Betting suggestions, DFS picks for Wednesday’s NBA playoff video games

ESPN’s fantasy basketball day by day cheat sheet is your pregame vacation spot earlier than you set your lineups for that evening’s video games. Here you may learn our greatest recommendation for the evening, together with a collection of gamers to think about for DFS, greatest bets, in addition to game-by-game harm studies.

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Best bets | DFS picks | Odds & injury report

What it’s essential know for Wednesday’s video games

The first spherical of the playoffs is in its finish recreation proper now, with two sequence formally over and the likelihood that extra finish tonight. The Orlando Magic have the possibility to cement an eighth-seed-over-top-seed upset over the Detroit Pistons. The Magic have gained three of the 4 video games within the sequence to date, together with one in Detroit, and must win one other within the Motor City to finish issues in 5. But the Pistons are a prideful group with their backs to the wall, and on this scenario you simply attempt to win one recreation and see what occurs. Expect their greatest shot tonight.

The Los Angeles Lakers even have an opportunity to wrap issues up tonight once they host the Houston Rockets (10 p.m. ET on ESPN). The Rockets staved off a sweep once they gained Game 4 in a blowout, however they may once more be with out Kevin Durant (ankle), and the Lakers have optimism that they could get Austin Reaves (questionable, belly) again for Wednesday’s recreation. It’s clearly win or go dwelling for the Rockets, however some, like our personal Kendrick Perkins, consider it is a must-win recreation for the Lakers as properly.

The solely sequence of the evening assured to increase to a different day is between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, at the moment tied at two video games apiece. The Cavaliers gained the primary two video games of the sequence handily at dwelling, then the Raptors adopted up a blowout win in Game 3 with a comeback victory in Game 4. The sequence shifts again to Cleveland, with the winner of Game 5 (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN) in a main spot to take the sequence.

Let’s dig a bit deeper and determine some betting angles and DFS gamers of curiosity for tonight’s motion.

Dre’s bets for Wednesday

Tobias Harris OVER 16.5 factors (-120)

Harris has been the Pistons’ most constant scorer of late, quietly notching between 16 and 24 factors in every of his final 5 video games with a 20.0 PPG common over that span. The Magic have completed an awesome job slowing down Jalen Duren on this sequence, and whereas Cade Cunningham will proceed to be relied upon for the heaviest lifting, he wants a lieutenant that may rating with him. In this sequence, that lieutenant is Harris, and the Pistons will lean on him as they attempt to preserve their season alive.

Desmond Bane OVER 18.5 factors (-119)

After averaging solely 14.5 PPG within the first two video games of the sequence, Bane has come alive to common 23.5 PPG within the two most up-to-date video games. And with Franz Wagner questionable to play tonight due to a calf pressure, Bane may very well be in line for extra heavy lifting in Game 5.

Cavaliers -8.5 (-118) vs. Raptors

The Cavs are coming off a horrible loss in Game 4, the place they misplaced regardless of being in management nearly the whole thing of the sport. In my view, the Cavs are the considerably higher group on this matchup and can bounce again and present that in Game 5. In addition, the sequence shifts again to Cleveland tonight, and the Cavaliers have gained each dwelling video games on this sequence by double digits.

Lakers -4.5 (-105) vs. Rockets

Going into Game 4 in Houston with the Lakers up three video games to none, my prediction was that both the Lakers would sweep or the Rockets would win in an effort-based blowout. The latter got here true, and my sense now’s that the Lakers will return dwelling and maintain enterprise in Game 5. Role gamers play higher at dwelling, and the Lakers have basically been LeBron James main ascendant function gamers on this sequence. This appears like one the Lakers ought to win comfortably.

Top Daily Fantasy Values of the Day

$8,100+ salaries

LeBron James, PF, Lakers ($9,500): James averaged greater than 55 fantasy factors within the first three video games of the sequence earlier than a down effort in Game 4. I search for him to bounce again with a Game 5 effort extra much like what we noticed early within the sequence.

Donovan Mitchell, SG, Cavaliers ($8,500): Mitchell averaged nearly 48 fantasy factors per recreation within the first two video games in Cleveland earlier than struggling to below 30 FP/G in two video games in Toronto. Game 5 is again dwelling for Mitchell, and I count on his numbers to bounce again.

$6,100-$8,000 salaries

Jabari Smith Jr., PF, Rockets ($6,500): Smith has been probably the most constant fantasy producer for the Rockets on this sequence, notching 37-37.5 fantasy factors in three of the 4 video games.

$3,500-$6,000 salaries

Wendell Carter Jr., C, Magic ($6,000): Carter has notched between 36.8 and 41.2 fantasy factors in three of the 4 video games within the sequence and can look to keep up his excessive stage in Game 5.

Projections and Injury Reports

Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds offered by DraftKings Sportsbook

Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. ET on Prime Video

Line: Magic +9.5 (-105) | Pistons -9.5 (-115)
Money line: Magic +310 | Pistons -395
Total: 211.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 10.4, straight up 79%, 214.4 complete factors.

Injury Report:

Magic: Franz Wagner, (GTD – Calf); Jonathan Isaac, (GTD – Knee)

Pistons: Kevin Huerter, (GTD – Thigh)

Toronto Raptors at Cleveland Cavaliers
7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Line: Raptors +8.5 (-102) | Cavaliers -8.5 (-118)
Money line: Raptors +300 | Cavaliers -380
Total: 218.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 3.6, straight up 61%, 221.6 complete factors.

Injury Report:

Raptors: Chucky Hepburn, (OFS – Knee)

Cavaliers: None reported

Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
10 p.m. ET on ESPN

Line: Rockets +4.5 (-115) | Lakers -4.5 (-105)
Money line: Rockets +150 | Lakers -180
Total: 208.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 0.1, straight up 50%, 211.8 complete factors.

Injury Report:

Rockets: Kevin Durant, (OUT – Ankle); Fred VanVleet, (OUT – Knee); Steven Adams, (OFS – Ankle)

Lakers: Austin Reaves, (GTD – Oblique); Luka Doncic, (OUT – Hamstring)