Daily Fantasy DraftKings and FanDuel NBA Picks - Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Head on over for your chance to get DFSR PRO, which will give you access to our NBA FanDuel and DraftKings optimizer, MLB optimal lineups, and our NHL Optimizer. Plus our new player lab! Get started for free by clicking the button below. START YOUR FREE TRIAL NOW! First time with NBA or NFL? Be sure to read our free NBA and NFL Ebooks on building lineups, general strategy, and more. We've got you completely covered.

Point Guard/ Shooting Guard

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander FD - $10600 DK - $10000
Opponent - GS
Proj Pts FD - 53.39 DK - 55.15

This is a tricky slate because we have teams with motivations that are just all over the place. Some are fully (and I mean fully) in the tank and others are still vying for playoff positioning or seeding. This game lines up with other teams (in theory) trying and should mean for max minutes on both sides. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has played 38 minutes in each of the last two games for OKC (both losses) with 39 points in each on 22 shots in each. It’s a remarkably similar line. I still think he’s in a great spot here if the Thunder can hang and there will be other ways to save in your DFS lineup.

Théo Maledon FD - $6300 DK - $6100
Opponent - TOR
Proj Pts FD - 35.74 DK - 38.59

On such a big slate, we are going to need to make some plays from teams with questionable motivations right now. One of them is could be the Hornets who are fully in the tank and are running out a total skeleton crew without LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, PJ Washington, Gordon Hayward, and Kelly Oubre. That’s left Theo Maledon to play a ton of minutes and he ran 41 on Sunday against the Raptors. In that game, he finished with eight points, even though he took 16 shots, along with 14 assists and eight rebounds. He’s a great per minute fantasy play at these prices and could have a higher floor if he’s relatively blowout proof.

Shaedon Sharpe FD - $8100 DK - $8000
Opponent - MEM
Proj Pts FD - 37.72 DK - 40.61

Skylar Mays FD - $5000 DK - $5100
Opponent - MEM
Proj Pts FD - 26.28 DK - 29.62

Speaking of teams in the tank, the Blazers have been there for a minute now with Damien Lillard (and really everyone else) out for the season while they try and lose. That’s left Shaedon Sharpe with a ton of minutes and shots with newcomer Skylar Mays getting the starts. Portland won (by accident) against the Timberwolves on Sunday with Sharpe going 35 minutes and taking 19 shots and finishing with a 27/6/6 line. His usage has been through the roof since Portland lost its big stars a couple of weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Mays ran 30 minutes in that game, ending up with 13 points, nine assists, and three rebounds. That kind of production is fine on his current prices and his minutes should be high enough to warrant a cash game play even with the Blazers in the dumpster.

Delon Wright (FD 6600 DK 5500) and Johnny Davis (FD 4200 DK 4200) would be interesting plays if they both were in the starting lineup again for the Wizards.

Small Forward

LeBron James FD - $10400 DK - $9800
Opponent - UTA
Proj Pts FD - 50.12 DK - 54.15

The Lakers might be putting things together and even peaking at just the right time here. After a season of injuries and other issues, they’ve won six of their last seven games and now might even be inching their way out of the play-in game if things break right. LeBron James hasn’t needed to play big minutes after returning from the foot injury, but he could be in line for them here if Utah keeps the game close. LBJ triple-doubled last game against Houston in just 29 minutes and his price on DraftKings doesn’t reflect what could happen if he sees the minutes increase by 15-20% now that he’s back into form.

DeMar DeRozan FD - $8800 DK - $8200
Opponent - ATL
Proj Pts FD - 45.25 DK - 47.21

The Bulls are still vying for seeding in the play-in game, something they are clearly motivated for at this point (for whatever that is worth). This is a leverage game in that respect against the Hawks with the two teams sitting 8th and 10th respectively but separated by only a game in the loss column. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 25 points a game over the last four along with six rebounds and six assists. Atlanta ranks 22nd in defensive efficiency this season and don’t have an abundance of wings to guard DeRozan in this matchup. In terms of “safe” games, this is one of them on the schedule.

Power Forward/ Center

Anthony Davis FD - $11400 DK - $10900
Opponent - UTA
Proj Pts FD - 59.44 DK - 60.62

Speaking of the Lakers, I think this might be a chance to even stack Lebron and Anthony Davis in cash games if you are able to find enough cheap salary. Davis has been on a tear of late, putting up 38+ points in each of the last three games, averaging double-digit rebounds and a couple of blocks in that stretch as well. The Jazz are going to be without Walker Kessler in this game which significantly reduces their defense on the interior. AD could feast in this matchup.

Lauri Markkanen FD - $9000 DK - $8800
Opponent - LAL
Proj Pts FD - 47.35 DK - 51.23

The Jazz are in a weird spot. On the one hand, they probably don’t want to be winning here, opting to stay out of the play-in tournament and get into the lottery. On the other hand, they do keep trying and nearly pulled off a come-from-behind win over the Nets on Sunday. Markkanen sees higher usage without Jordan Clarkson out of the lineup, something that’s been the case for weeks now. I think the price on both sites is still a value if Utah is motivated at all to play him minutes in the mid-30s. And there’s still a case he’s trying to make to be the Most Improved Player which he’s currently sitting first in odds.

Strongly consider Nikola Vucevic (FD 8400 DK 7900) in the matchup against the Hawks. For the same reasons we can target DDR in cash, Vuce is in a good matchup in a high leverage game.

If Nick Richards (FD 5200 DK 5500) gets the start at center for the Hornets he could be a value play here.