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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on April 17, 2023. Juan Carlos Blanco provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
Welcome to our daily NBA DFS picks and recommendations for the playoffs. We're set for a compact two-game slate on Monday night that features a pair of Game 2 matchups in each conference.
The 10-point spread in favor of Philadelphia in the early game is concerning to an extent for DFS purposes. However, the narrow one-point line in the Warriors-Kings matchup -- put together with the combined 249 points scored in Game 1 -- should make it a very popular DFS environment.
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for the two-game FanDuel and DraftKings playoff slate tipping off at 7:30 pm ET on 4/17/23. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s NBA injury news and also our full NBA injury report today to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
James Harden, PHI vs. BKN ($9,000 DK; $9,500 FD)
Harden was one of the stars of Game 1 for the 76ers, shooting a blistering 53.8 percent from three-point range on his way to 52.5 DK/46.3 FD points. The Beard continues to carry a very reasonable salary for his upside. He's now averaging 48.1 DK points in three games against the Nets since the start of the regular season while shooting 48.3 percent from behind the arc in those contests.
Brooklyn is allowing 38.8 percent three-point shooting on the road since the start of the campaign as well, along with the ninth-highest offensive efficiency rating to two guards (24.2).
De'Aaron Fox, SAC vs. GSW ($8,500 DK; $9,400 FD)
Fox came through in the clutch for the Kings late in Game 1 on his way to finishing with 53.3 DK/52.7 FD points. He shot 48.1 percent, including 50.0 percent from distance, in the series-opening win. The guard is now averaging 47.3 DK points per contest in four games against the Warriors since the start of the regular season.
Fox has shot a stellar 50.6 percent (39.1 percent from three-point range) in that sample. Golden State checks in allowing the eighth-highest offensive efficiency rating to point guards (27.6) and the second-highest three-point shooting on the road overall (39.6 percent).
ALSO CONSIDER: Mikal Bridges, BKN at PHI ($7,700 DK; $8,400 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Draymond Green, GSW at SAC ($6,100 DK; $6,600 FD)
Green delivered one of his patented versatile stat lines in Game 1, producing four points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, two steals, and one block on his way to 36.3 DK/37.3 FD points. The veteran forward has averaged over 25 fantasy points per game on either site against the Kings over five games since the start of the regular season.
Sacramento is surrendering the seventh-highest offensive efficiency rating to power forwards (27.6) while giving up 49.1 percent shooting to the position. Green should naturally sport a high usage rate again in Game 2, and the double-double bonus on DK is certainly in play.
Andrew Wiggins, GSW at SAC ($5,900 DK; $6,300 FD)
When a player is out for as long as Wiggins was during the stretch run, the first game back can often be defined by either rust or the cumulative benefits of rest. Fortunately for the Warriors, it was mostly the latter in Wiggins' case, as he finished with 30.8 DK/34.1 FD points across 28 minutes.
Wiggins did struggle from behind the arc (1-8 3pt), but that could be corrected in Game 2 considering the Kings have allowed 37.3 percent three-point shooting since the start of the regular season. Wiggins could certainly be due for a bump in minutes on Monday night as well. His ability to supplement his fantasy production with defensive statistics certainly helps boost his case at his very reasonable salaries.
ALSO CONSIDER: Tobias Harris, PHI vs BKN ($6,000 DK; $6,100 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Joel Embiid, PHI vs. BKN ($10,600 DK; $11,400 FD)
Embiid was quieter than usual on the rebounding front in Game 1 on Saturday, but he still netted 42.3 DK/43.5 FD points in 33 minutes on the strength of a 26-point effort. The MVP candidate is still averaging over 50 fantasy points per game on either site in three games since the start of the regular season. Despite Embiid's quiet day on the boards Saturday, it's worth noting Brooklyn has allowed the fourth-most rebounds per contest since the start of the regular season (53.5).
Domantas Sabonis, SAC vs. GSW ($9,300 DK; $9,700 FD)
Sabonis had an atypically abysmal 5-for-17 shooting performance in Game 1, which is particularly unusual given he'd posted a 52.3 percent success rate from the field against Golden State in three regular-season contests. Despite the struggles, Sabonis still finished with 40.5 DK/39.2 FD points with the help of 16 rebounds and three steals.
He should be due for improved efficiency in Game 2 based on his usual standards. Golden State has also ranked No. 19 in offensive efficiency surrendered to centers (32.5) and has surrendered the seventh-most rebounds per road game to fives (53.3).
ALSO CONSIDER: Kevon Looney, GSW at SAC ($5,200 DK; $5,500 FD)
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