NBA DFS Playbook 4/17: De'Aaron Fox Looks for Back-to-Back Against Golden State
Published: Apr 17, 2023
We have a two-game NBA DFS main slate on Monday, April 17th as we get to the first batch of second games in this initial round of the playoffs. We have almost a 30-point spread between the totals of the two games, and the Sacramento-Golden State contest is sure to be much more popular for DFS lineups. Be sure to check out our NBA DFS projections, powered by FanJections, NBA DFS Lineup Generator, and all of the rest of our NBA DFS content and tools! Let's dive into my top plays of the night.
Brooklyn Nets @ Philadelphia 76ers
O/U: 212.5
Spread: PHI -10.0
Injuries
Brooklyn Nets Injuries
Ben Simmons - OUT
Philadelphia 76ers Injuries
NONE
Brooklyn Nets NBA DFS Breakdown
The Nets hope to enter Game 2 with a much better plan of attack than what they put forward in Game 1 on Saturday. Even though they shot 55% from the floor and almost 45% from three, they still lost by 20 points to a motivated Philadelphia team.
There were two primary reasons for the collapse. One, the 76ers just couldn't miss on Saturday. They hit 21 three-pointers in that game, shooting 49% from three. Second, the top three Nets players, Spencer Dinwiddie (-13), Nic Claxton (-20), and Mikal Bridges (-14), were a combined -47 in plus-minus and couldn't stop anyone from scoring.
Some better luck for the Nets will help make this a closer game than the first contest, but Brooklyn will need to find a way to get more players involved in the offense. Three of their starters scored 62 of their 90 points before the Nets waived the white flag.
Tier 1 play(s): Mikal Bridges, Spencer Dinwiddie
Tier 2 play(s): Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith
Philadelphia 76ers NBA DFS Breakdown
After drubbing the Brooklyn Nets by 20 points on Saturday, the 76ers don't need to change much of anything as they head into Game 2. Even though the Nets swarmed Joel Embiid and held him to “only” 26 points and five rebounds, the Philadelphia shooters made them pay.
Coach Doc Rivers said James Harden played the “perfect” game as he ended up with 23 points, 13 assists, and four rebounds. Tobias Harris chipped in a 21/4/4 line and Tyrese Maxey was everywhere with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
The Nets will likely continue to try and smother Joel Embiid in the paint and double him on the perimeter, but Philly has so many good shooters who can make them pay. There may not be a 60-fantasy-point explosion in this series for Embiid, but he should be a solid 45-50 points every game.
Tier 1 play(s): Joel Embiid, James Harden
Tier 2 play(s): Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris
Golden State Warriors @ Sacramento Kings
O/U: 240.0
Spread: GSW -1.5
Injuries
Golden State Warriors Injuries
Jordan Poole - QUESTIONABLE
Andre Iguodala - OUT
Sacramento Kings Injuries
Matthew Dellavedova - OUT
Golden State Warriors NBA DFS Breakdown
If the Warriors just had a few more bounces go their way on Saturday, they likely would have taken Game considering how back and forth it was the whole night. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson both went off (combining for 51 points), but they also got contributions from up and down the lineup.
The big story for the Warriors is the health of Jordan Poole. He rolled his ankle Game 1 and is Questionable tonight. He never missed a game in the regular season and I would be surprised if he missed this one, but it will be something to monitor closer to game-time.
If Poole is out, a greater burden will fall on Gary Payton II and Andrew Wiggins. After missing a month in the regular season, Wiggins also must shake off the rust in this one after he shot 1-for-8 from three and 2-for-4 at the free throw line in his first game back.
Tier 1 play(s): Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green
Tier 2 play(s): Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, Jordan Poole (if he plays)
Sacramento Kings NBA DFS Breakdown
If we can get a whole series just like the thriller on Saturday night, this might be the best matchup of the entire postseason. The first game lived up to the hype with the Kings winning a 126-123 thriller. The Kings only won by three because Domantas Sabonis (5-for-17) and Kevin Huerter (3-for-12) had horrific shooting nights, so that likely turns back around in Game 2.
De'Aaron Fox likely won't repeat his 38-point performance from that game, but he played 40 minutes and is the clear go-to guy in crunch time for this team. But the real MVP for this first playoff win since 2005 for Sacramento was Malik Monk who scored 32 points off the bench.
The Warriors are likely to smother Fox and Monk in this game which should leave shooters like Barnes and Huerter open all night. I also think this is a big Sabonis game who will want to bounce back after a miserable playoff debut.
Tier 1 play(s): De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis
Tier 2 play(s): Malik Monk, Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter
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Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.