This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We're set for a pair of intriguing Game 3 clashes Friday night, as the Pacers look to take what would be a shocking 3-0 lead in their series against the Cavaliers. Meanwhile, the Nuggets, already having taken one game in enemy territory, try to bounce back from a Game 2 drubbing as they return home to Ball Arena. Cleveland continues to manage multiple injury concerns as it attempts to avoid falling into what could prove to be an insurmountable hole.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Friday, May 9 @12:00 a.m. ET:
Cleveland Cavaliers (-2.5) at Indiana Pacers (O/U: 229.5)
Oklahoma City Thunder (-5) at Denver Nuggets (O/U: 233.5)
There are several things that stand out about the betting landscape Friday, starting with the Cavaliers' 2.5-point projected advantage on the road despite the possibility of multiple key absences once again looming for Cleveland and the Pacers' wins in the first two games of the series on the road. Indiana also notably had a 29-11 record straight up at home during the regular season. The total is understandable considering the first two games of the series finished with 233 and 239 points.
The Thunder's status as five-point road favorites isn't as surprising, especially after they bounced back in stellar fashion in Game 2. OKC seemed to work out the kinks and has a full season's worth of outstanding play to back up their projected advantage, including a 32-8 away record and the fact they were just three points shy of winning both games at Ball Arena during the regular season.
Injury Situations to Monitor
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Evan Mobley, CLE (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
If Mobley can't play, Dean Wade will likely draw another start at power forward and the likes of Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen should see even more usage than usual.
Darius Garland, CLE (toe): QUESTIONABLE
Should Garland not be able to suit up, either Sam Merrill or Ty Jerome should start at point guard.
Other notable injuries:
De'Andre Hunter, CLE (thumb): QUESTIONABLE
Elite Players
The three highest-salaried players on Friday's slate are Nikola Jokic ($11,600), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,700) and Donovan Mitchell ($9,500).
Jokic scored just 35.6 standard FD points in Game 2 while logging a modest 32 minutes due to the lopsided nature of the contest, but he naturally has the most upside of any player on the slate and delivered 79.4 against OKC in Game 1 of the series.
SGA has put up 65 and 48.8 standard FD points in the first two games of the series, and he's eclipsed 48 in five straight postseason games overall. With the game on the road, there's certainly a higher probability of a wire-to-wire battle that will lock in a high minutes total for the star guard.
Mitchell should once again be set for elevated usage considering it's likely at least one of either Darius Garland or Evan Mobley sits out, and he already checks in having scored 48.0 and 77.5 FD standard FD points in the first two games while taking 30 shot attempts in each of those contests.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Tyrese Haliburton, IND ($9,000)
Haliburton scored 56.1 and 38.8 FD points in the first two games of the series and should naturally continue to be very popular as the series shifts to Indiana.
Jalen Williams, OKC ($8,300)
Williams has been his usual reliable self all postseason while averaging 41.1 FD points in the first six games, and he should therefore find himself in plenty of lineups Friday.
Jamal Murray, DEN ($7,600)
Murray opened the series with 36.2 FD points in Game 1, and despite his reduced output in Game 2, he'll undoubtedly be highly rostered given his upside and name value.
Jarrett Allen, CLE ($7,500)
Allen should be even more popular than usual if Mobley is out again, as the big man scored 45.9 FD points in 37 minutes during Game 2 without his frontcourt mate available.
Chet Holmgren, OKC ($7,300)
Holmgren's totals of 35.2 and 43.2 FD points in the first two games of the series should ensure he's a popular "value" option at either power forward or center.
Key Values
Myles Turner, IND vs. CLE ($6,300)
Turner has overdelivered relative to salary in the first two games of the series, scoring 39.7 and 51.1 FD points on averages of 18.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 3.5 blocks and 2.0 steals per contest while shooting 50.0 percent. The big man has actually been impressively steady throughout Indiana's playoff run so far, contributing 17.1 points (on 50.6 percent shooting, including 37.5 percent from three-point range), 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.6 blocks and 35.7 FD points per contest. His salary has remained surprisingly reasonable, and with his already proven ability to thrive on both ends of the court against Cleveland, he's a very viable play again Friday at home, where he averaged 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.4 blocks during the regular season.
Aaron Gordon, DEN vs. OKC ($6,100)
Gordon was the hero in Game 1, when he capped off his second straight 39.3 FD-point tally with a game-winning three-pointer. He offered a modest 19.1 FD points in Game 2 over 27 minutes on the floor, with a 3-for-12 shooting performance a major culprit. However, that semi-clunker aside, Gordon has been very dependable throughout the playoffs, as he averaged 29.8 FD points in the seven-game first-round series against the Clippers while shooting 51.6 percent. Gordon shot 46.7 percent, including 50.0 percent from behind the arc, in two games against OKC during the regular season, and he drained an elite 52.0 percent of three-point shots at home during the 2024-25 campaign as well.
Aaron Nesmith, IND vs. CLE ($5,500)
Nesmith has followed up a solid regular season with a strong postseason thus far, averaging 29.6 FD points via 16.3 points (56.2 percent shooting, including 56.1 percent from distance), 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists over seven playoff contests. The veteran forward has six consecutive double-digit scoring performances, and he's taken double-digit shot attempts on three occasions during that span. With Cleveland potentially playing short-handed again Friday and Nesmith also having shot 52.4 percent in two games against the Cavaliers during the regular season, he's bound to be an extremely popular value option that could well overdeliver on investment yet again.
ALSO CONSIDER: Andrew Nembhard, IND vs. CLE ($5,800)
