Welcome to Sleeper Picks. Sleeper’s newest offering promised plenty of entertainment and action, and they delivered. We will break down our top three picks for tonight’s NBA action. Sleeper is quickly becoming one of the most popular season-long fantasy platforms, and they are expanding into other areas based on demand. Each week in this space, we’ll talk about some strategy for the new platform while providing our favorite NBA more/less picks.
NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions (5/9)
Tyrese Haliburton (G – IND): 14.5 points (alt line)
Haliburton at just 14.5 points is a high probability play. The 7.5 assists also presents strong appeal, but after Tyrese disappointed with just four assists in Game 2, we will stick with the points tonight. Tyrese has been the Pacers’ engine and closer in this series, and he will need to provide more of the same tonight if Indiana wants to wrestle complete control of this series and put them one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals. Tyrese has scored at least 19 points in both games of this series and has dropped 19 or more in each of his last four playoff games. Tap the More on Tyrese for Friday night basketball.
Pick: More
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (G – OKC): 24.5 points (alt line)
Expect SGA to come out firing in a pivotal Game 3. It is obvious that Oklahoma City is the better team in this series, but Denver’s championship experience and the Joker effect should keep the Nuggets in a position to win any game, especially if the Thunder’s relative inexperience makes them falter like it did in Game 1. SGA has been locked in the postseason, scoring 27 or more points in each of his last five games. Shai may finally have turned a corner in Game 2, as he was not as efficient as we were used to before his scintillating 11/13 from the field with a perfect 11/11 makes from the charity stripe. If SGA doesn’t get early rest in another blowout of the Nuggets, the 25 point alt line is a number that should be hit with relative ease. Slap the More on SGA for Friday night at Sleeper Picks.
Pick: More
Jalen Williams (G/F – OKC): 14.5 points (alt line)
Jalen has been a star for the Thunder this season. With Chet Holmgren continuing to miss chunks of games at a time, Jalen made his first all-star team. While the NBA incessantly tinkering with the format may have ruined it, making the team, even once in a year without an actual game, is still an accomplishment. Jalen has become a reliable scoring option for the Thunder and has poured in at least 15 points in all six of his playoff games. He scored at least 20 in each game of the first round and had dropped 16 or more in both games of this series. This is a number he hit when playing fewer than 27 minutes twice and while shooting .250 in Game 1. Work with the More on Williams for Friday night’s NBA action.
Pick: More
Writers note: The lines are constantly changing on Sleeper (and sometimes expiring), so there is a high probability that one or all of the numbers may no longer be the same when you open your app. There are excellent values when they are first posted, with the only catch being that they are not all released at the same time. Vigilance could provide a solid return on investment this season, literally.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.
