NBA DFS Playbook April 8: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Plays
Published: Apr 08, 2023
UPDATE: NUGGETS ARE PLAYING THEIR STARTERS TODAY. HOW MUCH THEY PLAY REMAINS TO BE SEEN. BRUCE BROWN IS UNLIKELY TO PLAY. Today's NBA DFS slate may be a small, three-game affair, but there are lots of questions to be answered. We know the Spurs and Blazers are suiting up third-string player. But to the Nuggets rest their starters? Do the Clippers' players go the whole game when they are projected to win by 17 points? Will Karl-Anthony Towns be able to play in this critical game?
Be sure to check out our NBA DFS projections, powered by FanJections, NBA DFS Lineup Generator, and all of the rest of our NBA DFS content and tools! Let's break down James' top plays of the day for DraftKings and FanDuel!
Teams Playing for Something Today
- Clippers
- Timberwolves
Notable NBA Injury Updates
- All Nuggets starters (ALL NOW AVAILABLE) - Questionable
- All Jazz starters - OUT
- Karl-Anthony Towns - Questionable
- Keldon Johnson (NOW OUT) and Romeo Langford - Questionable
- Paul George - OUT
- All Trail Blazers starters - OUT
- Drew Eubanks and Cam Reddish (NOW OUT) - Questionable
Highest NBA Game Totals
- Minnesota Timberwolves @ San Antonio Spurs - 232.5
- Portland Trail Blazers @ Los Angeles Clippers - 235
Best Pace Matchups
- Minnesota Timberwolves (9th) vs. San Antonio (3rd)
- Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz (12th)
Best DRtg Matchups
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs (30th)
- Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers (27th)
- Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz (24th)
Favorite Players to Use for DFS Lineups
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
When Paul George does not play, Kawhi Leonard has a 30% usage rate and scores 1.29 fantasy points per minute. That's about all you need to know in this must-win game for the Clippers against the 27th-ranked Portland defense. Kawhi has the highest ceiling on the slate if Jokic does not play and the only thing that could keep him from going off would be if the Clippers are up by so much that Leonard does not play in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
The biggest games require huge performances from the top guys, and that is exactly what Minnesota will need from Edwards today. Especially of Towns is out, Minnesota will be looking to Edwards for offense and to set ths tone. The Spurs are the absolute worst team against shooting guards this season and have fallen all the way to 30th in defensive rating. Minnesota needs this game to have a hope of the eighth seed, so expect big minutes from Edwards.
Kris Dunn, Utah Jazz
Kris Dunn wasn't even on this Jazz team before the end of February, but he has transformed into their most reliable fantasy producer in the wake of their top guys begin out with injury, rest, or tanking purposes. Dunn played his most minutes of the season (34) and dropped his most fantasy points (44) against the Thunder on Thursday, and while the salary has gone up everywhere, he is still one of the most reliable players today for minutes.
Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
Over the last 30 games, the Spurs have been three and a half points worse than any other team against opposing centers. They allow 63.5 fantasy points per game to the position, including almost 27 points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks. If Towns does not play in this one, Gobert gets a huge bump up in fantasy projections as well.
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jokic will suit up for just the second time since March 27th when he plays the Utah Jazz today. The Nuggets likely want him to get some reps in for the playoffs, so presumably he plays a full game today and is limited or out for the season finale tomorrow. The Jazz have not held Jokic in check this season, as he averages 56 fantasy points in just 31 minutes per game against them.
Favorite Value Players for DFS Lineups
- Luka Samanic, Utah Jazz
- Simone Fontecchio, Utah Jazz
- Juan Toscano-Anderson, Utah Jazz
- Malaki Branham, San Antonio Spurs
- Reggie Jackson, Denver Nuggets
- Trendon Watford
Player Pool
| $ Tier | PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Russell Westbrook  $8,300 |  Anthony Edwards $9,300 |  Kawhi Leonard $10,600 | Nikola Jokić $12,000 | |
| Medium | Kris Dunn $7,000 |  Shaedon Sharpe $8,200 |  Keldon Johnson $8,100 |  Kyle Anderson $6,400 |  Trendon Watford $6,000 |
| Skylar Mays $5,900 | Rudy Gobert $7,400 | ||||
| Low | Mike Conley $5,800 |  Ochai Agbaji $5,700 |  Simone Fontecchio $4,800 |  Luka Samanic $5,200 |  Udoka Azubuike $5,500 |
Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.