moved. “Hauser, to me, is the most likely candidate to go, just because you have (Baylor) Scheierman there to effectively fill his role,” Mannix said. “I think they’d love to find a home for Jrue Holiday, just because of the contract and where they are as a team. (Kristaps) Porzingis, who knows? I don’t think they want to take on contracts that go on longer than Porzingis’ deal, but he’s certainly available.” Hauser being traded would make Scheierman worth a look in deep fantasy leagues next season.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported the Knicks are interested in talking to Mavericks coach Jason Kidd regarding the team’s head coaching vacancy.
Multiple names have been mentioned in the aftermath of the Knicks’ decision to fire Tom Thibodeau after he led the team to its first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000. One who has been mentioned prominently is Kidd, who is under contract with the Mavericks. His connection with Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson may be a factor, as the captain has repeatedly credited the coach with his development as a professional. However, Dallas would need to grant the Knicks permission to speak with Kidd. And if a deal were to be made, New York does not have much draft capital to give up as compensation. Also mentioned in connection with the opening are Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and Rockets coach Ime Udoka. Stein also reported that Houston would quickly deny permission to speak with Udoka if the Knicks were to make that request.
Obi Toppin provided a boost off the bench with 17 points (6-of-9 FGs), five rebounds, two assists and five three-pointers in Game 1 against the Thunder on Thursday.
Toppin has been solid throughout this postseason, but he hasn’t had many big scoring nights. However, after he had 18 points in the Game 6 clincher over the Knicks, he added 17 more to kick off the Finals, with 15 of those points coming from beyond the arc. If Toppin is able to continue to make an impact off the bench like he did in this game, there should be more wins coming for the Pacers.
Aaron Nesmith recorded a double-double on Thursday with 10 points (3-of-9 FGs), 12 rebounds, one assist, one block, three three-pointers and five turnovers in Game 1 against the Thunder.
Indiana dominated on the glass in this game, but it wasn’t just because of the bigs. Nesmith was the leading rebounder in this game and was one of three Pacers to grab at least 10 rebounds. However, they lost the turnover battle 24-6, and Nesmith contributed five of those. The only player with more was Myles Turner, who coughed it up six times. Indiana won this game and still has things to clean up, which is an encouraging sign for them moving forward in this series.