NBA DFS Picks & Playbook For Today: 2024 Playoffs, April 27th
Published: Apr 27, 2024
As the NBA playoffs continue to heat up, today's main slate showcases four electrifying matchups set to captivate both fans and fantasy basketball enthusiasts alike. With stakes higher than ever and every possession holding the potential to swing the tide of a series, the intensity on the hardwood is palpable, and so are our NBA DFS picks.
As DFS managers, navigating this landscape requires keen insight into player form, team dynamics, and strategic matchups. From perennial powerhouses to rising underdogs, tonight's slate promises a thrilling spectacle of athleticism, skill, and drama.
So, buckle up as we delve into the matchups and unearth the hidden gems that could propel your DFS lineups to victory on this pivotal night in the NBA postseason.
NBA DFS Tools To Dominate Tonight's NBA DFS Slate!
Make sure to check out today's NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections before finalizing your lineups today. We also have the NBA Consistency Report to help identify players that have exceeded value based on their current price tag this season and of course our NBA DFS Lineup Generator!
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Notable NBA Injury Updates
QUESTIONABLE
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NBA Game Totals
- Cleveland Cavaliers @ Orlando Magic - 201.5 (ORL -2.5)
- Oklahoma City Thunder @ New Orleans Pelicans - 209.5 (OKC -1.5)
- Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat - 201.5 (BOS -9.5)
- Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers - 218.5 (DEN -3.5)
CLE @ ORL - CLE leads series 2-1
OKC @ NOLA - OKC leads series 2-0
BOS @ MIA - Series tied at 1-1
DEN @ LAL - DEN leads series 3-0
Top Tier Core Plays
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jokic wasn’t really needed in terms of aggressiveness on the offensive end in Game 3 as he took just 13 shots and still fell just one assist shy of a triple-double while posting 58 DKP. It’s hard not to get to Jokic as his price has dropped to the cheapest it’s been since January 23rd.
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
I’m willing to add Anthony Davis here, but Davis has officially been listed as questionable heading into this one after injuring his wrist in Game 3. We’ve seen how good LeBron James can be without Davis, and although I believe Davis will play, what percent is he playing this game at? This could be one of those historic triple-doubles for LBJ in the postseason as the Lakers have one more chance at keeping the series alive.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Herbert Jones is a first-team All-Defensive type player and SGA went 13-of-19 for 33 points in Game 2. One of the league’s best players is down to just 9.1K, the cheapest he’s been all year long. It’s hard to ignore.
Mid-Tier Core Plays
Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Banchero was amazing in Game 3 and didn’t even play in the fourth quarter. He had a 43% USG rate and 61 DKP in just 29 minutes. He’s notched at least a 34% USG in all three games this series and we saw how comfortable he looks at home.
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
He really hasn’t shot the ball well and Denver’s up 3-0. He’s shot 38% from the floor in each game, yet he’s playing monster minutes and has taken 20+ shots in each. He was one assist shy of his second double-double this series in Game 3 and if the shot falls, he’ll break the slate.
Jaylen Brown & Kristaps Porzingis, Boston Celtics
I thought both guys were too cheap last game and that’s the case once again. Brown was great in Game 2, but Porzingis was quite bad making just one shot. Brown was 13-for-23 from the floor and continues to get open looks from beyond the arc that he’s knocking down, shooting 7-for-14 from 3 through two games. Porzingis just needs to make shots and he’ll smash.
Chet Holmgren & Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
The Pelicans continue to extend Jonas Valanciunas and Chet Holmgren is abusing that matchup on the offensive end, so they’ll need to decide whether or not to play Larry Nance Jr. more or just keep getting worked. If the answer is the latter, well we keep playing Chet. Williams has posted a 28%+ USG in the first two games and 36+ DKP in each.
Michael Porter Jr. & Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets
I continue to say it but stacking the Nuggets has been super fun and profitable. MPJ is simply underpriced in this matchup where he continues to find open looks and grab a boatload of rebounds in. Gordon was the MVP of Game 3 and has twice put up 37+ DKP in this series. With Denver cutting the backup center out of their lineup and using Gordon as the backup 5
Value Tier Core Plays
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers needed someone to step up outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis and Reaves was that in Game 3. He’ll likely need it again with Davis showing up on the team’s injury report with a wrist injury. Reaves was one of three Lakers to top 40 minutes.
Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic
At this pricing tier, you’re not going to find many players that do more on this slate. Suggs has put up 25+ DKP in all three games this series and finally made a shot in Game 3. Suggs is a 1.07 FP/min in this series. That’s second on the team.
Nikola Jovic & Haywood Highsmith, Miami Heat
Jovic starts and Highsmith finishes. That’s basically where we’re at. Miami is short-handed and could be even more short-handed if Delon Wright misses this game. They’re both sitting in the mid-20s in terms of minutes nightly and Jovic has the ceiling, but Highsmith is cheaper.
Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic
Game 3 was ugly for Carter from a numbers standpoint, but the thing we need to recognize is that he was inserted back into the starting lineup and the Magic put it on Cleveland by 30. Carter was a +19 in 24 minutes and didn’t play after the four minute mark of the third quarter because of the blowout. I like his price if he’s going to approach 30 minutes.
Player Pool
| $ Tier | PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander  $10,400 |  LeBron James $10,500 |  Anthony Davis $11,200 |  Nikola Jokić $12,000 | |
 Jayson Tatum $9,700 | |||||
| Medium | Jamal Murray $8,800 |  Tyler Herro $8,200 | Jaylen Brown $8,000 |  Paolo Banchero $8,600 | Chet Holmgren $8,300 |
 CJ McCollum $7,700 | Austin Reaves $6,400 | Jalen Williams $7,800 | Kristaps Porziņģis $8,100 | ||
| Jalen Suggs $6,200 | Franz Wagner $7,300 | Aaron Gordon $6,700 | |||
| Michael Porter $7,000 | |||||
| Low | Jose Alvarado $4,100 |  Max Strus $5,300 | Nikola Jović $4,900 | Al Horford $5,200 | |
| Caleb Martin $5,000 | Wendell Carter $4,600 | ||||
| Haywood Highsmith $4,500 | |||||
| Herbert Jones $5,500 |
Player News
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) said after Wednesday’s Game 2 loss to the Knicks that his current stamina issues may be related to the problem that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season.
After an illness limited him to 13 first-half minutes in Boston’s series-opening defeat on Monday, Porzingis came off the bench in Game 2. Unfortunately, he could only give the Celtics 14 minutes. Following the game, Porzingis said his current problem may be related to the upper respiratory ailment that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season. “Probably, probably,” Porzingis said. “I’ve had like ups and downs throughout until this point. Just now, had a big crash. Now, my energy, my everything, hasn’t been good, but who cares? Have to move forward and it will get better from this point.” While Boston’s shot selection was the focus following its two home defeats, Porzingis’ limited availability has also been a factor. He’ll hope to return to full health in time for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Nikola Jokic finished with 17 points (6-of-16 FGs), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, two three-pointers and six turnovers in Game 2 against the Thunder on Wednesday.
This was Jokic’s worst performance of the postseason, and it came to an end in the third quarter. He fouled out with 1:17 left in the third, which brought his night to a close after he played 32 minutes. OKC was up 41 points when Jokic fouled out, so his night may have been close to over anyway. Jokic dominated Game 1, and the Thunder adjusted. Denver will need other players to step up if they want to have a chance of winning this series, but Jokic will also need to be better than he was in this game.
Michael Porter Jr. struggled on Wednesday and finished with just eight points (2-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Thunder.
MPJ was slightly better in the second half, as all eight of his points came in the third quarter. However, the game was already out of hand at that point after a terrible first half for both Porter Jr. and the Nuggets. MPJ shot 1-of-8 in Game 1, and they’ll need him to be much better moving forward. The series will now shift back to Denver, and MPJ will look to get back on track during the two home games before the series heads back to Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook provided a boost off the bench with 19 points (5-of-11 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), one rebound, five assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Despite an ugly first half for Denver, Westbrook was productive and entered the break with 15 points. He didn’t add much in the second half, though he sat the entire fourth quarter, still it was enough to lead the Nuggets in scoring. Russ has been awesome over Denver’s last five games, and his continued success will be key to the Nuggets winning this series. Though this game was ugly, they still have homecourt advantage in this series. They’ll look to keep it in Game 3 on Friday.
Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 15 points (3-of-8 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
After struggling in Game 1, Holmgren bounced back and recorded the fourth postseason triple-double of his career, with three of those coming this season. Aside from Game 3 against Memphis, Holmgren has swatted at least two shots in every game during these playoffs, which was a trend that continued in this game despite him only playing 26 minutes. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (14/8/5/1/1) will look to continue to limit Nikola Jokic (17 points) in Game 3 on Friday.
Jalen Williams bounced back on Wednesday with 17 points (6-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Williams was criticized for his poor performance in the Thunder’s Game 1 loss, but he responded well in OKC’s blowout victory. He was on pace for a bigger night, but he only played 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. He shot the ball much better after shooting 5-of-20 in Game 1, and he’ll need that success to carry over into Game 3 in Denver on Friday.