DraftKings and FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (4/16/23): NBA DFS Lineups

Welcome to our daily NBA DFS picks and recommendations for the playoffs! The intensity and stakes are high as we navigate through the postseason, and I'm here to provide the insights and recommendations you need to gain a competitive edge and maximize your winnings. Each day, I'll share my top picks and analyze critical factors impacting player performance and game outcomes, such as injuries, player matchups, and team strategies. It's important to note that value plays tend to shrink in the playoffs, so we'll focus on finding high-value, consistent players with solid matchups. Get ready for the excitement and intensity of NBA playoff DFS, grab your coffee, and let's dominate the competition together! Let's get to it.

We're kicking off Day 2 of the NBA playoffs on this fine Sunday, starting with what should be a banger in the Lakers-Grizzlies matchup tipping off at 3:00 pm CT. The opener is the only game that doesn't feature a spread of at least 7.5 points today, but with it being the playoffs, would anyone be surprised if every game is competitive? Keep an eye out for injury news, but with most playoff teams resting players heading into the playoffs, there's not a whole lot to monitor. The lack of injuries makes finding value extremely tough, so hitting on the value that does exist is going to be paramount to finding success on today's slate.

Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 4/16/23. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s NBA injury news and also our full NBA injury report today to stay up to date before lineups are locked.

NBA DFS Matchup Rankings

DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Ja Morant, vs. LAL (FD: $10,400, DK: $10,100)

Morant had one of his best games of the season the last time these squads met, posting 73.5 DK points with a crazy 39/10/10 triple-double over 34 minutes. That might be a bit too much to ask out of him today, but the Lakers allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to point guards in the regular season, and they won't be magically turning that around in the playoffs. The Grizzlies are the top team to target via my K-Grade model, and it's easy to see why. This game has the highest implied total, projects as the fastest-paced, and the teams combine for the most fantasy points per game allowed on the slate. Get to the best player on Memphis, and don't think twice about it.

Chris Paul, vs. LAC (FD: $7,900, DK: $7,100)

I don't think many people will get to Paul today, mainly because he has a weird mid-range salary, and we have so many studs we can pay for. However, I think this is the time to pounce if he is projecting to be unpopular. He needs just 35.5 DK points to hit 5x value, and he averaged more than that (36.6 DK points) during the regular season. Players don't get much more seasoned and experienced than Paul, and the opportunity will be there for him to take advantage of a defense that allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to point guards this season. The Clippers roll out a combination of Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, Bones Hyland, and Eric Gordon to defend the point guard position. It's safe to say Chris Paul has the advantage here.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, vs. DEN (DK: $4,000) DraftKings Only

Also consider (in order): Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, Devin Booker, Mike Conley, Desmond Bane

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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Norman Powell, vs. PHX (FD: $6,700, DK: $5,700) DraftKings Preferred

Powell is averaging a lofty 38.8 DK points per game over his last three games, and it seems like he's finally stepping up and embracing the "third-fiddle" role on the Clippers while PG13 continues to recover. He sees the highest usage rate bump (+3.3%) and DK point difference (+5) with George off the floor this season, and his 1.10 FPTS/min rate isn't anything to sneeze at when he's getting at least 30 minutes of clock. He's still really cheap relative to the rest of the value options on this slate, and while the matchup against Phoenix isn't ideal, it's not a deal-breaker by any means.

Xavier Tillman, vs. LAL (FD: $5,800, DK: $5,200)

Tillman might be the least sexy name on this slate among players projected for at least 30 minutes, but these are the types of plays we need to hit on to fit Jokic or any other studs today. The big man averaged 1.11 FPTS/min this season with Brandon Clarke and Steven Adams off the floor this season, as they will be tonight. He posted a 16.5 DK point dud in his last game with 30 minutes played, but posted 34.5, 38.25, 34.75, and 39.5 DK points in the four prior games. The Grizzlies will need him to play big minutes in this series with Los Angeles rolling out Davis and LeBron in the frontcourt, and that's great for Tillman as the Lakers allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to centers during the season.

Also consider (in order): Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler, Michael Porter Jr., Josh Okogie

DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Nikola Jokic, vs. MIN (FD: $12,100, DK: $11,500)

Jokic is still the alpha among alphas in daily fantasy basketball production, and he will prove as much tonight against the Wolves. He averaged 59.1 DK points per game for the year, and check out his last four games playing at least 30 minutes: 71.25, 57.5, 64, 66.25 DK points. He exploded for 87.5 DK points against Brooklyn on 3/12 if we needed any reminders as to what type of ceiling the two-time MVP possesses. The Wolves ranked middle-of-the-pack against centers during the year, but they allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to centers over their last seven games. Jokic is going to go off tonight.

Also consider (in order): Deandre Ayton, Bam Adebayo, Rudy Gobert

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