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DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (4/12/23): Today's Top NBA DFS Lineups

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on April 12, 2023. Juan Carlos Blanco provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.

We're set for another two-game play-in slate on Wednesday night, with two projected competitive matchups in Bulls-Raptors and Thunder-Pelicans on the docket. Each team comes in healthy overall in terms of its most pertinent players, which gives us a solid player pool to work with.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for the DraftKings and FanDuel slate beginning at 7 pm ET on 4/12/23. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.

Good luck RotoBallers!

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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - PG, OKC at NOP ($10,500 DK, $10,800 FD)

Gilgeous-Alexander is naturally the linchpin of the Thunder attack, and he enjoyed plenty of success against the Pelicans this season. SGA averaged over 50 fantasy points on either site in four games against New Orleans. He finished the regular season averaging an outstanding 32.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals across his last 14 games.

The Pelicans also finished the regular season being relatively generous to point guards, as they gave up 49.6 DK/47.7 FD points per game to the position in the last 15 contests. Given the stakes at play and his past body of work in the matchup, SGA shapes up as worthy of the hefty investment on the small slate.

Gary Trent Jr. - SG/SF, TOR vs. CHI ($4,200 DK, $5,900 FD)

Trent makes for an intriguing tournament play, with his DK salary particularly standing out as a bargain. The sharpshooter drained 47.2 percent of his attempts, including 40.0 percent of his tries from three-point range, over his three games against the Bulls this season. He averaged 29.1 DK/29.2 FD points per contest along the way.

Trent displayed a ceiling north of 40 fantasy points on both sites on multiple occasions this season. Chicago has allowed 37.3 percent three-point shooting to two guards on the season. The Bulls also gave up over 42 DK and over 39 FD points per contest to the position in the last 15 games, enhancing Trent's appeal at his salaries.

Others to consider: CJ McCollum, NOP vs. OKC ($7,900 DK, $8,600 FD)

 

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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Pascal Siakam - PF/C, TOR vs. CHI ($9,400 DK, $9,900 FD)

Siakam finished the regular season off with a flourish, averaging 24.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 52.1 percent across his last 12 games. The big man put up over 45 fantasy points per contest on either site during that span. With his floor-spacing ability, he offers a ceiling well north of 50 fantasy points on a fairly regular basis.

The Bulls were also more giving than usual to centers at the end of the regular season, surrendering over 53 DK and over 52 FD points per game to the position in the final 15 games. Given Siakam's typical usage rates, the big man should once again play an outsized role in Wednesday's game.

Zach LaVine - SF/SG, CHI at TOR ($7,300 DK, $8,200 FD)

LaVine shapes up as an excellent mid-salary play on Wednesday considering he averaged 39.2 DK/37.3 FD points per contest during the regular season. LaVine also put together impressive numbers against the Raptors this season. He shot 53.1 percent, including 38.5 percent from three-point range, over two games.

The veteran wing finished the regular season on an extended hot streak as well. He shot 53.2 percent, including 39.4 percent from distance, over his last 22 games while averaging 27.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per contest. Toronto also allowed the third-highest three-point shooting percentage of any team on its home floor (37.4) during the regular season, enhancing LaVine's appeal.

Trey Murphy III - SF/SG, NOP vs. OKC ($6,400 DK, $6,500 FD)

Murphy was a key complementary source of scoring down the stretch for the Pelicans, averaging 21.7 points on 52.0 percent shooting, including 45.9 percent from three-point range. The second-year guard averaged 33.5 FD points per contest in that span as well, giving him plenty of upside at his current salaries.

Murphy shot 46.9 percent, including 40.0 percent from behind the arc, in four games against the Thunder this regular season. OKC finished the campaign allowing the seventh-highest offensive efficiency rating to shooting guards (24.7). OKC also conceded the seventh-most DK (48.8) and eighth-most FD (46.5) points per game to two guards in the last seven games of the season. This ups the chances of Murphy finishing as one of the better fantasy-point-per-dollar plays of the night.

Others to consider: Brandon Ingram, NOP vs. OKC ($10,000 DK, $10,300 FD)

 

DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Nikola Vucevic - CHI at TOR ($7,400 DK, $8,500 FD)

Vucevic was ultra-efficient in his three games against the Raptors this season. He shot 58.5 percent, including 46.7 percent from three-point range, while averaging 18.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.0 blocks per contest. The big man showed off a massive ceiling during a season in which he played in all 82 games for the first time, eclipsing 60 fantasy points on each site on three occasions.

The Raptors allowed 58.0 percent shooting, including 37.3 percent from behind the arc, to centers on the season. Toronto also allowed over 50 DK and over 49 FD points per contest to centers in the last 15 games of the regular season. This should give Vucevic an excellent chance of delivering strong returns on his very reasonable salaries.

Jonas Valanciunas - NOP vs. OKC  ($6,800 DK, $7,500 FD)

Valanciunas averaged only 22.1 minutes per contest in four games against the Thunder this season, but he shot 61.5 percent over that span. The veteran big man also stepped up his play considerably down the stretch, averaging 14.9 points, 13.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game in that span.

The Thunder were hardly a prohibitive matchup for centers this season. They ranked No. 18 in offensive efficiency allowed to the position (32.4) and allowed 52.7 DK/51.5 FD points per game to the position in the last 30 games. What's more, OKC allowed an NBA-high 56.8 rebounds per road game, upping Valanciunas' prospects further.

Others to consider: Jakob Poeltl - TOR vs. CHI ($5,700 DK, $6,700 FD)



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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Gleyber Torres

Accepts Tigers Qualifying Offer
Alexandre Sarr

Uncertain for Wednesday's Game in Minnesota
Ausar Thompson

Returning Versus Atlanta
Cade Cunningham

Active on Tuesday Night
Jabari Smith Jr.

Questionable with Knee Issue Ahead of Meeting Versus Cleveland
Domantas Sabonis

to Miss Wednesday's Game
Paul George

Won't Play Wednesday Night
Onyeka Okongwu

Available on Tuesday
Joel Embiid

Listed as Doubtful for Wednesday
Jalen Suggs

Available Tuesday
Zaccharie Risacher

Ruled Out With Hip Contusion vs. Pistons
Odell Beckham Jr.

Officially Reinstated by NFL Commissioner
Kristaps Porzingis

Ruled Out on Tuesday Night
Buddy Hield

Available for Tuesday's Matchup With Orlando
Matt Murray

to Miss Six Weeks With Lower-Body Injury
Ilya Lyubushkin

Out on Tuesday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Out 1-2 Weeks With Groin Strain
Jamie Benn

Makes Season Debut Tuesday
Stephon Castle

Sidelined 1-2 Weeks
Evgenii Dadonov

on Track to Return Tuesday
Dougie Hamilton

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Anthony Cirelli

Expected to Return Against Devils
Victor Hedman

Questionable for Tuesday
LeBron James

Aims to Make Season Debut Tuesday
Auston Matthews

to Miss at Least Two More Games
Grayson Allen

Sidelined on Tuesday
Gabe Vincent

Set to Suit Up Tuesday
C.J. Stroud

Expected to Return in Week 13 Against Colts
C.J. Stroud

to Miss Another Game
Jonathan Kuminga

Remains Out Tuesday
Keegan Murray

Could Make his Season Debut This Week
Caris LeVert

Liston as Out on Tuesday
Tobias Harris

Could Return Thursday
Joe Mixon

Uncertainty Remains Around Joe Mixon's Return Timeline
Jaylen Warren

Mike Tomlin Optimistic About Jaylen Warren's Availability for Week 12
C.J. Stroud

Not Expected to Play on Thursday Night
Aaron Rodgers

Won't Need Surgery on Fractured Wrist, Could Play in Week 12?
Davis Mills

Prepping for Third Straight Start in Week 12?
CFB

Sam Leavitt Set to Enter Transfer Portal?
Mason Rudolph

Could Make His First Start of 2025 in Week 12
Brock Wright

Sets Career-High in Targets; Lined Up for More Work?
Kimani Vidal

Struggles Again and Faces Role Uncertainty After Bye
Dak Prescott

in Full Command Monday Night With Four Touchdown Passes
Quentin Johnston

Posts Zero Catches During Offensive Collapse
George Pickens

Erupts for 144 Yards, Touchdown in Monday Night Win
CeeDee Lamb

George Pickens Benched for First Drive
Jose Altuve

Undergoes Foot Surgery
Alex Singleton

Broncos Optimistic Patrick Surtain, Alex Singleton Will Return After the Bye
Trey Hendrickson

Doubtful Again in Week 12
Shedeur Sanders

Expected to Make First Career Start in Week 12
Josh Jacobs

Dealing With Knee Contusion
Mikael Granlund

Unavailable Monday
Alex Bregman

Red Sox Going for Either Alex Bregman or Pete Alonso?
Conor Garland

Misses Monday's Game
Eetu Luostarinen

Out on Monday
Drake London

Considered "Week-to-Week"
Drew Doughty

Listed as Week-to-Week
Ja'Marr Chase

Being Suspended for One Game for Unsportsmanlike Conduct
John Carlson

a Game-Time Call Monday
Viktor Arvidsson

Out Week-to-Week
Charlie McAvoy

Out Against Hurricanes
CFB

James Franklin to be Virginia Tech's Next Head Coach
CFB

Fernando Mendoza the Clear Heisman Trophy Favorite?
CFB

Beau Pribula Has Chance to Face Oklahoma on Saturday
Mitchell Marner

Establishes Vegas Record Sunday
Mats Zuccarello

Logs Two Assists in Overtime Victory
Lucas Raymond

Leads Red Wings to Victory at MSG
Quinn Hughes

Delivers Four Assists in Sunday's Win
Conor Garland

Limited to Handful of Minutes Sunday
Ryan Hartman

Suffers Lower-Body Injury
Jack Della Maddalena

Gets Dominated
Islam Makhachev

Claims UFC Welterweight Belt
Zhang Weili

Gets Outclassed
Valentina Shevchenko

Wins Unanimous Decision At UFC 322
Sean Brady

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Michael Morales

Remains Unbeaten
Leon Edwards

Suffers Second-Round Knockout Loss
Leon Edwards

Carlos Prates Becomes The First Man To Knock Out Leon Edwards
Beneil Dariush

Suffers Brutal First-Round Knockout Loss
Beneil Dariush

Benoit Saint Denis Knocks Out Beneil Dariush In 16 Seconds
Josh Naylor

Mariners Finalizing Five-Year Contract
CFB

Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate Not Dealing With Long-Term Injuries
CFB

Virginia Tech Close To Naming James Franklin As Head Coach
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful vs. Arkansas On Saturday
Edwin Díaz

Blue Jays Interested in Signing Edwin Diaz?
Jacob deGrom

Named AL Comeback Player of the Year
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Wins NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
Aroldis Chapman

Named AL Reliever of the Year
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Named NL Reliever of the Year
Justin Thomas

Will Miss Start Of 2026 After Undergoing Back Surgery
Islam Makhachev

Set For UFC 322 Main Event
Jack Della Maddalena

Set For His First Title Defense
Zhang Weili

Can Become The New Women's Flyweight Champion
Valentina Shevchenko

Set For UFC 322 Co-Main Event
Michael Morales

Looks To Remain Undefeated
CFB

Mario Craver a Game-Time Decision for Week 12
Sean Brady

Set For Title Eliminator Bout
Carlos Prates

A Favorite At UFC 322
Leon Edwards

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set To Open Up UFC 322 Main Card
Beneil Dariush

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
CFB

Virginia's Chandler Morris Trending Toward Facing Duke on Saturday
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Says There's a "50-50" Chance he Returns to Mets
Shohei Ohtani

Wins his Fourth MVP Award
Aaron Judge

Wins AL MVP Award Again
Raisel Iglesias

Dodgers Interested in Signing Raisel Iglesias
Pete Alonso

Orioles Could be in the Mix to Sign Pete Alonso
Félix Bautista

Felix Bautista Could Return in Second Half in 2026
Kodai Senga

Attracting Trade Interest, Will the Mets Move him?
Yordan Alvarez

Expected to be Ready for Spring Training
Byron Buxton

Could Waive his No-Trade Clause
Paul Skenes

the Unanimous NL Cy Young Winner
Tarik Skubal

Wins AL Cy Young for Second Straight Year

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