DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (4/17/22): Today's Top NBA DFS Lineups

We have four more first-round playoff games in the Association on an Easter Sunday - what more can we ask for? The Bulls-Bucks game rates out as the most appealing game to target for daily fantasy purposes, while the remaining three games all project about even with each other. This means that the slate is about as wide open as it can possibly get, as you can make a case for players from all eight teams tonight. I'll be trying to get to Bucks, Suns, Celtics, and Bulls as my core plays, while the Pelicans are a team I'm generally shying away from.

Ben Simmons and Zion Williamson will remain out, while Tyler Herro and John Collins are the two high-profile names that enter today with a questionable tag. Landry Shamet, Jordan Nwora, Dewayne Dedmon, Gabe Vincent, and P.J. Tucker are also questionable to play.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/17/22, with the slate locking at 1:00 pm ET. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our live-updating NBA injury updates tool as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. As always, feel free to follow my Twitter (@RING_DFS) - I post about a variety of things but mainly NBA DFS with my K-Rate model. Let's get to it - good luck RotoBallers!

DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Chris Paul - PG, PHX vs. NOP ($7,600 DK, $8,600 FD) | Better on DraftKings

CP3 is back in the playoffs once again, something that has become an annual tradition in the NBA at this point. Per StatMuse, Paul averages 21 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and two steals per game over his 129-game playoff career. Those are outstanding numbers. Paul didn't quite put up stats like that this season, but he's still averaging 40.9 FPPG and pops for 45, 50, 55, or even 60+ DK points from time to time. The Pelicans did pretty well against opposing point guards this season, but they've allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to this position over their last seven games heading into tonight. I expect Paul to find another gear and take full advantage of a softer defense in Game 1.

Marcus Smart - PG/SG, BOS vs. BKN ($5,500 DK, $6,200 FD)

This Celtics-Nets matchup should be a fun one with Kyrie Irving squaring off against his former squad. Smart is the team's defensive catalyst, averaging 2.0 "stocks" (steals+blocks) per game this season while also contributing 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game in a solid overall stat line. He averages exactly 1.00 FPTS/min this season as well, and with the playoffs comes an enhanced focus on defense. This means it's very likely that Smart sees an uptick in playing time as the team's best defensive player. Our DFS Army projections have Smart playing 35 minutes, which feels about right and also brings his projection up to the point where he's an incredible value on tonight's slate. The Nets allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to PGs and the 12th-most fantasy points per game to SGs this season.

Max Strus - SG/SF, MIA vs. ATL ($4,200 DK, $3,800 FD)

Don't go overboard with this one, but the value is extremely hard to come by on this slate and it's either Strus or Alex Caruso when choosing between the cheap guards projecting for minutes in the upper-20s tonight. Caruso averages an eye-gouging 10.4% usage rate and 0.68 FPTS/min with Ball off the floor this season - those are sub-Tony Snell numbers that I'm not interested in heavily targeting. I'll go with Strus as I believe he possesses a higher potential ceiling in the event that everything breaks just right. He's averaging a palatable 17.5% usage rate and 0.74 FPTS/min this season, and at 28 projected minutes, that'll do just fine. Strus has finished with at least 33.75 DK points in two of his last five, so that's the type of production he could bring at a dirt-cheap salary. He could see even more run if this game goes sideways - the Heat are currently six-point favorites at home.

Others to consider (FanDuel): CJ McCollum ($8,000), Khris Middleton ($7,100), Victor Oladipo ($3,500), Jaylen Brown ($8,100), Derrick White ($4,900), Jrue Holiday ($7,800), Alex Caruso ($4,200), Kyrie Irving ($10,100)

Others to consider (DraftKings): Brandon Ingram ($7,800), CJ McCollum ($8,300), Kyle Lowry ($6,000), Devin Booker ($9,000), Jrue Holiday ($7,900)

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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Giannis Antetokounmpo - SF/PF/C, MIL vs. CHI ($11,000 DK, $11,500 FD)

Giannis is the best spend-up option on the slate, in my humble opinion. He's on another level in terms of per-minute production as he has posted a Jokic-esque 1.68 FPTS/min this season - the next highest mark on this slate is Jayson Tatum at 1.37 FPTS/min. He's the most productive player and clearly has the highest ceiling, and it's not out of the question for him to explode for a slate-breaking game to start off the series. The Bulls-Bucks matchup rates out as the top game environment to target for fantasy as it holds the highest implied total, fastest projected pace, and the most combined fantasy points per game allowed. The Bulls have been in freefall mode for a while now as they rank 23rd in defensive rating for the season, but 28th over their last 15 games. Giannis is going to be able to do whatever he wants here and is a clear priority on this slate.

DeMar DeRozan - SG/SF/PF, CHI vs. MIL ($8,500 DK, $8,400 FD)

Zach LaVine - SG/SF, CHI vs. MIL ($7,500 DK, $7,700 FD)

You can play either of these guys on either site as they're in a great spot to put up fantasy points, they offer a wide range of positional flexibility, and they're relatively affordable compared to the other stars on this slate. The Bucks do not trot out the most dominant defense in the world - in fact, they've allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game over their last 15 games played. That's (alarmingly) more than the Lakers, Kings, and Magic over that same span. They rank in the bottom-11 against SGs, SFs, and PFs in terms of fantasy points per game allowed, so however you slice it, DDR and LaVine are in prime spots to produce. To no one's surprise, these two lead the team in usage and FPTS/min, with DeRozan (33%, 1.12) leading the pack over Lavine (28.2%, 1.03) in the non-Lonzo Ball split.

Others to consider (FanDuel): Jae Crowder ($4,400), Mikal Bridges ($5,400), Jimmy Butler ($8,500), Jayson Tatum ($9,500), Brandon Ingram ($8,200)

Others to consider (DraftKings): P.J. Tucker ($3,300), Mikal Bridges ($5,200), Jae Crowder ($4,200), Bruce Brown ($6,500), Jimmy Butler ($8,400), Jayson Tatum ($10,000)

DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Pics

Nikola Vucevic - C, CHI vs. MIL ($7,700 DK, $6,900 FD) | Better on FanDuel

FanDuel is just begging us to play Vucci Mane at a ridiculous sub-$7,000 price tag. I wouldn't fight it too hard. He played very poorly to close the season out - failing to exceed 23.75 DK points in each game - but he also didn't exceed 26 minutes in that span as the Bulls had their #6 seed locked up. He put up 35.5, 43, 41.75, and 40.25 DK points in the four games prior and averaged 40.8 DK points for the season, so we know what he's about. The Bucks defend centers well as they can throw multiple versatile players at opposing bigs, but their frontcourt defense really slipped to end the year as they allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing centers over their last 15 games played.

Others to consider (FanDuel): Daniel Theis ($4,100), Deandre Ayton ($7,400), Bam Adebayo ($8,300), Onyeka Okongwu ($5,800)

Others to consider (DraftKings): Deandre Ayton ($7,000), Bam Adebayo ($8,000), Onyeka Okongwu ($5,100)

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