May 3 Top Fantasy Basketball Options: Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Franz Wagner, Kyrie Irving and More

Two more first-round playoff games will be played on Friday, May 3. Let’s take a look at the best fantasy options for the night.

The Cleveland Cavaliers hit the road to try to wrap up their series with the Orlando Magic. The home team has won every game in the series so far.

The Dallas Mavericks look to advance with a win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Dallas is playing at home, and would like nothing more than to wrap up this series tonight.

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Cavaliers at Magic

Jarrett Allen is questionable for Cleveland with an injury to his ribs - he was present at the team’s morning shootaround, so he’s trending toward playing. Cleveland will be without Craig Porter Jr. Orlando’s Gary Harris is questionable Friday with a hamstring injury.

Donovan Mitchell will lead the Cavaliers, and is the second-highest projected fantasy player for Friday’s playoff action. He’s averaging 22.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and assists, 1.8 steals and 3.8 turnovers in the postseason. Mitchell is shooting 41.7% overall and just 22.9% from deep.

Allen has been a monster in four games played, averaging 17 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists and steals. He’s shooting 67.6% overall.

Evan Mobley is at 14.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and assists and 1 steal this series. Darius Garland is averaging 14.2 points, 5.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds.

Caris LeVert is averaging 7.2 points and 2 assists across 24 minutes played. Max Strus is at 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1 steal in 32.6 minutes.

Isaac Okoro has played in all five games this series, averaging 4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and steals and 1.2 assists across 20.8 minutes. Georges Niang and Marcus Morris Sr. are averaging double-digit minutes, but have played four and three games this series, respectively.

Sam Merrill has played in four of the games, but is averaging less than 10 minutes per. Tristan Thompson is at 8.3 minutes across three contests.

With Allen out last game, Cleveland went smaller, with Okoro starting in Allen’s place. Morris played 26 minutes off the bench, while Thompson got nine minutes. Since the Cavaliers won that game, you could expect a pretty similar rotation probably if Allen is out again.

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are leading the Magic in this series. Banchero is the fifth-highest projected fantasy player tonight, while Wagner is seventh.

Banchero is averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 4.8 turnovers in this series. He’s shooting 48.5% overall and 37.9% from 3-point land.

Wagner is shooting 47.2% overall and 33.3% from deep. He’s averaging 20 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 blocks, while turning the ball over just 1.6 times per game.

Jalen Suggs is third on the team with 14.2 points per game this series. He’s also averaging 4.2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.4 steals.

Jonathan Isaac, Moritz Wagner, Markelle Fultz, Wendell Carter Jr., Cole Anthony and Harris have all played in all five games this series. 

Isaac is at 8.4 points, 4.6 boards, 1.6 blocks and 1 steal per game. Wagner is averaging 7.8 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Fultz is at 6.2 points and 2.2 rebounds. Carter is averaging 5.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists, with Anthony at 3.8 points, 2 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Harris is averaging 3.8 points, 2 rebounds and 1.2 steals.

Joe Ingles has played in all five games too, but is at just 2.2 points and rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. 

Of the seven “role players” who have played in all five games, Isaac, Carter and Harris are all over 20 minutes a game.

Clippers at Mavericks

Kawhi Leonard will miss game 6 for the Clippers, while Terance Mann is likely to be a game-time decision. Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Tim Hardaway Jr. are both out for Dallas.

Luka Doncic will power Dallas, and is the highest-projected fantasy player for Friday’s games. He’s averaging 30.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1 steal and 3.4 turnovers in this series, while shooting 41.7% overall and 26.3% from 3-point land.

Kyrie Irving has also been good, averaging 25.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.6 turnovers. He’s shooting 50% overall and 42.5% from deep. He’s the third-highest projected fantasy player for the evening.

P.J. Washington is the only other Dallas player scoring in double figures, and he’s just barely there at 10.2 points. He’s also averaging 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals and blocks per contest.

Derrick Jones Jr. is at 9.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, while Dereck Lively II has 8.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. Maxi Kleber is posting 6 points, 3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, and Daniel Gafford has 4.8 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block in this series.

Josh Green is averaging 16 minutes per game, but just 3.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals. Dante Exum has played in all five games this series, but is at just 9.2 minutes per.

James Harden is again the highest-projected LA Clipper, sitting fourth overall for the day. He’s averaging 22.2 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 block, while turning the ball over 2.6 times. Harden is shooting 47.9% overall and 43.9% from 3-point land.

Paul George is averaging 19.8 points, 6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals this series. He’s shooting 42.9% overall and is 41% from deep. Given his status and big name, a lot of people say this has been an underwhelming series for PG.

Ivica Zubac is averaging 16 points, 9 rebounds and 1 assist and steal across 31 minutes. Norman Powell is at 11.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 28.6 minutes off the bench.

Mann is averaging 8.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, so he’d be missed if he couldn’t play. Russell Westbrook is at 6.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals this series in 21 minutes per game.

Mason Plumlee and Amir Coffey have both played in all five games and 13 and 20.8 minutes, respectively, but aren’t producing much while on the court. Plumlee is at 3.8 points and 4 rebounds, while Coffey is averaging just 3 points and 1.6 rebounds. 

Upcoming Playoff Games/Recent Results

The conference semifinals will open up on Saturday, May 4, with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets squaring off in game 1 of their series. For the top fantasy options, be sure to check out the daily projections, which can be found under the NBA tab at the top of the FantasySP site.

If needed, Orlando and Cleveland and Dallas and Los Angeles would both meet in game 7s on Sunday.

On Thursday night, the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks advanced on in the playoffs after game 6 wins. Indiana topped Milwaukee 120-98, while New York topped Philadelphia 118-115. Those two winners will meet in the next round. 

The Orlando, Cleveland series winner gets the Boston Celtics. The winner of the Los Angeles, Dallas series will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Be sure to check back to FantasySP next week for more fantasy basketball stories!