May 1 Top Fantasy Basketball Options: Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, James Harden, Bam Adebayo, Kyrie Irving and More
Discussing the top fantasy options for NBA playoff games on May 1.
Just two NBA playoff games will be played on Wednesday, May 1. It’s time to go over the top fantasy options for each team to help those of you that are playing in playoff fantasy leagues or doing DFS.
The Boston Celtics will look to finish off the Miami Heat in game 5 of their series. The Los Angeles Clippers will host the Dallas Mavericks in game 5 of their series, with the winner taking a 3-2 advantage.
Explore the best in-season tool to manage lineup/start decisions including waiver pickups, projections, trade suggestions, trade value charts, rest of season rankings, power rankings, and tons more with Fantasy Assistant. Use our fantasy basketball trade analyzer to break down trade scenarios.
Heat at Celtics
Jimmy Butler, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Terry Rozier will all miss game 5 for Miami. Kristaps Porzingis is out for Boston.
Jayson Tatum will lead Boston and is the second-highest projected fantasy player for tonight’s playoff action. He’s averaging 23.3 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 1.8 turnovers while shooting 41.2% overall and 25.9% from 3-point land this series.
Jaylen Brown is averaging 22.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.8 turnovers in this series. He’s shooting 50.7% overall and 38.1% from deep.
Jrue Holiday has had a bit of a down series, shooting 31.4% overall and 33.3% from 3-point land. He’s averaging 7.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks and turnovers.
Derrick White has been fantastic, averaging 21.8 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks and turnovers. He’s shooting 56.9% overall and 47.1% from deep.
Al Horford should be playing more with Porzingis out. Horford is averaging 8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 56.5% overall and 38.5% from deep.
Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser have played 22 and 16.3 minutes per game, respectively. Pritchard is averaging 3.8 points, 3 assists and 2.5 rebounds, while Hauser is at 5.8 points and 1.5 rebounds. Both should be more involved with Porzingis out.
Luke Kornet could be a player who gets some more minutes tonight. He’s only averaged 4.5 minutes in the two games he’s played this series.
With several players out, Bam Adebayo will again have to lead Miami. He’s averaging 22.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 turnovers and shooting 53.5% overall.
Tyler Herro will also be heavily involved. He’s averaging 17.3 points, 6 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 turnovers this series, while shooting 40.7% overall and 40% from deep.
Caleb Martin is at 12 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists this series. He’s shooting 47.2% overall and 50% from deep.
Nikola Jovic is averaging 9.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals and should play more with Jaquez out.
Duncan Robinson, Haywood Highsmith and Kevin Love have played in all four games so far this series, while Delon Wright has appeared in three contests. Love is only at 7.5 minutes per game, but the other three are at at least 10 minutes. Patty Mills has averaged 17 minutes in two games. That group should also help replace Jaquez.
Mavericks at Clippers
Tim Hardaway Jr. and Olivier-Maxence Prosper have both been ruled out for Dallas, while Luka Doncic is probable with a sprained ankle - I’d be very surprised if Doncic doesn’t play. Kawhi Leonard is out again for Los Angeles with his knee injury.
Doncic is the top projected fantasy player for tonight’s playoff games. He’s averaging 29 points, 9.8 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1 steal and 3.8 turnovers in the postseason so far. Doncic is shooting 38.6% overall and is only 26.5% from deep. He might not be as efficient again tonight while dealing with his ankle injury, but he’s still going to stuff the stat sheet if he can play the full game.
Kyrie Irving is the third-highest projected fantasy player tonight overall. He’s shooting 51.3% overall and 48.3% on his triples. Irving is averaging 28.8 points, 6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.3 turnovers.
P.J. Washington is the only other Dallas player scoring in double figures at 12.3 points. He’s also got averages of 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks.
Derrick Jones Jr. is averaging 8.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, while Dereck Lively II is at 7.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.
Maxi Kleber, Daniel Gafford, Josh Green and Dante Exum have played in the first four games. Kleber is at 23 minutes per game, but just 3.8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Gafford is at 17 minutes and averaging 4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1 block. Green is averaging 3.5 points and rebounds and 1.3 steals across 15.5 minutes. Exum is only at 9 minutes and his only average over one is rebounds (exactly 1 per game).
With Doncic less than 100%, getting a strong showing from Kleber, Gafford, Green or Exum might be needed for Dallas to win the contest.
A bit surprisingly, it’s been James Harden leading Los Angeles this postseason. He’s the fourth-highest projected fantasy player tonight, with teammates Paul George and Ivica Zubac also top-10 options.
Harden is averaging 26 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 1 steal and just 2.3 turnovers in this series. He’s shooting 54.1% overall and is 50% on his triples.
George is adding 21 points, 5 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals, while turning the ball over 2.3 times per game. George is shooting 45.3% overall and 42.4% from 3-point land.
Zubac has been a monster this series, averaging 16.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in just 32.3 minutes of action. He’s also averaging 1 steal per game and is shooting 56.9% from the floor.
Norman Powell has been a strong player off the bench, averaging 10.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.
Terance Mann has started all four games and is averaging 7.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Amir Coffey has started in place of Leonard and is averaging 3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 19.3 minutes.
Russell Westbrook and Mason Plumlee are the other two LA players that have played in all four games this series. Westbrook is averaging 6.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals, while Plumlee is at 4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1 assist.
Upcoming Playoff Games/Recent Results
There’s two more NBA games on Thursday after the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers won game 6s on Tuesday. Milwaukee rolled past Indiana 115-98, while Philly took down New York 112-106 in overtime.
The third NBA playoff game on Tuesday was a 104-103 win by the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Orlando Magic. Cleveland will look to wrap up that series with a game 6 win on Friday.
The two matchups we featured in this story and then these three other series are the only first-round ones left.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are awaiting the winner of the Clippers, Mavericks series. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets are already lined up for a conference semifinal matchup as well.
#nba-playoffs
