NBA DFS Playbook April 20: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Plays
Published: Apr 20, 2023
We have a three-game NBA DFS main slate on Thursday, April 20th, on DraftKings and FanDuel. Two of the three games taking place tonight involve 2-0 series and the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers series is 1-1 heading back to LA. We know Draymond Green is suspended for Game 3 and that's the day's biggest news. The Warriors also have listed Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole as questionable, so keep that in the back of your minds before locking them into your lineups if they're not confirmed to play. Check out our NBA DFS projections, powered by FanJections, NBA DFS Lineup Generator, and NBA DFS projections, powered by FanJections, NBA DFS Lineup Generator, and all of the rest of our NBA DFS content and tools! Now, it is time to break down James' top plays of the day for DraftKings and FanDuel!
Kawhi Leonard has been ruled OUT. Biggest news of the day.
Tier 1: Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, Terance Mann, Ivica Zubac, Eric Gordon
Tier 2: Bones Hyland (GPPs)
Top usage increases:
- Russell Westbrook - 4.6% USG, 1.44 FP/min
- Norman Powell - 5.5% USG, 1.2 FP/min
- Ivica Zubac - 1.06 FP/min
Notable NBA Injuries
- Kawhi Leonard - OUT
- Paul George - OUT
- Draymond Green - OUT
- Andrew Wiggins - QUEST
- Jordan Poole - QUEST
- Gary Payton II - QUEST
- Cameron Payne - QUEST
- Jalen McDaniels - PROB
NBA Game Totals
- Philadelphia 76ers @ Brooklyn Nets - 209
- Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors - 240
- Los Angeles Clippers @ Phoenix Suns - 225.5
Best Pace Matchups
- Sacramento Kings (12th) vs. Golden State Warriors (1st)
Team Defensive Ratings
- Sacramento Kings – 24th
- Los Angeles Clippers – 17th
- Brooklyn Nets – 16th
- Golden State Warriors – 14th
- Philadelphia 76ers – 8th
- Phoenix Suns – 7th
Favorite Players to Use for NBA DFS Lineups
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
The Nets employed an interesting strategy in Game 2: removing Nic Claxton from the floor and spacing with Royce O’Neale. Embiid only took 11 shots, but if that happens again, he will dominate. He fell one rebound shy of a 20-20 game, which happens when your center is 6’7”. Embiid’s the best spend up on the slate.
De'Aaron Fox & Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
I really like both of the Kings’ stars here considering what De’Aaron Fox has done to them this series and with Draymond Green missing this game. What is Golden State’s interior defense going to look like without him? Sabonis should get whatever he wants tonight offensively. Fox has been getting whatever he’s wanted. I’m surprised the Kings are six-point dogs.
Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns
I’m obviously perfectly fine with getting to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but I like the price on Chris Paul if he’s going to play 40 minutes. He’s been great notching 36 and 41 DKP in the first two games this series as he has a plus match-up on the offensive end. We saw his upside in Game 1 falling three points shy of a triple-double. With Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in the lineup, CP3 has averaged .95 FP/min.
Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors
The Kings are the worst-rated defensive unit on this slate and with Draymond Green out, we could see Wiggins take on a bigger role on the glass. Wiggins’ rates skyrocket without Green and that makes sense considering how much Green has the ball in his hands. Wiggins played 39 minutes last time out and is officially off any minutes cap he was on in Game 1. Wiggins gets a team-leading 8.1% USG bump.
Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
How good has Malik Monk been in this series? He’s scored 32 and 18 actual points in the first two games and has averaged 30 minutes/game. He’s notched 33 and 38.75 DKP on top of that and if the Warriors can’t guard him when he’s streaking like this he’s a bucket waiting to happen.
Top NBA DFS Value Plays
- Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors
- Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers
- Torrey Craig, Phoenix Suns
- Donte DiVincenzo, Golden State Warriors (GPPs)
- Davion Mitchell, Sacramento Kings
- Seth Curry, Brooklyn Nets (GPP dart)
Player Pool
| $ Tier | PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Stephen Curry  $9,400 |  Kevin Durant $10,400 |  Domantas Sabonis $9,000 | ||
 Russell Westbrook $8,700 |  Joel Embiid $11,200 | ||||
| Medium |  Chris Paul $7,800 | Malik Monk $6,000 |  Norman Powell $5,700 |  Andrew Wiggins $6,400 | Ivica Zubac $5,800 |
 Torrey Craig $5,500 | Kevon Looney $5,800 | ||||
| Low |  Terance Mann $3,800 | Royce O'Neale $4,700 | |||
| Eric Gordon $4,400 |
Player News
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.