NBA DFS Picks & Playbook For Today: 2024 Playoffs, April 29th
Published: Apr 29, 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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NBA Injury Report Today, 4/29
QUESTIONABLE
OUT
PROBABLE
- Anthony Davis
- LeBron James
- Delon Wright – available
NBA Game Totals Today, 4/29
- Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat - 203.5 (BOS -10.5)
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans - 205 (OKC -5)
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets - 216.5 (DEN -7.5)
- OKC vs. NOLA - OKC leads series 3-0
- BOS vs. MIA - BOS leads series 2-1
- LAL vs. DEN - DEN leads series 3-1
Top-Tier NBA DFS Core Plays
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Even in a loss, Nikola Jokic dominates everywhere going for 33-14-14 and 79.5 DKP. He isn’t coming off the floor and is averaging 1.75 FP/min in this series. Jokic is the top play of the slate if you can comfortably build a roster around him.
Anthony Davis & LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Getting to either of the top two Lakers works very well here. Davis has been amazing this series, averaging 30.5 points, 15.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 60.6 DKP/game. James himself is averaging 52.9 DKP in this series. James has a 30% USG and is averaging 1.34 FP/min this postseason.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
SGA has a 34% USG and averages 1.26 FP/min this postseason? You don’t say. He hasn’t really been bothered by Herbert Jones' defense as he’s coming off 48 and 51 DKP in back-to-back games. The price keeps dropping but the fantasy points keep rising.
Mid-Tier NBA DFS Core Plays
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Brown has been amazing in this series, especially in the last two games. He leads the Celtics in usage rate this series and he’s just .04 FP/min behind Jayson Tatum. He averages 1.21 FP/min this series and has fallen just two rebounds shy of a double-double in three straight games.
CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans
This series has not been easy for the Pelicans at all, but with Brandon Ingram locked up in the Dorture Chamber, McCollum has to be great here. McCollum has posted a 24.5% USG in three straight games, including a 35.1% USG last time out. He’s taken 22 shots in two of three games this series.
Jalen Williams & Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s hard to look at Williams and not automatically plug him into your lineup on this slate. He has PG/SF eligibility, has played 35+ minutes and 36+ DKP. Williams has a 26% USG and averages nearly 1.1 FP/min this postseason. Despite a bad shooting night in Game 3, Holmgren is averaging nearly 1.2 FP/min. Both guys are elite plays.
Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets
There have been few players this postseason that have been as consistent as Michael Porter Jr. He’s posted 36.5 DKP+, has back-to-back 20-point double-doubles, and has made multiple threes in each game this series. Porter’s averaging 1.1 FP/min this series.
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
In back-to-back games, Austin Reaves has scored 20+ points, has a 22% USG or better, and has 31+ DKP in each. He’s been the third-best player by a pretty wide margin this series. He has better eligibility than D’Angelo Russell and is slightly cheaper.
Value-Tier NBA DFS Core Plays
Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder
I want to preface this by saying; he’s an elite tournament play, but a tournament play he is. He’s played REALLY well in the two games that OKC has dominated. He barely played in the game that they won by 2. Playing Giddey depends on how you feel this game plays out.
Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
Jones is basically matching SGA’s minutes and is everywhere SGA is and although he hasn’t been really able to slow him down offensively, it’s led to Jones being on the floor more and helping his fantasy value. He’s put up 23+ DKP in all three games this series and for a guy who shot 41% from three this year, he’s shot the ball at just a 35% clip over the last four games.
Nikola Jovic, Miami Heat
With Delon Wright back, there’s a chance the Heat revert back to a smaller closing lineup at the end of halves, but if Jovic continues to make shots and playmake the way he has, it’ll be hard for Spo to take him off the floor. The mid-20’s minutes or better this series have been great, so has the 19% USG rate or better in every game too.
Larry Nance Jr., New Orleans Pelicans
I’m not going to sit here and tell you I told you so, but Jonas Valanciunas is not good in this series. He has no chance at playing defense. Nance played 29 minutes to Valanciunas’ 12 in Game 3 and we should see that trend continue here. Nance has been a really good option for New Orleans when he’s extended, averaging 1.12 FP/min through five postseason games.
Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder
Look, the guy plays big minutes, is locking up Brandon Ingram and is making threes. I was going to write-up KCP here, but Dort is cheaper and has been the more consistent shot maker us. He’s made 4 threes in back-to-back games.
NBA DFS Punt Plays (All GPP Options)
- Delon Wright, Miami Heat
- Haywood Highsmith, Miami Heat
- Naji Marshall
- Payton Pritchard & Sam Hauser, Boston Celtics – if playing for blowout
Player Pool
| $ Tier | PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander  $10,600 |  LeBron James $10,600 |  Anthony Davis $11,300 |  Nikola Jokić $12,100 | |
 Jayson Tatum $9,800 | |||||
| Medium |  CJ McCollum $7,900 | Jaylen Brown $8,200 | Jalen Williams $7,800 | Kristaps Porziņģis $7,900 | Chet Holmgren $8,200 |
| Austin Reaves $6,600 | Michael Porter $7,100 | Aaron Gordon $6,700 | |||
| Low |  Josh Giddey $5,900 |  Kentavious Caldwell-Pope $5,100 | Luguentz Dort $4,900 |  Nikola Jović $5,000 |  Larry Nance $5,200 |
 Delon Wright $4,700 | Herbert Jones $5,700 | Al Horford $5,100 | |||
| Payton Pritchard $4,400 | Naji Marshall $4,400 | ||||
| Haywood Highsmith $4,300 |
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.