There are two games tonight, both in the Eastern Conference. IND has a chance to close out their series with MIL at home while PHI is at home, trying to force a Game 7 at MSG. Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,900) is officially doubtful, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that he could return tonight. Joel Embiid ($10,700), Damian Lillard ($9,200), Tyrese Haliburton ($8,500) and Mitchell Robinson ($4,100) are questionable. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
DraftKings Sportsbook has IND -8 over MIL at home. The total is 214.5. PHI is -3 over NYK at home. The total is 201. During the regular season, IND was 26-15 at home while MIL was 18-22 on the road. The home team is 4-1 in this series. PHI was 25-16 at home while NYK was 23-18 on the road. The home team is 3-2 in this series. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
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Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers ($9,700) – Maxey outshined Brunson last game, and at a $1,100 discount, was the superior fantasy play. He scored 46 points, shot 17-of-30 from the field and 7-of-12 from downtown, all series highs. The usage rate of 35.2 percent was a high as well. In the prior two games, that number was in the 26 percent area. While he put up 63.25 DKFP in Game 2, Maxey finished in the 45-DKFP range in the other three contests.
Brunson put up 41.25 and 43 DKFP in the first two games of the series, then exploded for 62, 71 and 58.75 DKFP in the last three. The usage rate has been over 40 percent in three of the games, with a low mark of 35 percent. He is THE guy for New York and is going to play as many minutes as humanly possible. Maxey still has Embiid to contend with, albeit a hobbled Embiid. The floor/ceiling combo, usage and playing time have me going to the Brunson burner once again. In addition, Maxey has been priced up $400 while Brunson received a $200 increase.
Other Options – Tyrese Maxey ($8,800)
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks ($4,900) – After putting up 11 DKFP in the series opener, Nembhard has been a pillar of consistency, producing 30, 29.25, 33.75 and 23.75 DKFP. The usage rate is often in the teens, although it spiked to 26.5 percent last time. Haliburton and McConnell usually initiate the offense, but Nembhard has been able to hit the open J and be the connector piece when Haliburton or Siakam get doubled or the Bucks employ their zone defense.
Other Options – Patrick Beverley ($5,600), Kelly Oubre Jr. ($5,200), Aaron Nesmith ($5,100), Malik Beasley ($4,800), Kyle Lowry ($4,600)
Josh Hart, New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers ($7,400) – I wanted to go with Middleton, but there’s too much uncertainty with Milwaukee right now. If Giannis returns, Middleton loses usage and probably won’t grab as many rebounds. Lillard could also return, which would sap usage as well. Therefore, I will go with Hart once again. The floor is high because he’s going to play a ton of minutes, is such a good rebounder and contributes in every statistical category. He has also been able to score and access a ceiling, which happened in Game 2 when he put up 54.75 DKFP. The likely outcome is that he ends in the 30-DKFP range, but there’s a good possibility that he finishes with 40, and 50 if the stars align.
Other Options – Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,900) if he plays, Khris Middleton ($8,700), Bobby Portis ($7,700) if Giannis is out, OG Anunoby ($6,000)
Value
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks ($5,200) – Philly needs Oubre’s athleticism, defense and scoring punch on the court. He’s played at least 38 minutes and put up at least 24 DKFP in four of the five games. He will never garner a high usage rate because of Maxey and Embiid, but he hits the open J, attacks closeouts, cuts to the open space and is a force in transition. He has scored double digits in four of the five games and contributed a total of 10 steals and six blocks.
Other Options – Tobias Harris ($5,500), Aaron Nesmith ($5,100), Obi Toppin ($4,000)
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks ($10,700) – Embiid is far from being 100%, yet he’s put up at least 50 DKFP in every contest with the last two over 60. He’s played over 40 minutes in the three most contests and, while the usage rate has dipped from over 40 percent to 33 percent, he’s still been uber-productive and triple-doubled in Game 5. If the 76ers have any hope of heading back to MSG for a Game 7, Embiid is going to have to produce, and I expect him to at least go down swinging.
Other Options – Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,900) if he plays, Bobby Portis ($7,700), Brook Lopez ($6,200)
Obi Toppin, Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks ($4,000) – I do not like the value at center. And I’m not particularly fond of Toppin because he could end up playing only 15 minutes. That said, he has gone for over 20 DKFP in three games this series and scored double figures in the last three. When he’s on the court, he garners a high usage rate. The thing is, though, he doesn’t contribute in the defensive stats or dish out dimes. He’s out there to drain the corner three, flush oops and get out in transition. I’d expect the Indiana crowd to be raucous and Toppin to have his moments flourishing.
Other Options – Isaiah Hartenstein ($5,400)
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) 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.