NBA DFS Picks & Playbook for Today’s Games: March 31
Published: Mar 31, 2024
Happy Easter Sunday everyone! While everyone is with their families the NBA DFS season continues with an eight-game main slate today. Make sure you are aware of the early lineup lock today at 6 PM ET.
Tipping off early we have Anthony Davis, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on Cam Thomas and the Brooklyn Nets. Then a little later we have Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks taking on the red-hot Houston Rockets led by Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet.
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!
NBA Injury Report for Today, 3/31
Out
- Devin Vassell
- Richaun Holmes
- Kyle Kuzma
- Jonathan Kuminga
- Caleb Martin
- Landry Shamet
- Ochai Agbaji
- Craig Porter
- Josh Green
- Dario Saric
- Tyler Herro
- Keldon Johnson
- Jeremy Sochan
- Immanuel Quickley
Questionable
- Luka Doncic
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Tyrese Maxey (OUT)
- Anthony Davis (in)
- LeBron James (in)
- Anthony Edwards
- Rudy Gobert
- Mitchell Robinson (out)
- RJ Barrett (out)
- Alec Burks
- Aleksej Pokusevski (out)
- Jordan McLaughlin
- Trey Lyles
- Sasha Vezenkov
- Cameron Johnson
- Isaac Okoro
- Jonathan Kuminga
- Cam Whitmore (in)
NBA Teams on Back-to-Backs Today
Second Leg
- None
First 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
- Dallas Mavericks 9th vs. Houston Rockets 14th
- Golden State Warriors 11th vs. San Antonio Spurs 3rd
- Los Angeles Lakers 4th vs. Brooklyn Nets 24th
- Philadelphia 76ers 20th vs. Toronto Raptors 13th
- Miami Heat 28th vs. Washington Wizards 1st
- Oklahoma City Thunder 7th vs. New York Knicks 30th
- Los Angeles Clippers 23rd vs. Charlotte Hornets 21st
- Chicago Bulls 29th vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 22nd
Notable NBA Game Totals Today, 3/31
- Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets (+2.5) Game Total: 230
- Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs (+9) Game Total: 227
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Brooklyn Nets (+6) Game Total: 226.5
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors (+11) Game Total: 218.5
- Miami Heat vs. Washington Wizards (+11) Game Total: 217.5
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New York Knicks (-3.5) Game Total: 215
- Los Angeles Clippers vs. Charlotte Hornets (-14.5) Game Total: 214.5
- Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (-8.5) Game Total: 214
Top-Price NBA DFS Core Plays
Luka Doncic, PG, Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic is the most expensive player on the slate sitting at $12,600 and is also questionable heading in. He has the highest ceiling on the highest floor on the slate as he has scored at least 55 DKP in six straight games. This game also has the highest game total on the slate, so It would be ideal to play your studs from this game.
Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs
Wemby is coming off a career game going against the New York Knicks in a pace-down matchup. He finished with 40 points and 20 rebounds while also having three stocks and seven assists adding up with 83 DKP. What we also love to see is him playing 38 minutes. I do not expect to see that once again in this one with the Spurs, down a few guys and it could be a blowout with the Warriors favored by 8.5 points. This a much better matchup than the previous game for Wemby so he could have another big game.
Jalen Brunson, PG, New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson is coming off a huge game in a great matchup against the Spurs. This matchup isn't quite as juicy as that one, but it is a good one with the Thunder being in the top 10 in pace across the NBA. Brunson did his best Kobe Bryant impression by getting up 47 shots scoring a season-high 61 points and dishing out six assists. These Knicks players are playing a ton of minutes as Brunson saw 43 minutes in that game. With this game expected to be close, Brunson is very in play tonight.
Jalen Green, PG/SG, Houston Rockets
Since Alperen Sengun has been out, Jalen Green has become the alpha in this offense. Green is priced at just 9K on DraftKings and has gone 5x his value in his last four games scoring over 45 DKP. He doesn't have quite the ceiling as the guys above him, but it is a great matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Not only does Dallas rank in the top 10 in pace, but they also rank in the bottom 10 in defensive efficiency
Mid-Price NBA DFS Core Plays
Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry is a bit of a risky play tonight because many other players are playing a ton of minutes. Steph has played just 35 minutes twice in his last 17 games but his price may be too good to pass up on DraftKings sitting at just $8,500 on DraftKings. It is such a great matchup against the Spurs who just allowed Jalen Brunson to score 61 game points. Steph and Brunson's games are totally different, but the Spurs defense is still ranked in the bottom 10 in defensive efficiency. Steph's price may just be too good to pass up on this Easter Sunday.
Josh Hart, SF/PF, New York Knicks
I can keep this one short and sweet. You can keep playing Josh Hart as long as he continues to play these minutes. Hart has a triple-double upside every single night since he has had one in two of his previous six games. With Hart averaging 40 minutes a night, and having another good matchup against the Thunder Hart should be in your lineup once again today.
Donte DiVincenzo, SG/SF, New York Knicks
If you are looking to save a bit of money and stay in the same Thunder-Knicks game Donte DiVincenzo is another good option outside of Hart. Donte is playing a ton of minutes as well averaging just under 39 minutes a game over his last five games. He is more of an offensive threat than Hart, but he doesnt quite do the small things like Hart, and doesnt have a triple-double upside. But either guy is a solid play in this one.
Cam Thomas, SG, Brooklyn Nets
Cam Thomas has one thing on his mind when he steps on the court, and that is too score the basketball. In his last two games, Thomas has played over 40 minutes and put up at least 22 shots in both games scoring over 48 DKP in each. He has also done the little things grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out 11 assists over that time. Thomas. I expect Thomas to have another solid game against the Lakers in this one.
Josh Giddey, PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder
Shai Gilegous-Alexander was upgraded from doubtful to questionable earlier in the day so he could play tonight. However, if SGA doesn't end up playing Josh Giddey needs to be in your lineup. In the three games without SGA in the lineup this season Giddey's usage rate goes from 22% to 33% and his PPG goes from 11.7 to 24. Play Giddey tonight if SGA is ruled out.
Dennis Schroder, PG, Brooklyn Nets
Can I interest you in a Dennis Schroder revenge game narrative against the Lakers tonight? He has also taken his offensive game to another level over the last three games. During that span, he has gotten up at least 15 shot attempts and has dished out seven assists in each game. He has finished with 34 DKP in each game and he is still just priced at $6,400. Go back to the well with Schroder once again in this one.
Value-Tier NBA DFS Core Plays
Corey Kispert, SF/PF, Washington Wizards
Corey Kispert is another guy who is playing a boatload of minutes playing at least 38 minutes in three straight games. The Wizards also play with the highest pace in the NBA and Kispert is going to get his shots up. He has gotten up at least 12 shot attempts in those three games. The issue with him is if he doesnt hit his shots there are times when he does not give you any peripheral stats. He is a bit risky with a pace-down matchup against the Heat, but he could still hit his value at his price.
Ivica Zubac, C, Los Angeles Clippers
I love Zubac's price on this slate sitting at just $5,300 going against the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets' defense is bad and they do not play with a ton of bigs giving Zubac a big advantage. In the only other matchup against the Hornets this season Zubac finished with an 18-14 double-double for 46 DKP. Zubac is a no-brainer play for me today.
P.J. Washington, PF/C, Charlotte Hornets
Washington is the best big on this Mavericks roster and feel as if his $5,100 price is a misprice in this one. His ceiling depends on whether he knocks down his shots each night as he has gotten double-digit shots up in three straight games. With Alperen Sengun I feel as if Washington has the best opportunity to see minutes tonight as the small ball five for this Mavericks team.
Kyle Anderson, SF/PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kyle Anderson does not have a very high ceiling because he just isn't an offensive threat. Anderson will not put up double-digit shot attempts but he does all the little things for this Timberwolves team. Anderson has dished out at least five assists in four straight games while also grabbing 19 rebounds during that span. I understand if you want to play guys who play more minutes than Anderson, just know that he can also provide a solid floor at just 5K on DraftKings.
Andre Drummond, C, Chicago Bulls
If there was ever the perfect matchup for Andre Drummond it would be this one. With the Timberwolves playing two bigs, the Bulls will likely play Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond a lot in this one. When Drummond gets minutes he will produce because of his outstanding rebounding prowess. In the last matchup against the Timberwolves Drummond played 35 minutes and scored 16 points and grabbed 16 rebounds finishing with 45 DKP. Drummond is a great play at his price of just $4,600 on DraftKings.
Roster Lock Updates
- Richaun Holmes and Kyle Kuzma have been ruled out. Look for Jordan Poole to get more shot attempts, and for Marvin Bagley to get extended run at the center position.
- Devin Vassell has been ruled out.
- Tyrese Maxey has been ruled out. I like Tobias Harris and Kyle Lowry at their price now.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been ruled in. I like Josh Giddey less now.
Player Pool
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Stacks
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