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Monday brings three more playoff games in the NBA. The Cavaliers, Knicks, and Nuggets will all look to take 2-0 series leads before going on the road. While there is plenty of excitement for the playoff matchups, only three games leave us with limited options in DFS.
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 4/22/24. 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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Today's NBA DFS Core Picks
The Nuggets took Game 1 against the Lakers with Nikola Jokic leading the way. He scored 32 points on 15-for-23 shooting from the field, while also chipping in 12 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. His salary will do a number on your budget, but he has arguably the highest floor of any player at any position for this slate.
Jamal Murray was also excellent in Game 1 against the Lakers, posting 22 points, six rebounds, and 10 assists. When these two teams played each other in the playoffs last season, Murray averaged 32.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game in the series. Expect him to continue to give the Lakers problems Monday.
The Knicks pulled out a gritty win in Game 1 against the 76ers, with Josh Hart playing a key role. He finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and four three-pointers. He also logged 42 minutes, which is nothing new for him. Over the final 27 games of the regular season, he logged an average of 40 minutes. With his ability to contribute in multiple areas, his being on the floor so often makes him even more valuable in DFS.
- Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. LAL – C ($11,500 DK; $12,000 FD)
- Jamal Murray, DEN vs. LAL – PG/SG ($7,800 DK; $8,800 FD)
- Josh Hart, NY vs. PHI – SF/PF ($6,900 DK; $7,600 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Value Picks
Jalen Suggs did not have an efficient scoring performance against the Cavaliers on Saturday, shooting 4-for-16 from the field. However, it was the 16 shot attempts that was encouraging. He shot 47.1 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from behind the arc during the regular season, so an increased usage rate could provide a significant boost to his production.
In their final game of the regular season, the Magic moved Jonathan Isaac into their starting lineup. He responded with 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and three blocks over 26 minutes. He logged 29 minutes in a starting role again Saturday, finishing with 10 points, five rebounds, three steals, and three blocks over 29 minutes. With his defensive prowess and ability to hit three-pointers, he might be too good to pass up at his cheap salary on DraftKings. While he is more expensive on FanDuel, he is still worth considering.
Isaiah Hartenstein had a difficult time trying to slow down Joel Embiid in Game 1. Mitchell Robinson ended up playing 30 minutes, compared to just 18 minutes for Hartenstein. Robinson held his own, posting eight points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks. He might be better suited to defend Embiid in this series, so don’t be shocked if he logs more minutes that Hartenstein again.
Top Value Plays:
- Jalen Suggs, ORL at CLE – PG ($5,000 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Jonathan Isaac, ORL at CLE – PF/C ($4,500 DK; $6,200 FD)
- Mitchell Robinson, NY vs. PHI – C ($4,200 DK; $6,000 FD)
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Kyle Lowry is not afraid of the bright lights in the playoffs. In fact, he thrives under them. He logged 39 minutes Saturday, posting 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. His shooting performances can be inconsistent, but considering his cheap salaries on both sites, he is worth targeting in tournament play.
Top PG Options:
- Jamal Murray vs. LAL, ($7,800 DK; $8,800 FD)
- Kyle Lowry at NY, ($4,400 DK; $4,700 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
If the Cavaliers don’t make it out for the first round, Donovan Mitchell might not be on the team next season. He did his best to get them started off on the right foot in Game 1, scoring 30 points on 21 shot attempts. The Magic are a difficult matchup, but with Mitchell playing a ton of minutes and having a hefty usage rate, he is still an appealing option.
DONOVAN MITCHELL. 🔥🔥
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 20, 2024
Top SG Options:
- Donovan Mitchell vs. ORL, ($8,500 DK; $9,300 FD)
- Jalen Suggs at CLE, ($5,000 DK; $6,100 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
The Magic badly need Franz Wagner to help take some of the scoring pressure off Paolo Banchero. He scored 18 points in Game 1, to go along with seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, and three blocks. He doesn’t have the same overall upside that Hart does, but at a slightly cheaper salary, he might be worth the risk in tournament play.
Top SF Options:
- Josh Hart vs. PHI, ($6,900 DK; $7,600 FD)
- Franz Wagner at CLE, ($6,500 DK; $7,100 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
Anthony Davis couldn’t slow down Nikola Jokic in Game 1, but the Nuggets couldn’t slow down Davis, either. He logged a whopping 44 minutes, recording 32 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks along the way. Last season, he averaged 26.8 points, 14.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.8 blocks against the Nuggets in the playoffs. Expect him to remain productive throughout this series.
Anthony Davis shows off his touch to extend the Lakers lead in the 2nd quarter on ABC! pic.twitter.com/hdECJ6gre6
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2024
Top PF Options:
- Anthony Davis at DEN, ($9,500 DK; $11,200 FD)
- Jonathan Isaac at CLE, ($4,500 DK; $6,200 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
The center spot really comes down to how you want to allocate your budget. Willing to spend up in order to get a safe option? Roll with Jokic. Want to take a chance on a player with a cheaper salary who has upside? Robinson is your man.
Top C Options:
- Nikola Jokic vs. LAL, ($11,500 DK; $12,000 FD)
- Mitchell Robinson vs. PHI, ($4,200 DK; $6,000 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Lakers at Nuggets (224 total)
- 76ers at Knicks (207.5 total)
- Magic at Cavaliers (203 total)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
- Stay away from Tobias Harris. During the regular season, he averaged just 6.3 points and 5.5 rebounds over four games against the Knicks. In Game 1, he was limited to seven points and nine rebounds.
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: Jamal Murray
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Nikola Jokic
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Donovan Mitchell
- My favorite value play: Jonathan Isaac
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