NBA DFS Picks & Playbook For Today: 2024 Playoffs, April 24th

As the NBA playoffs continue to heat up, today's main slate showcases four electrifying matchups set to captivate both fans and fantasy basketball enthusiasts alike. With stakes higher than ever and every possession holding the potential to swing the tide of a series, the intensity on the hardwood is palpable, and so are our NBA DFS picks.
As DFS managers, navigating this landscape requires keen insight into player form, team dynamics, and strategic matchups. From perennial powerhouses to rising underdogs, tonight's slate promises a thrilling spectacle of athleticism, skill, and drama.
So, buckle up as we delve into the matchups and unearth the hidden gems that could propel your DFS lineups to victory on this pivotal night in the NBA postseason.
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Heat vs. Celtics DFS
Total: 204
Spread: BOS -14.5
NBA Injury Report, 4/24
Miami Heat Injuries
- Jimmy Butler - OUT
- Terry Rozier - OUT
- Josh Richardson - OUT
Boston Celtics Injuries
- Luke Kornet - OUT
Miami Heat NBA DFS Breakdown
- Pace (since All-Star break): 29th (95.6)
- Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 2nd
As we saw in Game 1, the Miami Heat are outmatched, but that’s been the case for basically all of Boston’s opponents this year. Three Heat starters played 34+ minutes: Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Jaime Jaquez. I prefer getting to Adebayo and Jaquez as Tyler Herro is having a tough time being guarded by Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.
Outside of those three, I like Nikola Jovic as a value play as he’s played 26+ minutes in back-to-back games. Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith are GPP plays with low floors. Delon Wright is probably a fairly popular punt play considering how well he’s played and the minutes in the mid-20’s continue to be there.
The wild card here is Kevin Love. Maybe we see Spo lean into the double-big lineup a little more considering we saw Love and Adebayo share the floor for just three minutes in Game 1. They won those minutes 11-8, for the record. Duncan Robinson outwardly told the media until he’s able to get some rest, he won’t be the Duncan Robinson of old. That’s a fade for me, dawg.
- Top Play(s): Bam Adebayo, Jaime Jaquez, Delon Wright
- Secondary Play(s): Nikola Jovic, Tyler Herro
- Punt(s): Kevin Love (GPPs)
Boston Celtics NBA DFS Breakdown
- Pace (since All-Star break): 25th (95.9)
- Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 8th
Boston looked, well, like Boston in Game 1. They took and made a ton of threes and blew Miami out. They’re now 38-4 at home including Game 1. You can look at ANY of the Celtics tonight with how they’re being priced.
Jayson Tatum is the top dog and he triple-doubled despite going 7-of-18 from the field and 1-of-8 from three. He’s the top option here but getting the likes of Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis for $7.6K and $7.3K respectively is great for both. It’s kind of an aberration for Porzingis to grab just four rebounds, so expect positive regression there.
Getting to both Derrick White and Jrue Holiday works, too. White has a higher ceiling because of his shot volume but Holiday’s a little cheaper.
The bench unit of Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser made up the remainder of the minutes with the first two listed as the two we’d prioritize. Horford played the backup PF and C and has a solid price tag. Pritchard was extended to 24 minutes because of how well he was playing and that is seemingly an option each and every slate. It comes with risk, however, because if he’s not spacing the floor well, the Celtics will just shrink their rotation even more.
- Top Play(s): Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White
- Secondary Play(s): Jrue Holiday, Payton Pritchard, Al Horford
- Punt(s): None
Pelicans vs. Thunder DFS
Total: 212
Spread: OKC -7.5
NBA Injury Report, 4/24
New Orleans Pelicans Injuries
- Zion Williamson - OUT
Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries
- None
New Orleans Pelicans NBA DFS Breakdown
- Pace (since All-Star break): 16th (97.5)
- Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 6th
The Pelicans have started their postseason off running a really tight rotation using eight guys for any sort of real minutes. Four of their five starters played 33+ minutes while Jonas Valanciunas played 29. I think that’s where we should start: the center room.
During the regular season, here were Jonas Valanciunas’ minutes against OKC:
11/1 - 21
1/26 - 20
3/26 - 10
Are we SURE based on one game he’s DEFINITELY the guy they’re going to play and not Larry Nance? He obviously has a higher ceiling and that’s not debatable, but that ceiling shrinks if he’s only playing 20 minutes. Especially considering his price is on the rise. I actually prefer Larry Nance in DFS for $1,000 cheaper, stubborn take or not.
We saw Brandon Ingram in the “Dorture Chamber” in Game 1, and that’s the likely scenario throughout the postseason. The 37 minutes and 17 shots were great, but the efficiency..not so much. GPPs for me. CJ McCollum is solid playing 40 minutes and taking 20+ shots, but Trey Murphy III might be my favorite option. He played 44 minutes in Game 1 and did a little of everything.
Herbert Jones top priority is guarding SGA, so how much will he have in the tank offensively in this series? He’s cheap, but a secondary option for me. The bench unit of the aforementioned Nance, Jose Alvarado, and Naji Marshall are interesting. Alvarado and Marshall are solid fantasy producers at .92 FP/min and .89 FP/min respectively without Zion Williamson this year.
- Top Play(s): Trey Murphy III, CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. (GPPs)
- Secondary Play(s): Brandon Ingram, Herbert Jones, Jonas Valanciunas, Larry Nance Jr. (cash)
- Punt(s): Naji Marshall, Jose Alvarado
Oklahoma City Thunder NBA DFS Breakdown
- Pace (since All-Star break): 3rd (101.2)
- Defensive Rating (since All-Star break): 4th
The Thunder were fifth in offensive rating during the regular season but only mustered up 94 points in Game 1. They won, that’s the most important thing, but their big three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren scored 62 of the 94. These three are really the only options you should look towards heavily.
You can get to Luguentz Dort if he’s going to play 35 minutes, but like Herbert Jones on the other side of this game, Dort’s priority is following Brandon Ingram around wherever he goes.
Josh Giddey is a full fade for me at just 20 minutes and salute to those that play him in the games he puts up 40 FP despite barely being on the floor. They played an 11-man rotation and didn’t change their ways really at all, just extended their starters a bit.
- Top Play(s): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren
- Secondary Play(s): Luguentz Dort
- Punt(s): None
Player News
Jamir Watkins contributed 10 points (4-of-16 FGs), five rebounds, two assists, eight steals, three blocks and one three-pointer against the 76ers on Tuesday.
While it wasn’t an efficient offensive night for Watkins, he was a menace defensively. He helped limit VJ Edgecombe to 4-of-14, and he tied the Summer League record for steals in a game while also adding three blocks. It will be difficult for Watkins to carve out a role on a team that is loaded with young talent, but games like this will help make his case.
AJ Johnson led the Wizards with 20 points (7-of-20 FGs), five rebounds, one assist, one steal and one three-pointer in a 74-58 loss to the 76ers on Tuesday.
Johnson stepped up on the offensive end with Tre Johnson (hamstring), Will Riley (thumb), Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George all sidelined. The latter three were just getting a rest night, and they could be back to play Utah on Wednesday. Johnson wasn’t flawless, but he was able to provide some buckets as the offensive engine.
Johni Broome recorded a double-double on Tuesday with 14 points (5-of-11 FGs), 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal and two three-pointers against the Wizards.
Broome has largely struggled in Las Vegas, but he played well on Tuesday and recorded his first double-double of the summer. The second-round pick will compete for reserve minutes behind Joel Embiid next season and could take on a large role if Embiid isn’t healthy. Performances like this are encouraging.
VJ Edgecombe finished with 15 points (4-of-14 FGs), six rebounds, four assists, three steals, one block and one three-pointer in a 74-58 win over the Wizards on Tuesday.
Edgecombe missed Philly’s last four games due to a thumb injury after going off for 28 points in his debut in Utah. He wasn’t able to replicate that, but he was solid. At this point, it’s just a positive sign to see him out on the floor, especially with all of the other injury news popping up for the 76ers.
Collin Murray-Boyles contributed 10 points (3-of-5 FGs), three rebounds, three assists, one block and one three-pointer against the Nuggets on Tuesday.
CMB hasn’t popped in the box score through his first two games of Summer League, but he has been impressive on the defensive end, which was a major reason he went in the lottery. He hit a three-pointer in this game after not hitting one in his previous game. If he can at least become a competent floor spacer, the sky is the limit for him.
Jamal Shead posted a full line on Tuesday with 16 points (6-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, eight assists, two steals, two blocks and one three-pointer against the Nuggets.
Shead was a defensive menace during his rookie season, and that has carried into this summer. He is averaging 11.7 points, six assists and two steals per game this summer, and he should be a valuable reserve heading into his second NBA season, though his statistical upside is limited.