We got the Indiana Pacers (3-1) at the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Denver Nuggets at the Oklahoma City Thunder (2-2) for the 5/13 Main Slate NBA DFS for Game 5. Donovan Mitchell is questionable with an ankle, but will likely have to go with the series on the line in Cleveland tonight against a red-hot Pacers team.
This might be one of the rare times that having an NBA MVP candidate like Nikola Jokic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just isn’t optimal in lineups due to their salary ($11.4K and $10K on DraftKings). Also, both have struggled in this series, as they are tied up two apiece. With that said, here are my starting five for tonight’s Game 5.
Small Forward for Main Slate
Max Strus
Cleveland Cavaliers
vs.
Indiana Pacers
(3-1)
The small forward/ shooting guard for the Cavs has been relatively consistent at $5.4K, and if Mitchell has to miss any time during the game, Max Strus slots right in there as a starter with position versatility. Strus has had two games over 25 fantasy points and two over 40, but with the series on the line, I would imagine he would play more minutes than on Sunday and would give you a decent floor against the Pacers.
Point Guard for Main Slate
Jamal Murray
Denver Nuggets
AT
Oklahoma City Thunder
(2-2)
The point guard/shooting guard for the Nuggets has had one bad fantasy game with under 25 fantasy points, but in general, has turned it on in this series with two games over 30 fantasy points and the explosion with 50 four days ago. At $7.4K on DK, Jamal Murray has picked up the pace with Jokic struggling overall. He is a good start at either guard spot, and Denver will need him to overcome the Thunder in this series, as the attention has been on Jokic from OKC.
Shooting Guard for Main Slate
Andrew Nembhard
Indiana Pacers
AT
Cleveland Cavaliers
(1-3)
Although Indiana has a spread-out offense and gets contributions from Pascal Siakam, Benedict Mathurin, and Aaron Nesmith as well, Andrew Nembhard at point guard/ shooting guard has been better as of late for the Pacers. At $5.8K on DK, despite coming off two down games fantasy-wise, he did have 30 and 40 earlier in the series. Nembhard has been a bit more reliable in terms of floor for fantasy out of the bunch in this series against the Cavs.
Power Forward for Main Slate
Aaron Gordon
Denver Nuggets
AT
Oklahoma City Thunder
(2-2)
Aaron Gordon has been clutch for Denver at center/ power forward and has been one of their reliable shooters to close out wins. The Nuggets will need him again to pull away from the Thunder, as he is $6.2K on DK. He is coming off back-to-back 40-point fantasy days and has another from the first game of the series, with just one down game with 20 against OKC.
Center for Main Slate
Myles Turner
Indiana Pacers
AT
Cleveland Cavaliers
(1-3
At $6.1K, Myles Turner for the Pacers is as reliable as you can get. He has had two games over 30 fantasy points and a 40-burger, with just one under 30. It surprises me that the center is priced that low with how involved Turner has been for Indiana, as they look to surge against the Cavs in Cleveland. Look for him to have another big game to close out the Semi-Finals.
