NBA DFS Picks & Playbook For Today: 2024 Playoffs, April 28th
Published: Apr 28, 2024
The NBA Playoffs have been a wild ride thus far and they continue with a four-game NBA DFS Main Slate. In the first game of the day, we have Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks taking on the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers look to get the series back to even with them being down 2-1.
In the next game we have tipping off is Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers trying to get even with Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. In the third game of the day, we have the highest game total on the slate, and that is the Milwaukee Bucks taking on Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers.
Finally, in the last game of the night, we have Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves trying to sweep Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns. With such a an exciting slate ahead of us, let's dive into the slate.
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
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NBA Game Totals
- Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers (-9.5) Game Total: 216.5
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Phoenix Suns (+1.5) Game Total: 210.5
- Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks (-6) Game Total: 209
- New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers (-5) Game Total: 209
NY @ PHI - New York leads series 2-1
LAC @ DAL - DAL leads series 2-1
MIL @ IND - IND leads series 2-1
MIN @ PHO - MIN leads series 3-0
Top Tier Core Plays
Luka Doncic, PG Dallas Mavericks
Luka hasn't had a great series thus far when it comes to his standards not scoring more than 62 DKP in any game. What it comes down to is him not shooting the ball very well. He is coming off a 7-25 shooting night in the win and went just 3-14 from behind the three-point line. While he hasn't hit value yet in this series, this could be the game he explodes as Dallas looks to get a firm grasp of this series.
Joel Embiid, C Philadelphia 76ers
If you are going to pay up for a high-priced guy tonight I lean toward Joel Embiid tonight. He has such a solid floor scoring at least 52 DKP in each game and he is coming off a huge 50-game-point performance. Embiid imposed his will to get to the free throw line 21 times. If that continues in this game in Philly, Embiid is going to have another huge night, even at not quite 100%. Embiid has the same ceiling as Luka and is $1,300 cheaper.
Jalen Brunson, PG New York Knicks
While Embiid was going off against the Knicks, Brunson was trying to go toe-to-toe with him. Brunson was fantastic putting up a 39-13 double-double on a 35.7% usage rate. Brunson is much cheaper than both Luka and Embiid tonight and he gets similar shot attempts seeing at least 26 in all three games. That makes him an intriguing piece to build around tonight in a fair and balanced lineup.
Mid-Tier Core Plays
Pascal Siakam, SF/PF Indiana Pacers
Siakam is coming off a modest game, in Game 3 finishing with 17-9 just short of 40 DKP. That was a pedestrian game compared to the first two when he scored over 60 DKP on at least 23 shot attempts. Siakam is such a tough matchup for the Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis being on the floor. I expect Siakam to get out and run in this one and have another big night for the Pacers.
Khris Middleton, SF Milwaukee Bucks
This one seems like a layup, and he might be the highest-rostered player on the slate with Damian Lillard and Giannis both doubtful in this one. In Game 3 Middleton got up 29 shots and posted a 42-10 double-double doing everything he could to give the Bucks in the lead in the series, but fell just short. Don't overthink this one, play Middleton tonight.
Josh Hart, SF/PF New York Knicks
This one is pretty simple as well. Josh Hart is playing 40+ minutes night in and night out. Hart is also shooting lights out from downtown knocking down at least four shots from behind the arc in this series. He is still priced under 8K on DraftKings and has scored over 40 DKP in every game in this series. Plus, even if his shot stops falling, he has a solid floor with all the little things he does outside of scoring.
Bobby Portis, PF/C Milwaukee Bucks
With Giannis out, and Lillard departing early with an injury, Bobby Portis was Khris Middleton's right-hand man. He finished with a 17-18 double-double giving tremendous energy in 44 minutes on the floor. With Portis expected to play 40+ minutes again in this one, it feels like Portis is almost bust-proof at his price.
Bradley Beal, PG/SG Phoenix Suns
I am not interested in Devin Booker or Kevin Durant tonight at their price. However, with Bradley Beal sitting at just $6,600 on DraftKings, I am still intrigued with him. We know Beal is a bucket, we just need him to keep being aggressive like he was last game getting up 19 shots. The Suns are in desperation mode on the brink of elimination, so expect Beal to play 40+ minutes again in this one.
Value Tier Core Plays
Aaron Nesmith, SG/SF Indiana Pacers
With Aaron Nesmith being Indiana's best defender he is going to be locked into Khris Middleton tonight. Nesmith is coming off two solid games scoring over 30 DKP in each. Nesmith was a 40% three point shooter during the regular season and has shot just 5-22 from behind the arc in this series while still putting up numbers which we love to see. If he starts knocking down shots in this one, we could see a ceiling game from him.
Kyle Lowry, PG/SG Philadelphia 76ers
Kyle Lowry continues to be solid for the 76ers and our DFS lineups. He has scored at least 21 DKP in each game, but he just doesn't have a very high ceiling because of the lack of shot attempts. With the lack of value on this slate as rotations have tightened up, you may have to play Lowry to afford the high-priced guys today. I have no issue playing him as Philly tried to even the series in this one.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SF Minnesota Timberwolves
NAW has been an outstanding piece to this Timberwolves rotation this series seemingly hopping Kyle Anderson. He has played at least 29 minutes in all three games and gotten up double-digit shot attempts in each. NAW has also dished out five assists in back-to-back games as well as doing multiple things for this Timberwolves team. Keep playing him tonight.
Derrick Jones, SF/PF Dallas Mavericks
I see Derrick Jones in a similar light as Jaden McDaniels, he is just much cheaper sitting at just $3,700 on DraftKings. Jones is an important piece to this Dallas team because of his tremendous length and ability to slow down some of the bigger wings for the Clippers. He doesnt have a high ceiling but he is a guy who can get you around 20-30 DKP tonight.
Post Lock Updates
- Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out. Making Norman Powell, and Terance Mann both intriguing pieces today. Amir Coffey is ok too with him starting.
Player Pool
| $ Tier | PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Luka Dončić  $12,200 |  Anthony Edwards $9,900 |  Pascal Siakam $9,200 |  Joel Embiid $11,700 | |
 Jalen Brunson $9,800 | |||||
| Tyrese Haliburton $9,500 | |||||
| Tyrese Maxey $9,300 | |||||
| Medium |  James Harden $8,900 |  Bradley Beal $7,700 |  Khris Middleton $8,800 |  Bobby Portis $8,000 | Rudy Gobert $8,100 |
| Josh Hart $7,900 |  P.J. Washington $6,500 | Myles Turner $7,900 | |||
| Aaron Nesmith $6,600 | Ivica Zubac $6,800 | ||||
| Low | Kyle Lowry $5,700 | Norman Powell $4,900 | Jaden McDaniels $5,000 | ||
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker $5,500 | Derrick Jones $4,600 |
Player News
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Daniel Gafford intends to sign a three-year contract extension worth nearly $60 million with the Mavericks.
Gafford has been a key player for the Mavericks since joining the team via a trade with the Wizards prior to the 2024 trade deadline. The 26-year-old center averaged 12.3 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game and 1.8 blocks per game this past year. Gafford saw an increase in production in an 11-game stretch where the team was without Dereck Lively II. The Mavericks continue to value size as they keep Gafford to go along with Lively II, Anthony Davis and presumed No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg in the frontcourt.
The Athletic’s Kelly Iko reported the Rockets are likely to decline Fred VanVleet’s team option and discuss a long-term extension in the coming days.
The Rockets have until Sunday to make a decision on VanVleet’s $44.9 million team option. NBA Insider Marc Stein also reported there’s a “strong expectation” that the Rockets agree to a long-term deal with VanVleet before free agency officially opens up on June 30. VanVleet could be looking at a three-year offer, though it would be for less money annually than his team option. The Rockets will be looking to stay under the first apron of the salary cap this year, but VanVleet is certainly a player they want to keep in the wake of the Kevin Durant trade.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Khris Middleton has picked up his $33.3 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
No surprises here, as Middleton will get fully compensated for the final year of the three-year, $93 million deal he signed with Milwaukee in 2023. Given his recent injury history and declining play, Middleton’s next contract will surely be far less than what he makes this season. He will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday.
As feared, Haliburton’s injury is severe, and it will likely cost him all of next season. It’s a brutal development for the emerging superstar, especially after the magical playoff run he led. In Hali’s absence, T.J. McConnell could see a big uptick in playing time and usage, while Ben Sheppard could see more time off the bench, and Andrew Nembhard could take on more responsibility as a facilitator.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander provided 29 points and 12 assists in Sunday’s series-clinching 103-91 Game 7 victory over the Pacers, leading the Thunder to their first NBA title.
It wasn’t always pretty, but SGA — who was named NBA Finals MVP afterwards — got the job done on Sunday night as the Thunder pulled away from Indiana in the second half to secure the franchise’s first title since moving to Oklahoma City. Gilgeous-Alexander shot a putrid 8-of-27 from the field and 2-of-12 from beyond the arc, but he got to the line 12 times and sank 11 free throws to buoy his scoring numbers. The 12 assists tie his season-high in that category, and his all-around contributions were spectacular, despite the inefficient shooting. Gilgeous-Alexander’s 2024-25 season will go down as one of the best individual seasons for a guard in NBA history, as he won the scoring title, regular season MVP and Finals MVP. The Thunder are early favorites to win the 2025-26 title, and Gilgeous-Alexander has the second-shortest odds to win a second straight MVP, behind only Nikola Jokic.
Bennedict Mathurin finished Sunday’s Game 7 loss to the Thunder with 24 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two triples across 33 minutes.
Mathurin led Indiana in scoring and led all players in rebounds, though his minus-14 in the box score represented the lowest plus-minus of the game. Mathurin’s playoff run was a rollercoaster of ups and downs in minutes and scoring. His highs were high, and his lows were low, and Mathurin scored at least 20 points in four of the final 10 games of the postseason. The third-year man out of Arizona averaged career highs in points (16.1), rebounds (5.3), field goal percentage (45.8) and free throw percentage (83.1) in 2024-25, and he’ll look to improve on those numbers in his fourth season.