Facing a challenging 3-1 series deficit in the 2025 NBA playoffs and the significant setback of losing Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles tendon, the Celtics are looking to regroup. With no single player able to replicate Tatum`s impact, his scoring and playmaking responsibilities will need to be shared among the team. Boston hosts Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks in Game 5, where players like Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford are anticipated to take on larger roles. This distribution of minutes and usage is crucial for daily fantasy basketball managers building their NBA DFS lineups.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler and the Warriors are also battling to avoid elimination without their primary star, Steph Curry. Golden State travels to face Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves in a critical game. This situation highlights the potential for Butler to deliver a standout “Playoff Jimmy” performance. Deciding whether to include Butler in Wednesday`s NBA DFS strategy requires expert insight. Before making any final NBA DFS selections, it is advisable to review the analysis and top picks from fantasy sports professional Mike McClure.
Mike McClure is a prominent figure in DFS, with career winnings exceeding $2 million. He also serves as a predictive data engineer, utilizing a powerful model that simulates every game minute by minute, 10,000 times. This model incorporates various factors, including player matchups, statistical trends, and injury impacts, to identify the most valuable NBA DFS options and generate optimal lineups.
McClure`s recent success includes identifying Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a top NBA DFS pick on Tuesday. Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an impressive stat line with 31 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, providing significant fantasy point returns (55 on DraftKings and 55.7 on FanDuel). His inclusion offered excellent value for daily fantasy lineups.
For Wednesday`s NBA schedule, McClure has finalized his top daily fantasy basketball selections. One featured pick is Celtics small forward Jaylen Brown. With Jayson Tatum sidelined, Brown is expected to step up as Boston`s primary offensive option, a role he has handled effectively in the past. When Tatum missed Game 2 of the first-round series, Brown posted exceptional numbers: 36 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. His point and assist totals were playoff season-highs, and his 10 rebounds were his second-highest this postseason. That performance occurred against Orlando`s top-ranked defense, while the Knicks` defense ranks lower (9th in scoring defense, 14th in defensive rating). Playing at TD Garden also boosts Brown`s fantasy value, as he has consistently scored at least 20 points and grabbed at least six rebounds in his last four home games against New York. Additionally, he delivered strong outings (24 and 26 points) in two March games where Tatum was absent. Given the significant offensive load Tatum carried before his injury (42 points in 40 minutes in Game 4), Brown is poised to absorb substantial usage, making his current salary potentially undervalued.
Another key component of McClure`s optimal NBA DFS strategy is Warriors shooting guard Buddy Hield. Hield has been one of Golden State`s most consistent offensive contributors in their series against Minnesota, scoring at least 13 points in every game. Across the board, his playoff production in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks has surpassed his regular-season averages. In his last seven matchups against the Timberwolves, including the 2024-25 regular season, Hield has averaged 17.4 points. With Steph Curry`s injury, Hield`s playing time has increased significantly, averaging 32 minutes over the last three games of the series, a trend expected to continue on Wednesday. In 11 regular-season games where he played 30 or more minutes, Hield averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals. A favorable factor for Hield is the series location shifting back to Minnesota, where he has demonstrated better shooting efficiency, posting a 59% true shooting percentage in away games compared to 53% at home.
McClure`s comprehensive analysis identifies other players with potential for high fantasy production on Wednesday, influenced by favorable matchups. These selections can be pivotal for success in both tournament and cash games. His complete list of top NBA DFS picks, detailed rankings, expert advice, and optimized lineups are available.
Jasper Hawthorne