NBA DFS Playbook April 7: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Plays
Published: Apr 07, 2023
Today's slate is one for the history books in possibly the worst way. So many players are ruled out and by the time lineup lock rolls around. Below, I've listed all the teams playing for something and talked through my process in the player breakdowns as well for teams that aren't playing for anything. It does matter that a team is playing for something at this point because we can reliably count on their stars playing big minutes, at least we think so, this is the NBA. 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 break down James' top plays of the day for DraftKings and FanDuel!
Teams Playing for Something Today
- Kings
- Lakers
- Warriors
- Heat
- Nets
- Raptors
- Pelicans
- Grizzlies
- Hawks
- Mavericks
Notable NBA Injury Updates
- Joel Embiid & James Harden - OUT
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez - OUT
- Kyrie Irving, Christian Wood. Tim Hardaway Jr. - OUT
- Kristaps Porzingis - OUT
- Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle - OUT, R.J. Barrett - QUEST
- Zach LaVine & DeMar DeRozan - OUT
- Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, Trey Lyles, Davion Mitchell - QUEST
- Anthony Davis, LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell - QUEST
Highest NBA Game Totals
- Philadelphia 76ers @ Atlanta Hawks - 235.5
- Golden State Warriors @ Sacramento Kings - 235
- Detroit Pistons @ Indiana Pacers - 232.5
- Houston Rockets @ Charlotte Hornets - 229
- Memphis Grizzlies @ Milwaukee Bucks - 229
Best Pace Matchups
- Philadelphia 76ers (27th) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6th)
- Phoenix Suns (22nd) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (4th)
Best DRtg Matchups
- Charlotte Hornets vs. Houston Rockets (29th)
- Indiana Pacers vs. Detroit Pistons (28th)
- Detroit Pistons vs. Indiana Pacers (26th)
- Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings (24th)
- Chicago Bulls vs. Dallas Mavericks (23rd)
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. Atlanta Hawks (22nd)
- Miami Heat vs. Washington Wizards (21st)
Favorite Players to Use for DFS Lineups
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
So despite having the season on the line, the Mavericks have ruled out Kyrie Irving, Christian Wood, Tim Hardaway, Josh Green, and Maxi Kleber. That means Luka Doncic essentially has the team to himself. Not essentially. He does. Without those guys on the floor, Doncic has a 40.3% USG and averages 1.5 FP/min. Top spend on the board.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
So our concern with Trae Young when Quin Synder initially arrived was the minutes. Well, now that he’s playing 39+ minutes there’s no reason his price point is still where it is. They’re going to face a shell of the normal 76ers here too. This total is very appealing as it’s at the top of the list for me regarding game environments.
Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls
Barring Vucevic suits up, he’s one of the top overall plays of the day. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are out, which means the keys to the team are in the hands of Vooch. It’s a small sample without DeRozan and LaVine but has a 27.4% USG and averages 1.17 FP/min without them.
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks
You give Portis 30 minutes and the sky’s the limit. He’s played 30 minutes in back-to-back games and he’s put up 50+ DKP and now has the team to himself. Without the Bucks Big 3 and Brook Lopez he has a 28.9% USG and averages 1.28 FP/min.
Houston’s Top Three Options
I love how the Houston Rockets are just letting their guys play all the minutes and it’s hard to exclude Alperen Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr., and Jalen Green. Charlotte is 20th in DRtg this year and 10th in pace. I’d rank them Sengun, Green, and Porter, but love them all.
Favorite Value Players for DFS Lineups
- Jay Huff, Washington Wizards
- Shake Milton & Jalen McDaniels, Philadelphia 76ers
- Jalen Suggs & Bol Bol, Orlando Magic
- Jaden Hardy, Dallas Mavericks
Player Pool
| $ Tier | PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Luka Dončić  $11,800 |  Jayson Tatum $11,200 | |||
 Trae Young $9,500 | |||||
| Medium |  Immanuel Quickley $7,900 |  Jalen Green $7,700 |  Quentin Grimes $6,800 |  Bobby Portis $7,400 | Alperen Şengün $8,200 |
 Obi Toppin $6,400 |  Nikola Vučević $8,100 | ||||
| Low | Coby White $5,100 |  Jalen Suggs $5,300 |  Jalen McDaniels $4,000 |  Bol Bol $3,900 |  Jay Huff $4,400 |
 Jaden Hardy $4,600 | |||||
| Shake Milton $4,300 |
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.