NBA DFS Picks & Playbook for Today’s Games: March 18th
Published: Mar 18, 2024
We have an eight-game NBA DFS main slate ahead of us on this beautiful Monday night. Some NBA star power is spread throughout the night. First, we have Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves taking on the Utah Jazz in a great Western Conference matchup.
Then, we have Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks taking on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Let us dive into the full slate of games ahead of us tonight.
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!
Check Out Today's NBA DFS Playbook Preview Show
NBA Injury Report Today, 3/18
Out
- Jayson Tatum
- Ausar Thompson
- Dean Wade (doubtful)
- Donovan Mitchell
- Max Strus
- Evan Mobley
- Doug McDermott
- Tyler Herro
- Kevin Love
- Jerami Grant (doubtful)
- Coby White (doubtful)
- Jordan Clarkson
- OG Anunoby
- Vince Williams (doubtful)
- Luke Kennard
- Lamar Stevens
- Scotty Pippen
- Yuta Watanabe
- Trey Lyles
- Sasha Vezenkov
- Cam Reddish
- Al Horford
- Jrue Holiday
- Sam Hauser
- Quentin Grimes
- Nikola Jovic
Questionable
- Quentin Grimes
- Jaylen Brown (in)
- Jimmy Butler (out)
- Tobias Harris (out)
- Matisse Thybulle
- Alex Caruso
- Rudy Gobert
- Kyle Anderson
- Monte Morris
- Lauri Markkanen
- Bogdan Bogdanovic
- LeBron James
- Anthony Davis
- Cade Cunningham (out)
- Simone Fontecchio (out)
NBA Teams On Back-to-Backs Today
Second Leg
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
- Indiana Pacers 2nd vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 21st
- Atlanta Hawks 4th vs. Los Angeles Lakers 6th
- Minnesota Timberwolves 22nd vs. Utah Jazz 10th
- Detroit Pistons 7th vs. Boston Celtics 18th
- Memphis Grizzlies 17th vs. Sacramento Kings 12th
- Portland Trail Blazers 25th vs. Chicago Bears 29th
- New York Knicks 30th vs. Golden State Warriors 11th
- Miami Heat 28th vs. Philadelphia 76ers 19th
Notable NBA Game Totals Today, 3/18
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers (-6.5) Game Total: 226
- Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-9) Game Total: 225
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Utah Jazz (+6.5) Game Total: 223.5
- Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics (-15.5) Game Total: 223
- Memphis Grizzlies vs. Sacramento Kings (-11) Game Total: 221
- Portland Trail Blazers vs. Chicago Bulls (-8.5) Game Total: 213.5
- New York Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors (-6) Game Total: 211.5
- Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers (-2) Game Total: 208.5
Top-Price NBA DFS Core Plays
Domantas Sabonis, C, Sacramento Kings
Sabonis is coming off a down game in a pace-down matchup against the New York Knicks. He finished with just 43 DKP which was his lowest output since February. This matchup against the Grizzlies isn't a great one, but it is much better than going against the Knicks. Sabonis has the highest ceiling potential on this slate along with the highest floor. We also have a solid amount of value on the slate tonight making it easier to pay up for him.
LeBron James, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron is coming off a great performance in the primetime matchup against the Golden State Warriors going for 40 game points. He has another good matchup ahead of him tonight going against the Atlanta Hawks who are a bottom-three defensive team in the NBA and top-four in pace. Anthony Davis is questionable with an eye injury and if he cannot go, James is an automatic play. Even if Davis Goes LeBron is in play.
Anthony Edwards, SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves
With Karl-Anthony Towns Anthony Edwards is taking his game to another level. In his last five games, he has scored over 50 DKP in four of those games including a game against Utah in which he scored 65 DKP. Well, we have that same matchup tonight, and I expect Edwards to keep it up. He is even locking in on the defensive end having six steals/blocks in the last matchup. I do not expect those types of numbers every night, but he can still pay off at that 10K price.
Dejounte Murray, PG, Atlanta Hawks
Like the Lakers guys, this is also a good matchup for the Atlanta Hawks with both teams ranking in the top 10 in pace in the NBA. Without Trae Young in the lineup, Dejounte Murray is the alpha in this offense. He has taken at least 20 shot attempts in four of his past five games. Plus, his minutes are up playing 39 minutes in four of those five games as well. Murray is a safe play against the Lakers tonight.
Jalen Brunson, PG, New York Knicks
There is no Julius Randle and OG Anunoby for the Knicks tonight leaving Jalen Brunson as the lone star for the Knicks. He is coming off back-to-back 50 DKP performances scoring over 40 game points in each. He has another good matchup against the Warriors who play at a faster pace and are middle of the pack defensively. I look for Brunson to keep the same aggressiveness in this one, after getting up 58 shots in the last two games. With the value on the slate, you may be able to sneak Brunson, and another top-tier guy in your lineup tonight.
Mid-Price NBA DFS Core Plays
Desmond Bane, SG, Memphis Grizzlies
Desmond Bane is back, and it was nice to see him play 32 minutes right away. He was very solid going 7-17 from the floor scoring 22 points and dishing out seven assists seeing a 32% usage rate. He has a good matchup against the Kings, and the Grizzlies are coming off a very competitive game against the Thunder. I would expect a similar game environment in this one, and Bane should return his value at just $8,200 on DraftKings.
Darius Garland, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers
There is no Donovan Mitchell or Evan Mobley for the Cavs tonight, so more things fall on the plate for Darius Garland. The matchup can't get much better than going against the Indiana Pacers who just try to outscore you. He is just projected to be 10% owned which is a bit surprising to me. Garland has a chance to have a big night and could lead you to the cash line.
Jalen Johnson, PF/C, Atlanta Hawks
We talked above about the good matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers tonight. The Hawks are banged up and Jalen Johnson has become a very solid running-mate with Dejounte Murray. It is a little bit of a roller coaster while rostering him with him scoring 40 DKP in three of his last five games but in the other two, he scored 20 DKP or fewer. I expect a higher-end performance from Johnson in this one as he continues to do a little bit of everything for this Hawks team.
Caris LeVert, SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers
With Donovan Mitchell out for the Cavs, LeVert sees his usage increase. He goes from a 22% usage rate to 25% and takes about two more shot attempts per game. Those numbers aren't jaw-dropping, but it is a great matchup against the Pacers. Plus, LeVert has a 50-point ceiling in the matchup, and you are getting him at under 7K on DraftKings.
Jaden Ivey, PG/SG, Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham was a mid-day add to the injury report with the injury management tag. That is never a good thing, and Ausar Thompson was ruled out with an illness. The usage numbers are wild with and without Cade this season. His usage rate goes from 23% to over 30%, plus he averages 14 PPG with him and goes up to 20 PPG without. If Cade is ultimately ruled out, play Ivey tonight.
Simone Fontecchio, SF/PF, Detroit Pistons
Simone Fontecchio is questionable heading into this game as well. But if he plays tonight, he is in play in this one. He is priced under 6K on DraftKings and has scored over 30 DKP in four of his past five games. Fontecchio is a solid rebounder and can score in a multitude of ways getting up double-digit shot attempts in five straight games. Make sure to pay close attention the injury report closer to lineup lock.
Value-Tier NBA DFS Core Plays
Taylor Hendricks, PF, Utah Jazz
Taylor Hendricks is coming off a monster performance in the last matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played 33 minutes and posted a 15-10 double-double finishing with 35 DKP. Lauri Markkanen is questionable heading into this one and if he is out once again, I love the play of Hendricks and he has been a consistent fantasy performer.
Payton Pritchard, PG, Boston Celtics
Payton Pritchard is coming off a 35-minute 14-13 double-double in a great matchup against the Washington Wizards. Jrue Holiday has been ruled out tonight and Pritchard will get the start in another good matchup against the Detroit Pistons tonight. He will be one of the higher-rostered players on the slate but will be a must-play in this matchup.
Sam Merrill, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
Sam Merrill is coming off back-to-back 28-minute performances and I expect him to start in this one tonight. He is a three-point sniper, and he will get plenty of looks from behind the arc in a good matchup against a poor defensive team in the Pacers. Merrill will be one of the higher-rostered players on the slate and should be in your lineup as well.
Luke Kornet, C, Boston Celtics
No Al Horford for the Celtics tonight means Luke Kornet will be the primary backup big with Kristaps Porzingis expected to play tonight. Kornet has scored over 20 fantasy points in three of his past five games and I expect him to do that once again in a good matchup against a banged-up Pistons team. If it is a blowout, he could get extended run as well.
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The player pool will be updated as we get closer to lock.
DFS NBA Lineup Lock Updates
- With Simone Fontecchio and Cade Cunningham out Evan Fournier is in play.
- Celtics have a lot of value with Tatum and Holiday out.
- Jimmy Butler is ruled out. Bam Adebayo is in play.
Player Pool
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