This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
We have a two-game slate featured on DraftKings for Tuesday. The Nuggets were able to force a Game 7 against the Clippers, thanks to a monster effort from Nikola Jokic who poured in 34 real points and 14 rebounds. The winner will face the Lakers for a chance to play in the NBA Finals. Two other teams vying for that opportunity square off for Game 1 in the East, with the Heat taking on the Celtics.
Slate Overview
DEN vs. LAC (-7.5) O/U 207.5
It'll be another Game 7 for the Nuggets after going the distance with the Jazz in the first round. Nikola Jokic should remain the focal point of the offense after dropping a massive double-double to extend the series. We can expect the Clippers to continue to lean on their All-Star tandem of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who did all they could to close out Denver in Game 6, with the latter posting a better outing of 57.5 fantasy points at only $8,300.
MIA vs. BOS (-1.5) O/U 209.5
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals has the Heat taking on the Celtics in what should be a contentious series between two of the best teams in the league. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo should lead the way for Miami while the Celtics have been running a two-man show with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as the two primary scoring options for Boston.
Injury Situations to Monitor
We have a clean injury report. All key players should be good to go.
Elite Plays
Nikola Jokic, DEN ($10,000)
The Denver big man is playing his best basketball of the season after churning out back to back 60-plus fantasy point games. Those performances helped the Nuggets extend the series, and they'll need Jokic to repeat his stellar play if they want to come away with the win and advance to the Western Conference Finals. The Clippers remain undersized at center which has allowed Jokic to eat up rebounds with ease, and he should continue to exploit the mismatch. He also has the ability to step back behind the arc knock down a three-pointer or two, which was evident in his 4-6 shooing from downtown in Game 6.
Jayson Tatum, BOS ($9,700)
The former Duke Blue Devil has been doing it all for the Celtics during this playoff run. Since losing teammate Gordon Hayward for the season, Tatum has taken on an even larger role, which has increased his usage to 24.4 percent over the last four weeks. It's resulted in multiple 60 fantasy point games with him showcasing his stat-stuffing skills, adding steals and blocks while consistently getting to the free throw line for some easy buckets.
Expected Chalk
Paul George, LAC ($8,600)
After struggling mightily in Game 4, George answered the call and responded with back-to-back 50-plus fantasy point outings. He's looked far more aggressive than he did in the first round of the playoffs, and the Clippers will need him to a have big game here if they want to get past the pesky Nuggets and face their Los Angeles counterparts in the Western Conference Finals. Going 8-for-19 from three-point range over his last two games has been the standout adjustment, and hopefully he'll keep that going in Game 7 with everything on the line.
Goran Dragic, MIA ($7,300)
Since entering the starting lineup for Kendrick Nunn, Dragic has seen the highest usage (22.5 percent) on the team over the last month. With his ability to score, grab rebounds and deliver assists, he makes for one of the steadier plays on the slate, scoring over 30 fantasy points in all but one playoff game so far. Dragic also delivered two 30-plus fantasy point games against the Celtics during the regular season.
Key Values
Gary Harris, DEN ($4,600)
Harris missed all of the regular season relaunch and four of the six games against the Jazz, but he's since returned to the lineup and has looked solid in his starting role. Playing 42 minutes in Game 6, he went 2-for-4 from downtown and grabbed four steals on his way to 31 fantasy points. The Nuggets rotations can be a little unpredictable at times, but it seems Harris has secured his spot back in the starting lineup and should continue to produce alongside backcourt teammate Jamal Murray.
Kelly Olynyk, MIA ($3,500)
While his playing time can be somewhat erratic, he's still a high fantasy point per minute producer and typically plays well against his former Boston club, posting a 42.2 fantasy point outing in their most recent meeting. The options aren't great at this price point, so taking a shot on Olynyk in hopes his experience and familiarity with the opponent gets him a few extra minutes on the court could prove to be beneficial if you're trying to squeeze in a couple extra high-upside players into your lineup.
