DFS NBA Lineups for April 4, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
On days that there’s a nice slate of DFS NBA games, we’ll give you the game totals, point spreads, and pertinent injury news to follow for NBA daily fantasy, as well as some players that we’re considering for our lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Looking at the GPPs for 4/4/17, DraftKings is rolling out a $250k Jab Step with a $6 buy-in. At FanDuel, they’ve got a $200k Clutch Shot with a $4 buy-in. If you’re looking to try something new, both sites have huge DFS MLB contest going tonight with millions in guaranteed prize pools.
As always, be sure and monitor any of the injury news that breaks throughout the day, as value plays and player upgrades can arise in a moments notice. As we enter the final weeks of the season, this is more important than ever.
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Kevin Durant (knee)
Kyle Lowry (wrist)
Robert Covington (knee)
Jahlil Okafor (knee)
Jusuf Nurkic (leg)
Ed Davis (shoulder)
Derrick Rose (knee)
Dion Waiters (ankle)
Malcolm Brogdon (back)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Marc Gasol (foot)
Jamychal Green (shoulder)
Tony Allen (eye)
Carmelo Anthony (knee)
George Hill (groin)
Dirk Nowitzki (Achilles)
Seth Curry (shoulder)
Will Barton (foot)
Jameer Nelson (calf)
P.J. Tucker (knee)
Danny Green (thigh)
Kyle Korver (foot)
DFS NBA GAME SPREADS, TOTALS & START TIME FOR TODAY’S GAMES
Raptors @ Pacers -2.5 (7:00p): 205
Hornets @ Wizards -4 (7:00p): 217.5
Nets @ 76ers -1 (7:00p): 217.5
Magic @ Cavaliers -9 (7:00p): 222
Nuggets @ Pelicans (8:00p): TBD
Bulls -3.5 @ Knicks (8:00p): 207
Bucks @ Thunder -4.5 (8:00p): 211
Grizzlies @ Spurs (8:30p): TBD
Blazers @ Jazz (9:00p): TBD
Mavericks @ Kings (10:30p): TBD
Timberwolves @ Warriors -13.5 (10:30p): 220.5
Best DFS NBA Picks for April 4, 2017
Russell Westbrook ($13.5k DraftKings, $13.6k FanDuel)
While some players stroll towards the finish line, Westbrook is sprinting, because let’s face it- that’s the only way he knows how to play. He’s only racing against history to post the most triple doubles ever and is pulling away for the MVP while carrying his team on a nightly basis. It’s highly unlikely at this point that he comes up short of a triple double, especially against a Bucks team that gives up the fifth-most FPPG (46.57), eighth-most APG (9.38) and tenth-most RPG (6.06) to opposing PGs over the last month. Westbrook went for 30 points on rough 9-of-28 FG shooting when he faced Milwaukee earlier this season and he’s much more efficient with absurd averages of 41 PPG, 13 RPG and 11.2 APG while shooting 48.3% from the floor over his last five appearances.
DeMarcus Cousins ($10.3k DraftKings, $9.6k FanDuel)
He’s become more expensive than Anthony Davis on DK but Boogie is still a fantastic bargain at this price tag given his upside. The Pelicans are running everything through their two big men and Cousins is averaging 30.3 PPG, 13.3 RPG and 4.3 APG while getting back to his ways as a true Usage Monster. Tonight he faces a Nuggets team that gives up the fourth-most PPG (111.4) and is ranked 29th in opponents FG shooting (.479%) this year, while he went for 31 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in his sole meeting with Denver earlier this season.
Elfrid Payton ($7.9k DraftKings, $7.6k FanDuel)
Surprisingly enough, Payton has also involved into a nightly triple-double threat as those statistical anomalies are on the rise. Along with teammate Nikola Vucevic ($7.5k DK, $8.4k FD) he’s an elite option to target as Orlando faces a Cleveland team that is disintegrating while ranking 27th in defensive rating since the ASB. The Cavs give up the fourth-most APG (9.73) to opposing PGs and the most RPG (19.0) to opposing centers over the last month, playing into the strengths of both Magic stars. Payton boasts a 34.6% Assist Rate and Vucevic leads Orlando with a 25% Usage Rate while averaging 18.4 points and 12.9 rebounds per 36 minutes this season, so both are worth stacking together or using separately against a struggling defense.
Mid Tier DFS NBA Plays
Rajon Rondo ($7.1k DraftKings, $7.1k FanDuel)
If you fade Westbrook due to his insane price tag, it might make sense to roll out a couple of PGs in Payton and Rondo and hope that one or both of them also produce a triple-double. Rondo’s flirted with that designation while playing big minutes in each of his last four appearances and he’s averaging 15 PPG, 9.9 APG and 9.2 RPG during that span. He’s been carving up defenses like the Rondo of old and tonight he faces a Knicks team that’s now ranked 26th in defensive rating and gives up the tenth-most APG (9.29) to opposing PGs over the last month.
Sacramento Kings
The young Kings are full of energy and potential, which makes them worth considering as mid-tier options. They face a Dallas team tonight that still ranks dead last in total rebounding, so Willie Cauley-Stein ($5.9k DK, $5.7k FD) and Skal Labissiere ($4.6k DK, $4.6k FD) will get their opportunity to dominate the paint in a plus matchup. Buddy Hield ($5.6k DK, $5.5k FD) posted an increased Usage Rate (22.4%) during March and got hot with 35 points on 15-of-24 FG shooting in road games at New Orleans and Minnesota. Garrett Temple ($3.6k DK, $4k FD) is a safe play with limited upside, while you could also take a chance on Ben McLemore ($3.3k DK, $3.5k FD) after he struggle to find a rhythm while dealing with foul trouble the other night.
Value DFS NBA Plays
New York Knicks
With Derrick Rose (knee) done for the year and Carmelo Anthony (back) close to being shut down in a lost season, the Knicks have several intriguing value plays that are worth a look in a good matchup against the Bulls mediocre defense. Ron Baker ($3.6k DK, $3.5k FD) and Courtney Lee ($4.9k DK, $4.6k FD) are the most direct beneficiaries of Rose being out while Mindaugas Kuzminskas ($4k DK, $3.9k FD) could step up if Melo is out again. Justin Holiday ($3.2k DK, $3.5k FD) is an intriguing punt despite his poor shooting afternoon against the Celtics on Sunday, while Kyle O’Quinn ($3.5k DK, $4k FD) is another punt to consider in tournament formats in the hopes that he produces at his usually absurd per-minute clip.
Philadelphia 76ers
Some of them have become more of mid-tier options, but Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot ($5.1k DK, $4.2k FD) and company are still relative values given their increased roles with the 76ers extremely shorthanded at the end of the season. Nik Stauskas ($4.6k DK, $4.4k FD) is getting more chances to shoot while Justin Anderson ($5k DK, $4k FD) is finally seeing consistent playing time with Robert Covington (knee) ruled out for the season. The absence of Jahlil Okafor (knee) makes Shawn Long ($3.9k DK, $4k FD) worthy of consideration as a punt play and just about every active Sixer should be able to produce against a Nets team that gives up the most PPG (114.2) while playing at the fastest pace in the NBA this season.
Bonus Values
J.J. Barea ($4.9k DK, $4.4k FD) is producing on a great per-minute basis and faces a Kings team tonight that gives up the most APG (12.06) to opposing PGs over the last month. Jordan Crawford ($4.6k DK, $3.7k FD) has provided instant offense off the Pelicans bench and he draws a great matchup against the fast-paced Nuggets. The Blazers frontcourt draws a tough matchup, but Al-Farouq Aminu ($4.6k DK, $4.8k FD) and Noah Vonleh ($4k DK, $4.4k FD) could work out at PF and Rudy Gobert ($8.3k DK, $9.2k FD) will also benefit with Jusuf Nurkic unavailable for Portland.
If, Then Player
If Marc Gasol and JaMychal Green remain out, Brandan Wright could step up as a viable punt play while Zach Randolph would become a bit more trustworthy.
Jamal Murray would become much more appealing if Jameer Nelson and Will Barton are both out for Denver.
