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The play-in tournament reaches its conclusion Friday with the Pelicans taking on the Kings and the Heat hosting the Bulls. With there being only two games, we are left with a limited DFS slate.
The key to being successful in NBA DFS comes down to making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. But it's always really important to have a game plan and the best players and spots circled first before making those adjustments. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and also gain access to our RotoBaller Premium Discord where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/19/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EDT on FanDuel and DraftKings.
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Even on a night with a full slate, it’s not difficult to make a case for rolling with Domantas Sabonis. He was one of the most consistent big men in the league, averaging 19.4 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game during the regular season. When he faced the Warriors on Tuesday, he produced 16 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block. He has one of the highest floors of any player in this slate, regardless of position.
The Heat couldn’t hold onto a big lead against the 76ers on Wednesday and things got even worse when Jimmy Butler suffered a knee injury. Reports have indicated that he will be out for multiple weeks, putting a heavy scoring burden on the shoulders of Tyler Herro. The Bulls have a good defensive backcourt, but with a ton of minutes and a high usage rate likely coming his way, Herro is still an excellent option in DFS.
Coby White could not have looked any better against the Hawks. He torched them for 42 points, shooting 15-of-21 from the field along the way. In addition to his terrific scoring output, he chipped in nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals. As his breakout season continues, he provides upside against the Heat, especially with one of their best defenders in Butler being out.
- Domantas Sabonis, SAC at NO – PF/C ($9,500 DK; $10,400 FD)
- Tyler Herro, MIA vs. CHI – PG/SG ($7,900 DK; $7,900 FD)
- Coby White, CHI at MIA – PG ($7,500 DK; $7,800 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Value Picks
The Pelicans will try to stay alive despite losing Zion Williamson to a hamstring injury while playing the Lakers on Tuesday. With Williamson out, Trey Murphy III becomes a more intriguing option. When Brandon Ingram was out toward the end of the season, Murphy averaged 17.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals over a 12-game span. He should step back into a larger role with Williamson sidelined.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. has shown that he can be productive when given extended run. Across 34 games in which he logged at least 30 minutes during the regular season, he averaged 16.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. With Butler out, Jaquez should at least approach the 30-minute threshold. Despite only logging 22 minutes versus the 76ers on Wednesday, he finished with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Minutes weren’t always easy to come by for Jonas Valanciunas toward the end of the regular season. Over the Pelicans’ final 21 games, he averaged only 18 minutes. He played 20 minutes Tuesday against the Lakers, recording four points and 10 rebounds. The Pelicans are going to need his size with Williamson out, so expect him to play more while trying to help them slow down Sabonis. He averaged 27 minutes over five games against the Kings during the regular season, putting up averages of 14.2 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.
Top Value Plays:
- Trey Murphy III, NO vs. SAC – SG/SF ($6,300 DK; $6,400 FD)
- Jaime Jaquez Jr., MIA vs. CHI – SG/SF/PF ($5,200 DK; $5,200 FD)
- Jonas Valanciunas, NO vs. SAC – C ($4,900 DK; $5,700 FD)
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
The Kings are lacking two key scoring options with Malik Monk (knee) and Kevin Huerter (shoulder) out. That puts even more pressure on De'Aaron Fox, who averaged 20.9 shot attempts per game during the regular season. He played 39 minutes Tuesday against the Warriors, scoring 24 points on 25 shot attempts. With a hefty usage rate in the cards, Fox is another excellent option to target at point guard.
De'Aaron Fox on the follow 💥🔨 pic.twitter.com/7cMms6aEmf
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 17, 2024
Top PG Options:
- De'Aaron Fox at NO, ($8,800 DK; $9,700 FD)
- Coby White at MIA, ($7,900 DK; $7,800 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
It wasn’t all good news for the Bulls when they eliminated the Hawks on Wednesday. Alex Caruso suffered an ankle injury that ultimately left him on the bench for most of the second half. He might not be able to play Friday, which would leave the Bulls without their best defender. Even if he does play, he might be limited. Get ready to see plenty of Ayo Dosunmu, who averaged 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over 37 starts during the regular season.
Top SG Options:
- Tyler Herro vs. CHI, ($7,900 DK; $7,900 FD)
- Ayo Dosunmu at MIA, ($6,100 DK; $6,300 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
Opposing teams know DeMar DeRozan is the driving force behind the Bulls’ scoring attack. Still, he is very difficult to slow down. During the regular season, he averaged 22.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over four meetings against the Heat. With Butler out, things lean even more in DeRozan’s favor.
Top SF Options:
- DeMar DeRozan at MIA, ($8,400 DK; $9,300 FD)
- Trey Murphy III vs. SAC, ($6,300 DK; $6,400 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
Someone on the Kings needs to step up and take some of the scoring pressure off Fox and Sabonis with Monk no longer in the picture. Monk missed the final nine games of the regular season, with Keegan Murray averaging 17.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.4 three-pointers during that stretch. He then scored 32 points over 39 minutes versus the Warriors. With how hot he can get from behind the arc, he could provide significant value, especially on DraftKings.
SEVEN threes on the night for Keegan Murray 🎯pic.twitter.com/ri6szqxFQK
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) April 17, 2024
Top PF Options:
- Keegan Murray at NO, ($5,900 DK; $6,800 FD)
- Jaime Jaquez Jr. vs. CHI, ($5,200 DK; $5,200 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
For those who are willing to pay up at center and want to take the safe route, Sabonis is the way to go. For those looking to save money at the position and deploy a cheap option in tournament play, Valanciunas is the player to target. It would not be a surprise to see him emerge from his matchup with a double-double.
Top C Options:
- Domantas Sabonis at NO, ($9,500 DK; $10,400 FD)
- Jonas Valanciunas vs. SAC, ($4,900 DK; $5,700 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Kings at Pelicans (212.5 total)
- Bulls at Heat (205 total)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
- Even with Williamson out, Brandon Ingram is risky. He recently missed 12 straight games with a knee injury. He played just 23 minutes in his return during the Pelicans’ regular-season finale. He followed that up by only playing 25 minutes against the Lakers on Tuesday. He might not be able to surpass 30 minutes yet.
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite overall play on the slate: Domantas Sabonis
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: De'Aaron Fox
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Tyler Herro
- My favorite value play: Jonas Valanciunas
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