NBA Play-In Tournament DFS Picks & Playbook For Today: April 19th

As the curtains draw to a close on the NBA play-in tournament, DFS enthusiasts brace themselves for an exhilarating finale packed with high-stakes matchups and strategic player selections. As the league's most electrifying talents take center stage, tonight's games promise a thrilling display of athleticism, skill, and determination.
With DFS managers meticulously crafting their lineups, every point, rebound, and assist holds the potential to sway fortunes. As the final showdowns unfold, the stage is set for to capitalize with NBA DFS picks on teams' last chance to make their mark in this exhilarating tournament.
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!
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Bulls vs. Heat DFS Picks
Total: 206.5
Spread: MIA -1.5
NBA Injury Report, 4/19
Bulls Injuries
- Alex Caruso - QUEST (expected to play)
- Ayo Dosunmu - QUEST
- Andre Drummond - QUEST
- Onuralp Bitim - OUT
- Julian Phillips - OUT
- Patrick Williams - OUT
- Zach LaVine - OUT
- Lonzo Ball - OUT
Heat Injuries
- Jimmy Butler - OUT
- Terry Rozier - OUT
- Josh Richardson - OUT
- Duncan Robinson - PROB
Chicago Bulls NBA DFS Breakdown
- Pace (since All-Star break): 19th (97)
- Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 27th
The Bulls should be at full strength tonight despite listing Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, and Andre Drummond as questionable. Caruso’s status seems the most questionable after injuring his ankle in their first play-in game.
The main Bulls are incredibly interesting here as DeMar DeRozan, Coby White, and Nikola Vucevic should top or approach 40 minutes here. You can throw Ayo Dosunmu in that equation as well, but he’s firmly their fourth option of the group. Vucevic has the toughest individual match-up considering Bam Adebayo defense is waiting for him. He had 28 and 30 DKP against Adebayo in their two meetings this year.
If Caruso plays, he’ll likely be lower owned because he could leave the game with the ankle. If he doesn’t play it’s likely Javonte Green inserted into the starting lineup and Dalen Terry as the primary backup. Both of those guys would be in play if Caruso were to sit.
- Top Play(s): DeMar DeRozan, Coby White, Nikola Vucevic (GPPs)
- Secondary Play(s): Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso (GPPs), Javonte Green (only if Caruso sits)
- Punt(s): Dalen Terry (only if Caruso sits)
Miami Heat NBA DFS Breakdown
- Pace (since All-Star break): 29th (95.6)
- Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 2nd
With Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier out, what will the Heat do here? They’re still an elite defensive team and are still favored here. It’s hard not to start builds tonight featuring Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo because both are priced fairly.
Outside of those two guys, you can make a case for a lot of different pieces here. The first question we’ll have is: is Duncan Robinson going to play? He was listed as available the other day and was listed with no minute limit. If he’s starting, I’m interested, and if he’s not starting, it’s nearly impossible to roster him.
With Butler out, Jaime Jaquez Jr. likely starts in his place. He’s a very solid play, along with Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith on the wing. All three guys should play mid-20’s to 30 minutes here.
The question marks outside of Robinson I have are Kevin Love, Nikola Jovic, and Delon Wright. Jovic will start, but he’s rarely extended, yet has a 1.05 FP/min average this year without Butler, Rozier, and some other assets hurt or not on the team.
Wright surprisingly saw 23 minutes off the bench and was very effective for Miami, but he’s another guy from game to game who could fall out of the rotation. Love was the straight backup to Adebayo in this game and they didn’t share any floor time, but they did play 134 minutes together this season. Does Spo break it out here? There’s a chance.
- Top Play(s): Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- Secondary Play(s): Caleb Martin, Haywood Highsmith, Duncan Robinson (if starting, if not I’m not rostering him)
- Punt(s): Delon Wright, Kevin Love
Kings vs. Pelicans DFS Picks
Total: 210.5
Spread: NO +1
NBA Injury Report, 4/19
Kings Injuries
- Malik Monk – OUT
- Kevin Huerter – OUT
Pelicans Injuries
- Zion Williamson - OUT
Sacramento Kings NBA DFS Breakdown
- Pace (since All-Star break): 17th (97.3)
- Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 9th
There is no easier team to talk about than the Kings on this slate because of the way they distribute minutes and how short their rotation is.
The starting five of De’Aaron Fox, Keon Ellis, Keegan Murray, Harrison Barnes, and Domantas Sabonis all played 34+ minutes and Davion Mitchell and Trey Lyles played in the teens. That's all. Removing garbage time minutes from the equation, the Kings rotation is incredibly tight and will remain that way tonight.
Getting any one of those guys is a solid approach and there’s always a chance at Mitchell or Lyles being extended if there’s any sort of foul trouble or Harrison Barnes is struggling. I like the Kings a LOT and they’re very stackable tonight.
- Top Play(s): De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Keon Ellis
- Secondary Play(s): Harrison Barnes
- Punt(s): Trey Lyles, Davion Mitchell
New Orleans Pelicans NBA DFS Breakdown
- Pace (since All-Star break): 16th (97.5)
- Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 6th
This game is going to be a lot harder for the Pelicans after losing Zion Williamson but they’re a very good team with or without him.
Brandon Ingram is more or less the X-Factor tonight for New Orleans. He’s only been back for two games since his knee injury and hasn’t played more than 25 minutes in either game. He would’ve last game, but he was flat-out benched in the fourth quarter, and they looked better without him. That said, he leads the team in usage bump (+4.6%) up to 32.3% USG and averages 1.3 FP/min.
CJ McCollum isn’t far behind on the usage bump (+3.3%) to 28.6%, averaging 1.16 FP/min without Williamson. Trey Murphy III will slide into the starting lineup for Williamson and will join Herbert Jones and Jonas Valanciunas. I’m good with both Murphy and Jones tonight.
The center room is…interesting. Larry Nance Jr. is the preferred option as he played 28 minutes to Valanciunas’ 20 last game, but he’s been used a LOT against Sacramento this year, including 33 minutes against them just eight days ago.
That data *may* not matter considering Nance has only played in two of the matchups and missed the latest one. The ownership may be on Nance and if Valanciunas keeps up with his 1.26 FP/min output without Williamson, well, he may only need 20 minutes to smash.
Jose Alvarado played mid-20’s minutes in their first play-in game and that’s the likely scenario here too. Dyson Daniels and Naji Marshall could see an uptick, for Marshall just simply entering the rotation, but I’m not really interested in either unless playing 150 lineups.
- Top Play(s): Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., Jonas Valanciunas (GPPs)
- Secondary Play(s): Jonas Valanciunas, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, Jose Alvarado
- Punt(s): None
Player News
Jaylen Brown (knee) is available for Game 5 on Tuesday against the Magic.
Brown is available after the Celtics listed him as questionable on the initial injury report. The reigning champions will only be without one starter, Jrue Holiday, for Tuesday’s game as they look to close out the Magic. Al Horford will remain the fifth starter.
Landry Shamet (migraine) is available for Game 5 against the Pistons on Tuesday.
Added to the Knicks’ injury report earlier Tuesday afternoon, Shamet will be available for Game 5. However, he totaled 10 minutes in Games 2 through 4, so he may not figure prominently in New York’s bench rotation.
Jimmy Butler (pelvis, glute) is probable for Game 5 on Wednesday against the Rockets.
Butler returned to the Warriors’ lineup on Monday after sitting out Game 3, and he was outstanding. The probable tag suggests he will be cleared to play as the Warriors look to close out the series. If Butler is unable to play, Jonathan Kuminga may re-enter the rotation. However, he only played 17 minutes as Butler’s replacement in Game 3.
Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis will start Game 5 on Tuesday against the Pacers.
Damian Lillard’s season-ending Achilles tendon tear meant the Bucks would have to make at least one change to their starting lineup. Porter will fill the void left by the perennial All-Star, with Green and Portis also being moved from the bench to the starting five. They replace Kyle Kuzma and Brook Lopez, as Bucks coach Doc Rivers searches for an answer that will keep his team’s season alive.
Landry Shamet (migraine) is questionable for Game 5 on Tuesday against the Pistons.
Shamet is a late addition to the injury report for Game 5, which is a concerning development regarding his availability for the game. After playing 10 minutes in Game 1, he logged a total of 10 minutes in the next three contests. Shamet’s absence would not be highly impactful if he’s unable to play.
Isaiah Stewart (knee) is out for Game 5 on Tuesday against the Knicks.
Stewart has not appeared in a game since the series opener on April 19, due to an inflamed right knee. Beef Stew is left to hope his teammates can force a Game 6, as they go into Tuesday trailing by three games to one. Paul Reed will continue to serve as Jalen Duren’s backup, but he’s unlikely to surpass 15 minutes in that role.