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We have a large, wild nine-game slate on tap tonight, which is a nice little change-up from the typically small schedule on Sundays. Three of the matchups - Wolves-Rockets, Blazers-Spurs, and Pistons-Pacers - stand out from the pack as the top game environments to target for daily fantasy contests. The Wolves-Rockets affair, in particular, grades out incredibly well with a 243.5-point implied total, the fastest projected pace, and the most combined fantasy points per game allowed on the slate. The Heat-Raptors and Knicks-Magic games both hold meager implied totals and project as matchups you'll want to mostly shy away from tonight.
There are a ton of stars already ruled out for tonight, but Dejounte Murray is the lone stud who enters the day with a questionable tag. Cole Anthony, Malachi Flynn, Rajon Rondo, and Josh Primo are also listed as questionable. The Warriors, 76ers, and Heat are coming into tonight's action on the second half of a back-to-back set.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/3/22, with the slate locking at 6:00 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!
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Dejounte Murray - PG, SAS vs. POR ($11,200 DK, $10,300 FD)
As long as we get word that he's over the illness that kept him out of Friday's game, Murray is a priority play on both sites tonight. He has been really productive all year, averaging 51.1 DK points per game and regularly hitting value with games with 55, 60, and even 70 DK points this season. He's in great form with three straight games over 55 DK points and two consecutive games with 33 real-life points as he has been scorching from the field and continues to collect a ton of rebounds and assists. He only posted 48.5 DK points four games ago in this same matchup, but his minutes were cut short as the game devolved into a major blowout early on. The Spurs are 14.5 point favorites tonight, but as long as they don't run away with it in the first half, Murray's going to get a ton of run against a depleted Blazers squad that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing teams this season. DJM clearly has the highest ceiling among point guards on this slate, and it's reasonable to think he has a great chance at hitting it in with a lot on the line in an elite fantasy matchup.
Jordan Poole - PG/SG, GSW vs. SAC ($8,100 DK, $8,200 FD)
Poole might go a little overlooked in this spot as some people might be experiencing sticker shock at his elevated price tag. I don't think it's high enough. Poole holds a team-leading 30.9% usage rate and 1.13 FPTS/min rate with Stephen Curry off the floor this season, and he has been balling out with games of 50 and 64.25 DK points over his last two contests. He scored 31 and 38 real-life points, respectively, in those games as he has clearly taken over the scoring burden left behind by Curry. The matchup is pristine as the Kings allow the fifth-most fantasy points per game in the league and allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards. Poole is playing 36-40 minutes per game in non-blowout situations, and this matchup currently only has a 5.5-point spread. Poole looks like a great tier-two stud to target tonight.
D'Angelo Russell - PG/SG, MIN vs. HOU ($6,700 DK, $5,300 FD) | Better on FanDuel
D'Lo has really been struggling with his shot and that has caused his salary to drop to a ridiculous level over on FanDuel for tonight's slate. Now is the time to buy back in. He played 37 minutes and shot 6-for-12 from the field against Denver on Friday, posting a solid 24/3/4/1 line with 35.25 DK points. Every game is a must-win game for the Wolves as they're trying to catch the Nuggets for the #6 seed, so they'll be going all-out down the home stretch. There isn't a better matchup in the league than the Rockets, who allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing teams and opposing point guards this season. They allow the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards as well, and these teams ranking first and second in pace obviously boosts the fantasy prospects of the primary ball-handlers and usage-hoggers. Russell holds a 25.4% usage rate and a 1.08 FPTS/min rate with McDaniels off the floor, and again, we can reasonably expect his per-minute production to increase in this glorious matchup.
Others to consider (FanDuel): Cameron Payne ($5,100), Gary Payton ($3,500), Caris LeVert ($5,400), Tyrese Maxey ($5,300), Reggie Jackson ($6,100)
Others to consider (DraftKings): Cameron Payne ($4,700), Patrick Beverley ($4,900), Reggie Jackson ($6,300), Markelle Fultz ($4,600)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Alperen Sengun - PF/C, HOU vs. MIN ($7,000 DK, $5,800 FD) | Better on FanDuel
Sengun is a much more viable play at under $6,000 over on FanDuel, but shots can still be taken at his elevated tag over on DraftKings. Christian Wood has been ruled out for the rest of the year, which means Sengun has a starting role and a chance to showcase his solid 1.12 FPTS/min production with Wood, Gordon, and Schroder off the floor this season. He's averaging about 28 minutes per game as a starter this year and he's going to have an above-average opportunity to crush value with the matchup he's gifted with tonight. The Wolves have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing centers over their last seven games, and they're allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing teams overall. The game environment can't get any better, either, as it holds the highest implied total, fastest projected pace, and the most combined fantasy points per game allowed on the slate.
Phoenix Value: Cameron Johnson, Landry Shamet, Torrey Craig
Jae Crowder, Deandre Ayton, and Devin Booker are all going to be resting tonight with the Suns matched up against the perenially-tanking Thunder. The game has a 15-point spread in favor of the road team, but the Suns will still have plenty of minutes to go around with those three starters out of the lineup. Cameron Payne, JaVale McGee, and maybe even Bismack Biyombo can all be considered at guard and center, but I like mixing in Johnson, Shamet, and Craig at the uninspiring forward positions. All three average a paltry 16-17% usage rate with those players off the floor, while Johnson (0.90 FPTS/min) clearly leads the group in per-minute production. Craig (0.84 FPTS/min) would be my next target, with Shamet (0.69 FPTS/min) ranking third for me in this grouping. All three should see somewhere between 25 and 30 minutes tonight, making them incredible values at their dirt-cheap salaries. The beauty of the matchup shouldn't be understated either - the Thunder allow the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing teams this season.
Others to consider (FanDuel): RJ Barrett ($7,300), Obi Toppin ($4,400), Greg Brown ($3,700), Chuma Okeke ($4,100), Jae'Sean Tate ($4,100), KJ Martin ($3,700), Jarred Vanderbilt ($4,100), Lauri Markkanen ($5,300), Marcus Morris ($4,300)
Others to consider (DraftKings): RJ Barrett ($7,900), Jonathan Kuminga ($4,700), Jaylen Hoard ($4,700), Obi Toppin ($5,200), Jarred Vanderbilt ($4,100), Andrew Wiggins ($6,400), Chuma Okeke ($4,800), Marcus Morris ($4,900)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Pics
Karl-Anthony Towns - C, MIN vs. HOU ($9,600 DK, $8,700 FD)
KAT is a core play for me tonight, on both sites. Prior to bouncing back with 49.75 DK points against the Nuggets in his last game, Towns had failed to reach 40 DK points in four straight games and that stretch has caused his salary to drop to very reasonable levels entering tonight. If you don't love his chances to hit a ceiling game here, you haven't been playing daily fantasy basketball this season. First of all, the Rockets are abysmal defensively as they rank 29th in defensive efficiency and allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing teams (and opposing centers). Second, this game is a pace-up wonderland of fantasy goodness. The Wolves rank first in pace while the Rockets rank second, so there will be a ton of extra possessions to be had and the game's slate-leading 243.5-point implied total proves that out. Lastly, Towns has destroyed the Rockets recently. He put up a huge 40/9/7/1 slash line back in January, and check out what he has done over his last seven games against Houston (below). Sign me up for all of that action.
*via StatMuse
Others to consider (FanDuel): JaVale McGee ($3,600), Mitchell Robinson ($5,600), Damian Jones ($5,500), Moses Brown ($4,900), Kevon Looney ($3,500)
Others to consider (DraftKings): JaVale McGee ($3,800), Bismack Biyombo ($3,000), Moses Brown ($4,500), Kevon Looney ($4,000), Mitchell Robinson ($5,900)
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