NBA DFS Picks & Playbook for Today’s Games: April 1
Published: Apr 01, 2024
Happy Monday in the NBA! We have a six-game NBA DFS main slate after a packed Easter Sunday slate. We have two teams on the second night of a back-to-back in the Brooklyn Nets and the Chicago Bulls.
Some intriguing matchups on the docket include the Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics taking on the Charlotte Hornets. Then to finish the night we have the best matchup on the night with Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns taking on CJ McCollum, Zion Williamson, and the New Orleans Pelicans. Let's dive into the NBA DFS main slate for April 1st.
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 for Today, 4/1
Out
- Onyeka Okongwu
- Jose Alvarado
- Matisse Thybulle
- Yuta Watanabe
- Jerami Grant
- John Konchar
- Desmond Bane
- Simone Fontecchio
- Anfernee Simons
- Brandon Ingram
- Cameron Johnson
- Dennis Smith
Questionable
- Marcus Sasser
- Kobe Bufkin
- Jaylen Brown (out)
- Kristaps Porzingis (in)
- Cade Cunningham
- Jalen Johnson (expected to play)
- Santi Aldama (in)
- Aleksej Pokusevski (in)
- Vasilije Micic (in)
- Nick Richards (out)
NBA Teams on Back-to-Backs Today
Second Leg
First Leg
- None
Pace Up Spots
Pace definition: Pace is the total number of possessions a team uses in a game.
*key* Green is elite pace of play, Blue is decent pace of play, & Red is slow pace of play.
Green = Fast Paced team
Blue = Neutral Paced team
Red = Slow Paced team
- Brooklyn Nets 23rd vs. Indiana Pacers 2nd
- Phoenix Suns 15th vs. New Orleans Pelicans 16th
- Atlanta Hawks 6th vs. Chicago Bulls 29th
- Boston Celtics 18th vs. Charlotte Hornets 21st
- Memphis Grizzlies 17th vs. Detroit Pistons 8th
- Portland Trail Blazers 19th vs. Orlando Magic 26th
Notable NBA Game Totals Today, 4/1
- Brooklyn Nets vs. Indiana Pacers (-12.5) Game Total: 227
- Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans (-1.5) Game Total: 223.5
- Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls (-2.5) Game Total: 222.5
- Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Hornets (+17.5) Game Total: 219
- Memphis Grizzlies vs. Detroit Pistons (-2) Game Total: 216
- Portland Trail Blazers vs. Orlando Magic (-16) Game Total: 210.5
Top-Price NBA DFS Core Plays
Jayson Tatum, SF/PF, Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum is the most expensive player on this slate, and he is also my top play of the night. Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis are both questionable heading into this one and trending in the wrong direction. In the last matchup against Charlotte, he finished with 77 DKP in 43 minutes. The Charlotte defense is awful giving Tatum an 80 DKP ceiling tonight and is auto-locked into my lineup.
Dejounte Murray, PG, Atlanta Hawks
Dejounte Murray comes into this one with a price sitting at just under 10K. He has been going crazy as of late scoring over 50 DKP in four of his last five games including a game in which he put up 44 shots. I do not foresee him taking that many shots again, especially with Jalen Johnson expected to come back and play tonight and a pace-down matchup against the Bulls. However, with him being the alpha on this team, he is still in play tonight.
Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Indiana Pacers
It looks as if Haliburton is finally out of his long shooting slump. Over his last five games, he has shot 18-42 from behind the three point line which is just under 43%. if that continues and this game stays competitive Haliburton can have a big night against a bad Brooklyn defense who is on the second night of a back-to-back. With the pace Indiana is going to play at tonight, Haliburton has a triple-double upside.
Mid-Price NBA DFS Core Plays
CJ McCollum, PG, New Orleans Pelicans
CJ McCollum is in a very good spot taking on the Phoenix Suns tonight. This game should stay very competitive as it means a lot as we look at the playoff picture. With Brandon Ingram out CJ has been much more aggressive on the offensive end. He has taken at least 20 shot attempts in four of his past five games while scoring at least 40 DKP in those four games. With his price under 8K, this play seems like a no-brainer to me with the Pelicans being at home.
Derrick White, PG/SG, Boston Celtics
Derrick White is another Celtic player who capitalizes on guys out of the lineup. For instance, with just Jaylen Brown out of the lineup, his usage jumps from 18% to almost 25%. White's PPG also goes from just under 15 going up to 22 with Brown out of the lineup. With us knowing those numbers if Brown is ruled out, White needs to be in your lineup alongside Jayson Tatum.
Cam Thomas, SG, Brooklyn Nets
I can not keep Cam Thomas out of the core play section with what he has been doing as of late. I wrote about him in the playbook yesterday and it hit, with him going for 30 game points and dishing out six assists finishing with 44.5 DKP. He is priced just over 7K tonight and I am going back to the well once again even on the second night of a back-to-back. This pace-up spot against the Pacers is just too good to pass up.
Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons
This is an interesting matchup for Jalen Duren. If he stays out of foul trouble Duren could be a beast on the glass with the Grizzlies playing Jaren Jackson as their five-man. Duren has a solid floor with his rebounding as he has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in eight of his 10 last games. Duren is my favorite center to play on this slate tonight.
Ayo Dosunmu, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls
Ayo hasn't been great as of late with his price sitting at over 6K on DraftKings. But when he plays the Hawks something clicks. Ayo thrives in transition and the Hawks like to play fast. In the two games against the Hawks this season he is averaging over 44 DKP averaging 24 PPG. I get it if you do not want to pay the price, but he does have a solid ceiling tonight.
Herbert Jones, SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans
Herb Jones is another pelican that I like tonight. He has played at least 35 minutes in four of his past five games. He will once again need to be on the floor with him needing to match up against Kevin Durant for most of the night. We also like the fact he has been more aggressive on the offensive end. He has gotten up 21 threes in his last three games. He can go for 30+ DKP and you will take that at just a $5,700 price tag.
Vasilije Micic, PG, Charlotte Hornets
We know Micic is going to play over 30 minutes whether the Hornets get blown out or not which is always nice. He is coming off a 10-point 13-assist triple-double finishing with 40 DKP against the Clippers. This matchup is tough going against Derrick White and Jrue Holiday in the backcourt but I still see him getting his numbers. With his price tag, I am comfortable putting him in my lineup tonight. He was a mid-day add to the injury report, and if he sits, I like Tre Mann who is similarly priced.
Value-Tier NBA DFS Core Plays
Jake LaRavia, SF/PF, Memphis Grizzlies
With Santi Aldams questionable in this one, Jake LaRavia will likely start once again. He is coming off a clunker just scoring 16DKP in his last start. However in his game prior to that, he went for 42 DKP scoring 25 game points and grabbing six rebounds. It is a great matchup against a bad Pistons team in a game that should stay competitive.
Grant Williams, PF/C, Charlotte Hornets
Nick Richards was a mid-day add to the injury report with a foot injury. This means Grant Williams could start at the small-ball-five against his former team the Boston Celtics. Williams has been producing as of late from a DFS perspective. Williams' price is just at $4,400 on DraftKings but yet he has scored at least 28 DKP in three straight games. Even if he does not start he will play 30+ minutes, so Williams should be in your lineup.
Rayan Rupert, SG/SF, Portland Trail Blazers
We know Rayan Rupert is going to play for this Trail Blazers team playing at least 23 minutes in three straight games. Rupert does not have a huge ceiling as he has scored over 20 DKP once in his past five games. However, with how thin the Blazers are heading into tonight, you can throw a dart at Rupert and hope it lands against Orlando.
Trendon Watford, PF/C, Brooklyn Nets
Trendon Watford is priced at just $3,600 on DraftKings which seems like a misprice to me. Cameron Johnson has been ruled out freeing up more minutes at the power forward position but even if he was in Watford could still produce. He has scored at least 23 DKP in four straight games scoring at least 11 game points in each. At his price, Watford should be in your lineup so you can pay up for Jayson Tatum and possibly another top-tier guy tonight.
Roster Lock Updates
- With Jaylen Brown out, Derrick White becomes a lineup lock tonight
- Nick Richards is out for Charlotte, and Poku is in. Grant Williams is starting at center.
- Santi Aldama is in making Jake LaRavia less appealing
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Player Pool
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