RADIO
We've got a nine-game slate for Friday. CHI, LAC, and MIL are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
There is one game at 7:00 pm ET (IND @ ORL), two games at 7:30 pm (MIN @ BOS and MEM @ NY), two games at 8:00 pm (PHI @ NO and CHI @ ATL), two games at 9:00 pm (SA @ DEN and CHA @ MIL), and the late-night hammers at 10:00 pm are HOU @ LAC and WAS @ GS.
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 4/9/21. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Keep an eye on Rotoballer’s injury news to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Stephen Curry, PG - vs. WAS ($9,600)
Curry has scored 50.2, 47, 50.7, and 49 FD points over the last four games. Now he gets one of the juiciest matchups in fantasy as the Wizards play at the fastest pace in the league and are 26th in defensive efficiency. They also boost the fantasy points per minute to point guards by 14.12% above league average. The Curry has the potential to be extra spicy today.
Cole Anthony, PG - vs. IND ($4,700)
In his return game from a 25-game absence, Anthony played 26 minutes and contributed 13 points, one rebound, and seven assists, good for 23.75 FD points. The usage rate was 25.8. With Operation Tank in full effect, Anthony should get as many minutes as he can handle. The matchup with the Pacers is a good one as they boost the fantasy points per minute to point guards by 3.32% above league average. Surprisingly, the Pacers play at the seventh-fastest pace.
Terrence Ross, SG -vs. IND ($6,700)
Ross is THE guy off the bench. And when he's on the court. Over the last two games, he's played over 30 minutes in each and garnered a usage rate of 30.3 and 29.1. He's attempted 16 and 18 shots. Ross is a professional hucker and chucker and can light it up on any night. He has 50-burger upside. There is risk, though, as he can make it rain bricks and be a zero. With that said, it's a pace-up spot for the Magic and he has a chance to match some of his more expensive contemporaries at the position.
Will Barton, SG - vs. SA ($5,900)
The heater continues for Barton. Over the last four games, he's contributed 31.3, 41.2, 33.6, and 30.6 FD points. He's averaged 34.1 minutes, 13.5 field goal attempts, 18 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 46% from the field. Now, it's always treacherous when buying into Barton because it wouldn't surprise me if he goes for 12 FD points today. That is just the Barton experience. With that said, he's playing a ton of minutes and producing so ride the wave until it crashes.
Also consider: Russell Westbrook($11,200), Tomas Satoransky ($5,700), Caris Levert ($8,300), Zach LaVine ($7,500)
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FanDuel DFS Forwards
Kawhi Leonard, SF - vs. HOU ($10,000)
Beep. Boop. Bop. The Kawhi-bot has scored at least 40 FD points in each of the last eight games with three over 50. He now gets a matchup against a Rockets team that plays at the fifth-fastest pace and boosts the fantasy points per minute to small forward by 11.34% above league average.
Patrick Williams, SF - @ ATL ($4,500)
Williams is a low usage player so the points won't be voluminous on a nightly basis, but he's been playing over 30 minutes in the last three games and contributes a little something in every category. He's gone for 26.6, 16.1, 21.1, 26.1, and 31.2 FD points over the last five games. He now gets a matchup against a Hawks team that boosts the fantasy points per minute to small forwards by 6.65% above league average.
Julius Randle, PF - vs. MEM ($9,600)
Over the last five games, Randle has produced 50.8, 56, 40.1, 41.1, and 45.4 FD points. He's garnered a usage rate above 30 in four of those contests. Not known for his defensive contributions, Randle has produced five steals and three blocks. The matchup isn't great since the Grizzlies are the best at neutralizing fantasy points per minute to power forwards, but Randle is so involved and it's a pace-up spot for him.
Jalen McDaniels, PF - @ MIL ($4,300)
With Gordon Hayward out, McDaniels received the start on Wednesday and played 32 minutes. He contributed 38.7 FD points as he scored 21 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out three assists, and racked up two steals. Now, he shot 9-for-14 from the field so don't expect that kind of efficiency every night. With that said, he does contribute in all categories but blocks and the Bucks are the most generous to small forwards, boosting the fantasy points per minute by 23.3% above league average.
Also consider: Michael Porter Jr. ($7,300), Kevin Porter Jr. ($6,400), Jayson Tatum ($8,800), Miles Bridges ($5,800)
FanDuel DFS Centers
Joel Embiid, C - @ NO ($10,200)
Embiid played 33 minutes last game with no complications. That's encouraging because he missed 11 of the prior 12 games. He is averaging 1.62 FD points per minute and was once in the MVP conversation. Maybe he still is but he's been out of the consciousness of many for a while. He could make people remember today. The Pelicans boost the fantasy points per minute to centers by 9.08% above league average.
Mo Bamba, C - vs. IND ($4,400)
There's a ton of risk with this recommendation because he may or may not get the necessary playing time. No risk it, no biscuit, right? On the season, Bamba is averaging 1.23 FD points per minute but only 12 minutes per game. On Wednesday, though, he received 25 minutes of run and contributed 19 points, three three-pointers, eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks, good for 37.1 FD points. The Pacers are an excellent matchup as they boost the fantasy points per minute to centers by 15.9% above league average. Now, Wendell Carter Jr. is still the one starting and he had played 34 and 35 minutes in two of the last three games. If he gets the minutes, Bamba should easily pay off his price.
Also consider: Karl-Anthony Towns ($11,100), Goga Bitadze ($4,900)
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