This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Monday brings a quiet night in the NBA playoffs with only two games on the schedule. The Sixers will look to rebound from a disappointing loss in Game 1 against the Nets while the Warriors will look to hold serve at home with another win over the Clippers. We also have another opportunity to win some money on Yahoo, so here are some players to target and avoid for your entry.
GUARDS
Stephen Curry, GS vs. LAC ($43): To say Curry played well in Game 1 would be an understatement. He shot 11-for-16 from the field, including 8-for-12 from behind the arc, on his way to 38 points. He also contributed a staggering 15 rebounds and seven assists. With both of these teams ranked inside the top-10 in the league in pace of play during the regular season, Curry is going to have plenty of opportunities to stuff the stat sheet again Monday.
Patrick Beverley, LAC at GS ($16): As hot as Curry was in the scoring department, Beverley was just 1-for-6 from the field in Game 1. While he only finished with three points, he helped salvage his stat line with seven rebounds, seven assists and one steal. The key is he played 31 minutes despite being ejected in the fourth quarter and he should play a ton again in this contest. Even though his scoring upside isn't great, he can provide enough across the board to be worth considering.
Guard to Avoid
Spencer Dinwiddie, BKN at PHI ($19): The Nets pulled off a huge win on the road Saturday and Dinwiddie played a key role with 18 points across 32 minutes. However, as is sometimes the case, he provided very little outside of the scoring column with just three rebounds and one assist. He only averaged 2.4 rebounds a game during the regular season and has now dished out three assists or fewer in 10 of his last 15 games. Since he's not all that cheap, it might be wise to spend elsewhere.
FORWARDS
Jimmy Butler, PHI vs. BKN ($37): With Joel Embiid battling a knee injury, Butler tried to put the Sixers on his back in Game 1. Not only was he 11-for-22 from the field, but he was also 13-for-15 from the charity stripe on his way to 36 points. He also chipped in nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks on his way to 56.8 Yahoo points. Embiid could be limited again Monday, so expect Butler to once again play a vital role in their offense.
Joe Harris, BKN at PHI ($13): Harris didn't exactly shine in Game 1 with 14.6 Yahoo points. He scored 13 points on 5-for-7 from the field, which included going 3-for-4 from behind the arc. The problem was he only had three rebounds and didn't register an assist, steal or block. Despite having a relatively low ceiling, his 47.4 percent shooting from behind the arc this year and secure playing time makes him an intriguing tournament play option for such a limited slate.
Forward to Avoid
Tobias Harris, PHI vs. BKN ($29): The good news was that Harris registered seven rebounds, six assists and a steal across 41 minutes in the first game of this season. The bad news was that he only scored four points. Oddly enough, he only attempted seven shots. That's rare considering he averaged 14.8 shot attempts per game after being dealt to the Sixers. It wouldn't be surprising to see him more involved Monday, especially if Embiid isn't able to play. However, if Embiid does take the floor, he and Butler are going to be their offensive leaders. Harris is not cheap by any means, making him a risky option.
CENTERS
Montrezl Harrell, LAC at GS ($24): One of the few bright spots for the Clippers in Game 1 was Harrell, who scored 46 Yahoo points across 30 minutes. Ivica Zubac looked overmatched, which contributed to him logging just 10 minutes. The up-tempo pace at which both teams play might be a better fit for Harrell's skillset, as well. As far as mid-tier options go, Harrell is one of the best ones to target.
Boban Marjanovic, PHI vs. BKN ($10): Embiid was able to gut out 22 points and 15 rebounds in Game 1 despite his knee injury. However, he logged only 24 minutes and could be limited again Monday if he does play. Marjanovic was able to carve out 15 minutes for himself and was productive with 27.6 Yahoo points. The Nets allowed the sixth-most Yahoo points per game (42.6) to opposing centers during the regular season, so Marjanovic might be worth a dart throw in tournament play even if Embiid plays.
Center to Avoid
DeMarcus Cousins, GS vs. LAC ($29): Cousins struggled to shoot 4-for-12 from the field in Game 1, but the bigger concern was that he logged just 21 minutes. The Clippers can deploy some small lineups that could cause problems for Cousins, so this might not exactly be an ideal first-round opponent for him. The Warriors formula clearly worked in Game 1, so don't be surprised if Cousins sees limited playing time once again.
