DFS NBA Lineups for April 7, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
We’ve got a five-game slate of DFS NBA games, and 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 tournament slate for 4/10/17, DraftKings and FanDuel are both running out huge GPPs with a low buy-in level. At DraftKings, they’ve got the Mega Crazy 8’s, an $8 buy-in contest with $500k in the prize pool and $100k going to first place. At FanDuel, they’ve got the Enormous Shot with $500k guaranteed, a $6 buy-in, and $100k to first place.
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 stretch of the season, this is more important than ever. We cannot possibly stress this enough! There will be craziness!
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Robert Covington (knee)
Jahlil Okafor (knee)
Sergio Rodriguez (hamstring)
Jusuf Nurkic (leg)
Tristan Thompson (thumb)
Derrick Favors (knee)
Reggie Jackson (knee)
Rodney Hood (knee)
Austin Rivers (hamstring)
Matt Barnes (ankle)
Quincy Acy (ankle)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Stephen Curry (knee)
Gordon Hayward (quad)
George Hill (groin)
Rajon Rondo (wrist)
Dion Waiters (ankle)
Malcolm Brogdon (back)
Otto Porter (back)
Allen Crabbe (foot)
Sean Kilpatrick (hamstring)
Lou Williams (rest)
Nene (rest)
Marco Belinelli (finger)
Kemba Walker (knee)
DFS NBA GAME SPREADS, TOTALS & START TIME FOR TODAY’S GAMES
Pacers -8 @ 76ers (7:00p): 211.5
Nets @ Celtics -10 (7:30p): 223
Cavs @ Heat -4.5 (7:30p): 210.5
Magic @ Bulls -8 (8:00p): 212
Hornets @ Bucks -6 (8:00p): 201
Wizards @ Pistons -1.5 (8:00p): 210
Spurs -4.5 @ Blazers (10:00p): 204
Rockets @ Clippers -6.5 (10:30p): 229.5
Jazz @ Warriors -9.5 (10:30p): 207
Best DFS NBA Picks for April 10, 2017
Chris Paul ($8.6k DraftKings, $9.6k FanDuel)
There are only a couple of games left in the season, so you have to look for some teams who are still jockeying for playoff position. The Clippers are tied with the Jazz for the fourth spot in the WCF playoffs and that makes every game critical for the Clips, while James Harden will look to make his final bids for MVP. With the Rockets capable of scoring in bunches, CP3 will have to keep the Clippers offense rolling, as he’s done with averages of 25.2 PPG and 10.8 APG over his last 5 appearances. He went for 16 points and 11 dimes in a previous meeting with Houston and the Rockets happen to give up the most FPPG (50.3) to opposing PGs over the last month.
Kevin Durant ($8k DraftKings, $9.9k FanDuel)
This is mostly a recommendation on DK, where Durant is priced temptingly low and definitely deserves consideration despite the tough matchup against Utah. He showed a little rust during his return to action on Saturday while shooting 6-of-15 from the floor, but continued to contribute across the board for the Dubs with 10 rebounds and 6 assists over 31 minutes. It’s important to note that Steve Kerr has no intentions of restricting his minutes as he works his way back and the Warriors will need his elite scoring if Steph Curry (knee) misses another game, as KD sports a 34.9% Usage Rate while averaging 1.41 FPs per minute when Steph is off the floor this year.
Isaiah Thomas ($8.3k DraftKings, $8.8k FanDuel)
The Celtics are certainly still playing for something with home court advantage in the ECF playoffs on the line and they’ll have some extra motivation to beat Brooklyn and ensure that the Nets have the most ping pong balls for the Celtics unprotected draft pick (acquired from Brooklyn several years ago). Thomas will be able to have his way with a Nets team that still gives up the most FPPG (48.02) to opposing PGs along with the second-most PPG (112.5) overall this season. Despite the lopsided nature of this matchup, I.T. is averaging 24 PPG and 6.5 APG over two appearances with the lowly Nets and he should continue to score in droves.
Mid Tier DFS NBA Plays
Myles Turner ($6.4k DraftKings, $6.8k FanDuel)
Using centers against the Sixers defense without Joel Embiid has been easy money over the past couple of months and they face a tough-minded big tonight in Turner. The Pacers young center went for 23 points and 10 boards in a plus matchup at Orlando to snap out of a lengthy funk and now he’ll face a Philly team that’s giving up the most FPPG (54.18) to opposing centers on the season and the most PPG (29.21) to the position over the last month. He’s averaging 12.3 PPG, 10 RPG and 2.3 BPG over three meetings with the Sixers this year and the Pacers can still move up or down, or even get eliminated from the playoffs if they’re not on their game.
Jeremy Lin ($6.9k DraftKings, $6.4k FanDuel)
Another mid-tier option at PG is Ish Smith ($5.9k DK, $5.5k FD), but if you want more upside for your buck, use the Nets main offensive weapon. Lin’s been quite productive over his last 4 appearances with averages 18.4 PPG, 5.9 APG and 5.5 RPG and he’s led Brooklyn to a couple of stunning wins during that span. He flashed his upside with 32 points in Orlando on 11-of-20 FG shooting last Thursday and he could find more success against a Celtics team that can’t protect the rim and struggles to contain prolific backcourt scorers.
Eric Gordon ($5k DraftKings, $4.5k FanDuel)
With Lou Williams expected to rest tonight against the Clippers, Gordon should see an expanded role as the preferred gunner alongside James Harden. EG was the one sitting on Sunday when Sweet Lou put up 18 points, but now he’ll see increased usage against his former team in the Clippers. Gordon is sporting a 24.1% Usage Rate an averaging 0.54 points per minute with Williams off the floor this season and he’ll be motivated to burn his former team.
Value DFS NBA Plays
Detroit Pistons
Pistons HC Stan Van Gundy rides his starters very hard and he’s done so all year, so it makes sense for him to pull up and give guys like KCP and Marcus Morris ample rest over the final few games of the year. With those players hardly seeing the floor, minimum priced plays such as Reggie Bullock ($3k DK, $3.5k FD) and Darrun Hillard ($3k DK, $3.5k FD) were able to exceed value in a tilt at Memphis last night. Henry Ellenson ($4.1k DK, $3.5k FD) started and played over 28 minutes to exceed value in his second consecutive appearance while Ish Smith ($5.9k DK, $5.5k FD) should continue to run the offense regardless with Reggie Jackson (knee) out.
San Antonio Spurs
Gregg Popovich claims that he has no real plans to rest his starters over the final two meaningless regular season games for the Spurs, but he’s certainly willing to limit their minutes to an extent. That’s opened up more consistent playing time for guys like Jonathon Simmons ($4k DK, $4k FD) and Dewayne Dedmon ($4k DK, $4.1k FD), who have both produced over the last few games. David Bertans ($3.6k DK, $3.5k FD) was a great value for a couple of games but fell off on Sunday while logging just 2 minutes, so only considering him in GPP formats. And on the Blazers side of the ball, Noah Vonleh ($3.6k DK, $3.9k FD) and Meyers Leonard ($3.4k DK, $3.8k FD) should see plenty of run with Nurkic and Ed Davis (shoulder) unavailable.
If, Then Player
If Gordon Hayward and George Hill remain out in addition to Rodney Hood, then Joe Johnson will be a solid play while Joe Ingles is a bit safer. Rudy Gobert would carry a huge load offensively and you could even look at Shelvin Mack as a punt play.
