New Top Five Fantasy Stars Emerge as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Dominates NBA Finals Performance Rankings

Last week in the NBA playoffs saw the initial two encounters in the chase for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, with the Pacers and Thunder facing off in Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals on Thursday and Sunday evenings. While many of the familiar stars rose to the occasion in these high-pressure matchups, a notable newcomer made waves in the top five performances this week.

As per our tradition, let’s explore the top five fantasy standouts from the previous week, followed by a look at five players typically available at reasonable price points in DFS contests—making them worthy of consideration for the forthcoming NBA Finals.

#1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder

Last Week: 60.3 FP/G

The reigning Kia Most Valuable Player entered the Finals with momentum after impressive back-to-back performances against the Timberwolves, where he scored 40 and 34 points in the concluding games of the Western Conference Finals. He kept that momentum going in the Finals, taking a postseason-high 30 shots in Game 1, where he netted 38 points along with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. In Game 2, he played a crucial role in OKC’s quest for redemption, finishing with a remarkable 34-point, eight-assist, five-rebound, four-steal, one-block stat line over 36 minutes, shooting 11-of-21 from the field and converting 11 of 12 free-throw attempts.

#2. Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers

Last Week: 35.8 FP/G

Haliburton ranks second this week after playing a pivotal role in the Pacers’ surprising Game 1 victory, thanks to his clutch game-winning shot. Nevertheless, despite the excitement surrounding Indiana’s win, Haliburton’s performance was relatively modest by his standards, as he tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and one block in 39 minutes. He had a more comprehensive outing in Game 2, checking off all categories with 17 points, six assists, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, although it came during a significant loss.

#3. Pascal Siakam, Pacers

Last Week: 35.5 FP/G

Siakam delivered a solid follow-up to his Eastern Conference Finals MVP performance in Game 1 of the Finals, achieving a balanced double-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and a block over 35 minutes. However, he faced a significant decline in Game 2, where his inefficient shooting (3-for-11) contributed to Indiana’s struggles. Despite this, he managed to convert eight of nine free-throw attempts, leading to a total of 15 points, and contributed seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, earning him the third spot on this list.

#4. Jalen Williams, Thunder

Last Week: 33.7 FP/G

Williams kicked off the Finals in typical fashion, showcasing a well-rounded average of 18.0 points, 5.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals over 35 minutes per game. Nonetheless, he struggled with his shooting, making only 33.3% of his shot attempts from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc. On the bright side, his impressive 92.3% free-throw shooting helped counterbalance his inefficiency, and he’s shown the ability to heat up on any given night.

#5. Alex Caruso, Thunder

Last Week: 29.2 FP/G

Caruso stands out as the most unexpected entry in this week’s top five, given the inherent fluctuations in the contributions of a defensive specialist playing a bench role. However, he started the Finals with consecutive double-digit scoring outings for the first time since after the semifinal series against the Nuggets, scoring 11 and tying his postseason-high with 20 points in Games 1 and 2, respectively. His first performance was more balanced from a fantasy perspective, as he also added six rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks during OKC’s series-opening loss.

Andrew Nembhard, Pacers

Last Week: 27.8 FP/G

Nembhard has consistently delivered expected production over the initial two contests of the series, averaging 12.5 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game across 32 minutes.

Myles Turner, Pacers

Last Week: 26.3 FP/G

Turner rebounded from a disappointing finish in the Eastern Conference Finals, averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks in the first two Finals games while shooting at a rate of 50.0%.

Luguentz Dort, Thunder

Last Week: 24.6 FP/G

Dort’s fantasy inconsistency was evident in the first two Finals games, but his three-point shooting and knack for accumulating defensive stats consistently offer him potential as a value option in DFS tournaments.

T.J. McConnell, Pacers

Last Week: 22.9 FP/G

McConnell’s efficiency has been remarkable during the first two games, boasting a shooting percentage of 69.2% while contributing 10.0 points, 5.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in just 17.5 minutes per game.

Aaron Nesmith, Pacers

Last Week: 21.4 FP/G

Nesmith has emerged as a valuable mid-range salary option for fantasy players during the first two Finals contests, averaging 12.0 points and 8.0 rebounds while successfully converting an impressive 46.7% of his 7.5 attempts from three-point range.