RADIO
We're winding down the regular season in the NBA with a tiny three-game slate on an action-packed Saturday. As shown in my rankings below, the games all rate out with a "B" rating as they're all pretty similar in implied totals and projected pace. There are three things that stand out the most with these games, and they're going to influence how I'm going to be prioritizing the DFS options for tonight. First, the Pelicans-Grizzlies game has the clear edge in implied total and doesn't project as a blowout with just a 6-point spread, so getting to the Grizzlies side of the ball feels like a smart play. However, the potential return of Ja Morant could be a major dent in the Grizzlies' appeal as all of their players are priced up for Morant's absence. Second, the Kings-Clippers matchup features the most combined fantasy points per game allowed on the slate. Both squads bleed fantasy points to opposing teams, so there are going to be players to consider on both sides of the ball. Third, the Spurs will be without Murray, Poeltl, Vassell, and Keon Johnson tonight. This obviously opens up a ton of value at every position, despite them ranking as the least appealing team to target in my model.
There are a ton of stars who are already ruled out tonight - check out our Injury Updates tool (linked below). Ja Morant and Brandon Ingram are the only two players who are listed as questionable for tonight's slate.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/9/22, with the slate locking at 6:00 pm ET. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our live-updating NBA injury updates tool as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. As always, feel free to follow my Twitter (@RING_DFS) - I post about a variety of things but mainly NBA DFS with my K-Rate model. Let's get to it - good luck RotoBallers!
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jordan Poole - PG/SG, GSW vs. SAS ($8,000 DK, $7,900 FD)
Poole's going to be chalky, but it's very important to know when to eat "good chalk," and that's especially true on small slates. Poole is reasonably priced on both sites, and he's a high-floor, high-ceiling play with a top-tier positional matchup tonight. The Warriors have the best PG matchup on the board as the Spurs allow the 10th-most fantasy points per game to the position this season. Poole leads the team in both usage rate (32%) and FPTS/min (1.15) with Curry and Thompson off the floor this season, as they will be tonight.
Josh Richardson - SG/SF, SAS vs. GSW ($4,600 DK, $4,700 FD)
In addition to emerging superstar Dejounte Murray being out, the Spurs have also listed Keon Johnson, Jakob Poeltl, and Devin Vassell as out for tonight's contest against the Warriors. Lonnie Walker IV, who I love at his pricing on DraftKings, leads the team with a 30.7% usage rate with those four off the floor. Josh Richardson is second at 21.6%, and it's safe to assume that he'll also see a bump in minutes with those four inactive. The Warriors generally defend well, but it's obvious that both sides of the ball take a hit without Curry and Thompson playing. J-Rich's per-minute production increases to 0.94 FPTS/min with tonight's projected lineup, and as long as he gets somewhere close to 30 minutes tonight, he has a chance to crush value.
Bonus stat: Richardson has averaged an impressive two steals per game over his last five contests.
Tre Jones - PG, SAS vs. GSW ($5,400 DK, $6,500 FD) | Better on DraftKings
FanDuel did a good job of pricing Jones where he should be at this point, but DraftKings is still sleeping on him. He's averaging 35.8 DK points over his last four games as he has taken full advantage of Murray being out of the lineup. He's not a high usage player as he maintained a 15.7% usage rate over that four-game stretch and averaged a low 16.5% usage rate with Poeltl, Murray, Johnson, and Vassell out this season. However, he averaged 1.11 FPTS/min in that four-game stretch and is at 1.08 FPTS/min with those four out this season, and that'll more than get the job done at his salary. This isn't as tough of a matchup as it appears on paper, either, as the Warriors have allowed the eight-most fantasy points per game to point guards over their last seven games.
Lonnie Walker IV - SG/SF, SAS vs. GSW ($3,800 DK, $4,800 FD)
Joshua Primo - PG/SG, SAS vs. GSW ($3,500 DK, $4,300 FD) | Better on DraftKings
Others to consider (FanDuel): Gary Payton ($4,100), Reggie Jackson ($6,500), Davion Mitchell ($7,100), Donte DiVincenzo ($5,300)
Others to consider (DraftKings): Gary Payton II ($3,700), Reggie Jackson ($6,100), Davion Mitchell ($7,000)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Zach Collins - PF/C, SAS vs. GSW ($4,500 DK, $5,000 FD)
Like a lot of Spurs tonight, Collins is sliding into heavy minutes with the aforementioned four players out of the lineup. He averages a 19.1% usage rate and 1.07 FPTS/min on the season, and both rates see a slight uptick with Murray, Johnson, Vassell, and Poeltl off the floor. He should see somewhere around 30 minutes tonight, so if he's anywhere close to his typical per-minute production, he's going to crush value at these price tags. He's in good form, too, scoring at least 27.75 DK points in three of his last four contests and exceeding 36.5 DK points in two of them.
Paul George - SF/SF, LAC vs. SAC ($9,300 DK, $9,000 FD)
There's a ton of value on this slate and we have to pay up somewhere, so why not get to PG13 in a great spot against the Kings? The Clippers have seemed to settle in on playing George around 28-32 per game, and at his 34% usage rate and 1.31 FPTS/min rate, we'll take that minute projection all day and night. He has had a few down games shooting the ball recently, but that's not likely to continue against the NBA's fourth-worst defense (by defensive rating and fantasy points per game allowed). His potential ceiling may not be on the Jokic or Giannis level, but he's the best chance we have on this slate for someone to post a 55-65+ DK point outing.
Others to consider (FanDuel): Harrison Barnes ($5,100), Keita Bates-Diop ($3,900), Andrew Wiggins ($6,200), Otto Porter ($4,900), Jaren Jackson ($6,600), Herbert Jones ($4,700)
Others to consider (DraftKings): Keita Bates-Diop ($3,000), Otto Porter Jr. ($4,700), Andrew Wiggins ($6,200), Donte DiVincenzo ($5,400)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Pics
Damian Jones - C, SAC vs. LAC ($5,900 DK, $6,300 FD)
Jones averages 1.08 FPTS/min with Fox and Sabonis off the floor, as they will be tonight. He's also playing consistent minutes in the low-to-mid 30's, which is not something we can say for a lot of centers on this slate. Jones has posted a few monster games recently, putting up 52.25 and 54.25 DK points in consecutive games on 3/30 and 4/1, and that has caused his salary to rise quite a bit. He gets a great matchup tonight, too, as the Clippers have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to opposing centers this season.
Others to consider (FanDuel): Chimezie Metu ($4,200), Steven Adams ($5,500)
Others to consider (DraftKings): Jock Landale ($3,000), Kevon Looney ($3,300), Ivica Zubac ($5,000)
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