Brunson erupts as Knicks seize series opener

Brunson led the Knicks' fourth-quarter surge in Game 1 and reinforced his status as the top fantasy centerpiece in the series. His playoff ceiling is especially high when New York is forced into tighter half-court possessions.

Bridges was cited as one of the key Knicks plays in DFS previews for Tuesday's Game 1 and remains a strong minutes-and-stats stabilizer. His value rises if the Knicks continue leaning on their top wings for heavy two-way run.

Mitchell was a focal point in Cleveland DFS discussion, but the Cavaliers' offense stalled late against New York. Fantasy managers should watch whether his shot volume rebounds if Cleveland needs more aggressive scoring in Game 2.

Mobley was specifically highlighted as a player to reduce variance on in DFS, reflecting some uncertainty in his night-to-night production. If Cleveland changes its frontcourt usage, his rebounding and defensive stats could become more valuable.

Merrill got a boost in DFS chatter, suggesting a deeper-rotation path that fantasy managers in playoff formats may want to monitor. He is more of a speculative add, but his role could matter if Cleveland seeks extra shooting.