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Happy Thursday, RotoBallers! It's almost the weekend, and the NBA gives us that early no-work feeling with seven games to watch tonight. Phoenix and Utah had a fantastic overtime duel last night, and it will be interesting to see how they respond on the second night of their back-to-backs.
While the Suns will take on a Los Angeles Clippers team that leads the league in offensive rating (120.1) over the last 10 games, the Jazz will welcome the Portland Trail Blazers. All four teams have an offensive rating over 117 in their previous 10 games, and it should make for some exciting basketball. However, if I can only pick one for DFS, I'll go with the Trail Blazers versus Jazz contest. Both teams play faster than the Suns or Clippers, and the Vegas over/under sits at a slate-leading 231 points.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/8/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Luka Doncic - PG/SF, DAL vs. MIL ($10,900)
Doncic has struggled from the field with a 38.5 field-goal percentage over his last two games but is in a fantastic spot to rebound and produce an enormous fantasy performance. The Mavs-Bucks contest owns the second-highest over/under on the schedule (228.5 points), while Milwaukee plays at the fastest pace among the 14 teams in action. Doncic will get more chances than usual to pick up fantasy points and get to do it against the second-worst defense to point guards over the last 15 games.
The 22-year old is averaging 55.5 fantasy points per game this year but hasn't hit that mark since Mar. 19. The two-time All-Star is due for a breakout game, and tonight's game has all the ingredients he needs to get it done.
Malachi Flynn - PG, TOR vs. CHI ($4,700)
The Raptors injury report contains most of their options in the backcourt, and it has me going back to the Malachi Flynn well for another night. The rookie has come through in three straight games for DFS players and has the chance to make it four for four against the Bulls. Over his last three games, Flynn is averaging 14.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks. With no one healthy enough to take his opportunities in the Raptors backcourt, I still like him at his $4,700 salary.
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Buddy Hield - SG/SF, SAC vs. DET ($6,000)
If you want to take down a tournament, you need to increase your risk profile and roster some high-variance players. Putting Hield in your DFS lineup is a perfect way to do that with how he is playing and shooting the ball. For the season, he's taking 14.3 shots per game, and 10.5 of them are three-pointers. Hield attempted 17 shots in his previous game, and 16 were from behind the three-point line. The 2016 draft pick is a multi-entry-only option on Thursday, but one to take a look at if you are swinging for the fences.
Hamidou Diallo - SF, DET at SAC ($5,100)
Another player I am leaning towards in this Pistons-Kings matchup is Diallo. The magic number for him is 26. That's how many minutes he needs to reach for me to feel confident that he will hit for us in DFS. Fortunately, the injury gods have paved the way for the 22-year old to get there because of a Jerami Grant injury.
Diallo has reached 26 minutes in two games with the Pistons and returned 43 and 36.25 fantasy points, respectively. At $5,100, that will be an easy return to be a positive contributor to Thursday's lineup.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Bobby Portis - PF/C, MIL at DAL ($5,300)
We need as many pieces as we can get from the high-scoring games, and Portis gives us that option at a discounted price. Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) won't suit up against the Mavs, and it paves the way for Portis to be fantasy relevant for another evening. Last time out against Golden State, the 26-year old delivered the goods with 13 points, 13 rebounds, two three-pointers, and one steal. It was his sixth double-double of the season and further evidence to show what he can do when given the minutes to rack up counting numbers.
The Mavs certainly play slower than the Warriors, but the Bucks have scored at least 120 points in nine of their last 10 games. Portis will get his chances, and if he continues to take advantage of them, he will produce for your DFS lineup.
Isaiah Hartenstein - C, CLE at OKC ($4,400)
Larry Nance Jr. (illness) and Jarrett Allen (concussion) will miss another matchup on Thursday. Their absences provide another chance for Isaiah Hartenstein to continue his impressive run of form. The third-year forward has been giving DFS players a massive return on value over his last four games, and it should keep going against the Thunder tonight.
In his previous four games, the 22-year old averaged 10.5 points, nine rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks for 28.75 FPPG. With his $4,400 price tag, that would be six and a half times return on value and an easy play on the seven-game slate.
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