May 2 Top Fantasy Basketball Options: Joel Embiid, Jalen Brunson, Khris Middleton, Tyrese Haliburton, Tyrese Maxey and More

Discussing the top fantasy options for NBA playoff games on May 2.

Two NBA first-round playoff series continue tonight. It’s time to look at the best fantasy options from those games.

The Milwaukee Bucks hit the road for a game 6 clash with the Indiana Pacers. A Milwaukee win would force a game 7.

The Philadelphia 76ers will host the New York Knicks in the other game 6 matchup. Philly needs to win to force a game 7.

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Bucks at Pacers

Milwaukee beat Indiana without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in game 5, and could possibly get both guys back for game 6. Patrick Beverley and Khris Middleton are both probable with injuries, but played in game 5, so I’d expect them out there tonight. Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton is questionable, but also played in game 5 with the injury, so expect him out there too.

Antetokounmpo hasn’t played in the playoffs yet, but was one of the best fantasy players in the league this season. He’s the second-highest projected fantasy player tonight.

Lillard has played in three playoff games, averaging 32.3 points, 5.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2 turnovers. He’s shot 41.5% from the field and 44.4% from deep. Lillard is the fourth-highest projected fantasy player tonight.

If Lillard and Antetokounmpo are out, Middleton will help lead the way again. He’s averaging 26.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5 assists and 2.2 turnovers while shooting 49.5% overall and 37% from deep.

Brook Lopez is averaging 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.6 blocks, while Bobby Portis is at 15.8 points and 10.6 rebounds. Beverley is averaging 8.6 points, 5.6 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals. Malik Beasley is averaging 10.2 points and 2.6 rebounds for the Bucks this postseason. 

No other Milwaukee player is over five points per game. If Antetokounmpo or Lillard are out, expect Danilo Gallinari, Pat Connaughton, AJ Green, Andre Jackson Jr. and Jae Crowder to play at times tonight.

Haliburton, Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam are projected to be the 6th-8th fantasy players tonight.

Haliburton is averaging 15.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.8 turnovers. Siakam is at 23 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists, while Turner has 22 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 blocks.

Andrew Nembhard is a sneaky solid play, as he’s averaging 13.8 points, 4.8 assists and 3 rebounds this series. Obi Toppin is at 10.6 points and 5.4 rebounds, while Aaron Nesmith has 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.

T.J. McConnell (7.4) and Ben Sheppard (6.4) are also scoring over five points per game and are the only other Pacers to have played in all five games this series.

Knicks at 76ers

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid is questionable for game 6, but you should expect him to play and lead the team. Mitchell Robinson is the only injured Knick that has a chance to play - he’s questionable. Bojan Bogdanovic is among the players out, and he won’t play again this season either.

Embiid is the top projected fantasy player tonight. He’s averaging 31.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.6 blocks, 1.2 steals and 4 turnovers per game. Embiid is shooting 43.5% overall and 32.4% from deep, numbers that are likely down because of his injuries and ailments.

Tyrese Maxey has been fantastic this postseason and is the fifth-highest projected fantasy option for the day. Maxey is averaging 32.4 points, 7.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 turnovers while shooting 50% overall and 42.9% from deep.

Kelly Oubre Jr. and Tobias Harris are also scoring in double figures this series. Oubre is averaging 12.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2 steals, 1.8 assists and 1.2 blocks. Harris is at 10.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals.

Kyle Lowry has been a solid option too, with averages of 8.4 points, 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals, but also 4.2 turnovers.

Cameron Payne has averaged 5.5 points across 11.5 minutes in four games played. Nicolas Batum is averaging 4.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists across 28.4 minutes, while Paul Reed is at 1.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 7.2 minutes.

Buddy Hield has appeared in three games this series, but hasn’t done much while on the court. Expect Embiid and Maxey to carry Philly offensively, and if it can get a decent outing from Oubre, Harris or Lowry, the Sixers might force a game 7.

Jalen Brunson leads New York on the court and is the third-highest projected fantasy player tonight. He’s averaging 34.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 3 turnovers per game. Brunson is shooting 41.9% overall, but just 28.9% from 3-point land.

Josh Hart has arguably been the Knicks’ second-best player this postseason. He’s averaging 17 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.2 blocks. He’s shooting 39.7% overall, but 40.6% from deep.

OG Anunoby is averaging 14.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks this series. He’s been efficient, with an overall shooting percentage of 52.5.

Miles McBride is also in double figures, scoring 13 points per game this postseason. He’s also averaging 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists across 26.2 minutes played.

Donte DiVincenzo is shooting just 33.3% this series and is averaging 9.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Isaiah Hartenstein is at 9.6 points, 6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 blocks and will have a big role again if Robinson cannot play.

Speaking of Robinson, he’s averaging 3.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1 steal across four games this postseason. Precious Achiuwa has only played in two games this series, but is averaging 15 minutes in those contests - he logged minutes in games 3 and 4.

Upcoming Playoff Games/Recent Results

There will be two NBA playoff games on May 3.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to close out the Orlando Magic in game 6 of their series. The home team has won each game of the series, and game 6 is in Orlando.

The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers will play game 6 of their series on Friday as well. Dallas rolled to a 123-93 win on Wednesday to take the series lead.

The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat also met on Wednesday, with Boston easing to a 118-84 victory to finish off that series.

Boston will play the winner of the Orlando, Cleveland series in the conference semifinals. The winner of the Bucks, Pacers and Knicks, 76ers series will meet in the other Eastern Conference semifinal.

In the Western Conference, only the Mavericks, Clippers series is still going. The winner will take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semifinals.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets will battle in the other semifinal. That’s the only conference semifinal series that’s locked into place already, so the teams are patiently waiting to get back on the court.

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