Betting ideas, DFS picks for Thursday’s two NBA playoff video games

ESPN’s fantasy basketball each day cheat sheet is your pregame vacation spot earlier than you set your lineups for that evening’s video games. Here you will learn our greatest recommendation for the evening, together with a choice of gamers you possibly can stream in addition to game-by-game harm studies.

What you might want to know for Thursday’s video games

The Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder each protected their residence court docket in convincing vogue of their sequence openers.

Detroit dealt with the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 behind one other clutch efficiency from Cade Cunningham, who completed with 23 factors and 7 assists whereas persevering with his streak of 20-point playoff video games. The Pistons additionally uncovered certainly one of Cleveland’s largest weaknesses by forcing 19 turnovers that become 29 factors. Game 2 will hinge on whether or not the Cavaliers can clear up their ball safety and whether or not Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley can reply bodily after being outplayed across the rim by Jalen Duren. Tobias Harris’ scoring surge can also be changing into a significant storyline within the sequence.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City reminded everybody why they continue to be the favourite within the Western Conference with a dominant 108-90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, regardless of an unusually quiet sport from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Chet Holmgren carried the Thunder with 24 factors, 12 rebounds and three blocks, whereas the Lakers struggled offensively exterior of LeBron James. Austin Reaves’ poor capturing evening and the continued absence of Luka Doncic go away main questions heading into Game 2. The largest factor to look at on this sport Thursday is whether or not the Lakers can generate sufficient offense towards Oklahoma City’s elite protection — if SGA returns to MVP type.

Here’s a take a look at the betting angles and DFS performs of curiosity for Thursday’s playoff slate.

Moody’s Bets for Thursday

Rui Hachimura 19+ Points, Rebounds and Assists (-108): Hachimura has recorded no less than 19 PRAs in all three video games towards the Thunder this season with out Luka Doncic within the lineup. He additionally logged no less than 32 minutes in two of these three matchups and tried 10 or extra discipline targets in two of them. Oklahoma City depends closely on drop protection to guard the rim, utilizing the size of Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein to restrict drives to the basket. That defensive strategy ought to proceed to create favorable scoring alternatives for Hachimura in Game 2 because the Lakers look to bounce again.

Chet Holmgren to file a double double (+135): Holmgren creates vital issues for the Lakers defensively. He has recorded a double-double in three of his final 5 video games towards Los Angeles, although it is value noting that within the two video games he fell brief, the Thunder gained comfortably, which restricted his minutes. Game 2 must be extra aggressive than Game 1 of this sequence, because the Lakers will probably be determined to keep away from falling right into a 0-2 gap towards a staff as gifted as Oklahoma City.

Top Daily Fantasy Values of the Day

$8,100+ Salaries

LeBron James, PF, Los Angeles Lakers ($9,300): James completed with 43.5 fantasy factors whereas capturing a powerful 70.6% from the sphere in Game 1 towards the Thunder, marking his third consecutive sport with no less than 42 fantasy factors. The future Hall of Famer continues to pile up factors, rebounds and assists, and will preserve a excessive utilization charge all through the sequence. However, if the Lakers need to make the sequence extra aggressive, they will want different gamers to step up.

James Harden, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers ($8,200): Harden has scored no less than 45 fantasy factors in three of his final 4 video games. He contributes throughout each statistical class, together with blocks and steals. The Cavaliers will proceed to rely closely on Harden and Donovan Mitchell on this sequence, particularly for the reason that Pistons do an exceptional job of defending the paint.

$6,100-$8,000 Salaries

Chet Holmgren, PF, Oklahoma City Thunder ($7,600): Holmgren completed with 51 fantasy factors in Game 1 towards the Lakers, marking his second consecutive sport with no less than 49 fantasy factors whereas enjoying no less than 31 minutes. It was clear early on that the Thunder wished to check the Lakers’ frontcourt, and Holmgren responded with six dunks whereas additionally showcasing his versatility by flattening two 3-pointers. He ought to proceed to create issues for the Lakers, particularly contemplating he produced this efficiency on a comparatively quiet evening from Gilgeous-Alexander. If SGA heats up, Holmgren may see much more open seems to be.

Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons ($6,900): Duren didn’t shoot the ball properly in Game 1 towards the Cavaliers, however he nonetheless completed with 37 fantasy factors due to his manufacturing in rebounds, blocks and assists. Duren additionally had success towards Allen earlier this season, ending with 45 fantasy factors on March third and 67 fantasy factors on Feb. twenty seventh. Duren enters Thursday’s slate as the highest DFS possibility at middle.

$3,500-$6,000 Salaries

Max Strus, SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers ($4,500): Strus’ minutes and fantasy manufacturing have swung backwards and forwards like a pendulum all through the postseason. However, he has recorded no less than 31 fantasy factors in every of his final two playoff video games, together with Game 7 towards the Toronto Raptors and Game 1 towards the Pistons. The Cavaliers will want extra scoring from their perimeter gamers to win this sequence, which performs immediately into Strus’ strengths.

Daniss Jenkins, PG, Detroit Pistons ($3,900): Jenkins’ minutes and fantasy manufacturing have each trended up in consecutive video games. He has performed no less than 29 minutes and scored no less than 29 fantasy factors in back-to-back contests, together with Game 7 towards the Orlando Magic and Game 1 towards the Cavaliers. Jenkins is a pleasant worth if you happen to’re seeking to save wage in your DFS lineup.

Projections and Injury Reports

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

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Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. ET

Line: Cavaliers +3.5 (-110) | Pistons -3.5 (-110)
Money line: Cavaliers +136 | Pistons -162
Total: 215.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 7.3, straight up 72%, 219.6 whole factors.

Injury Report:

Cavaliers: Sam Merrill, (GTD – Hamstring)

Pistons: Kevin Huerter, (GTD – Thigh)

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Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder
9:30 p.m. ET

Line: Lakers +15.5 (-110) | Thunder -15.5 (-110)
Money line: Lakers +600 | Thunder -900
Total: 210.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 10.9, straight up 80%, 214.6 whole factors.

Injury Report:

Lakers: Jarred Vanderbilt, (GTD – Finger); Luke Kennard, (GTD – Neck); Luka Doncic, (OUT – Hamstring)

Thunder: Jalen Williams, (OUT – Hamstring); Thomas Sorber, (OFS – Knee)