Dallas

Mavericks

Lively was back in the rotation after sitting out Tuesday’s Game 4 defeat, and the rookie was impactful on both ends of the floor. He didn’t miss a shot from the field and was also effective as a playmaker in the short roll. Add in eight rebounds and three blocked shots, and Lively was one of the other difference-makers in Game 5. Starting center Daniel Gafford was also 3-of-3 from the field, tallying 11 points, nine rebounds, and one blocked shot in 20 minutes. Next up for Dallas are the Celtics in the NBA Finals, which begin on June 6.

While backcourt partner Luka Doncic was the one who got things rolling in Game 5, Irving wasn’t far off. Notching his third 30-point game of the series, Kyrie scored 17 points in the first half and kept rolling after halftime. In helping the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011, Irving will face one of his former teams with a championship on the line. The NBA Finals open on June 6 in Boston, with the Celtics having the league’s best regular season record.

After failing to close out Minnesota in Game 4, Doncic and the Mavericks left no doubt in Game 5 on Thursday. He outscored the Timberwolves by himself in the first quarter, dropping 20 points to Minnesota’s 19. After that start, the outcome was not in doubt, and Doncic will make his first NBA Finals appearance next Thursday in Boston. The Celtics’ perimeter defenders can offer more defensive resistance, but Luka should benefit from the time off before the Finals begin.

There is no surprise here, as the Mavericks have consistently listed Doncic as questionable before clearing him to play. DFS players should set their lineups accordingly; it would take a blowout in either direction for Doncic not to play at least 40 minutes.

Lively is back after sitting out Tuesday’s Game 4 defeat, meaning Dallas will have both of its preferred centers available. Daniel Gafford remains the starter, while Lively’s return means fewer minutes for Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell. One of those two veterans is likely to fall out of the rotation entirely.

Doncic remains on the Mavericks’ preliminary injury report, but DFS players should expect to see him on the court on Thursday. He played 41 minutes in Tuesday’s Game 4 defeat and should take on a similar workload in Game 5.

After injuring his neck during Game 3, Lively did not play in Dallas’ loss in Game 4 on Tuesday. However, TNT did report that the rookie was making strides in his recovery, and a return for Game 5 was a realistic possibility. If Lively plays, Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell may fall out of the rotation entirely.

While he hasn’t figured prominently in the Mavericks’ rotation, Hardy’s minutes have increased in the Western Conference Finals. He’s played at least nine minutes in all four games, with Tuesday’s being his best. Hardy shot 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and reached double figures for the second time this postseason (Game 5 vs. LAC in the first round). Even with PJ Washington (10/5/2/0/1 with two 3-pointers in 42 minutes) struggling to knock down perimeter shots consistently, Hardy’s minutes are unlikely to increase in Game 5 on Thursday. He isn’t worth the risk in DFS tournaments.

With Dereck Lively II out with a sprained neck, it was evident that Gafford’s minutes would increase. The 31 minutes he played on Tuesday are the most for DG this postseason, and he was productive as a finisher, rebounder, and rim protector. Maxi Kleber played 13 of the remaining minutes, finishing with two points, one rebound, and one assist in his first game back from a separated shoulder. His minutes in Game 5 will be impacted by the status of Lively, who is trending toward being available to play on Thursday.

Throughout the postseason, Irving has made a habit of flipping the switch after halftime. He scored ten of his 16 points in the second half, but the overall inefficiency was an issue for Irving and the Mavericks. Tuesday’s loss drops his record in close-out games to 14-1, which is still remarkable. Kyrie and the Mavericks now have to head north for Game 5 on Thursday, where they’ll have another opportunity to seal their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011.