Wednesday’s NBA action features an eight-game slate with 11 of 16 teams on back-to-backs. The fun begins at 7 p.m. ET on both DraftKings and FanDuel. There are several options in the player pool worth analyzing to find the top NBA DFS building blocks and NBA DFS picks for DraftKings and FanDuel lineups, including Luka Doncic.
NBA DFS Picks Today: Wednesday, April 5
Eleven teams that played last night will play again tonight. Some teams that are mostly locked into their playoff slot are likely to give a regular or two the night off. The tanking teams, San Antonio, Washington, Indiana and Detroit keep finding new and inventive ways to rule out more and more players. Stay frosty tonight when monitoring the news!
Core Play of the Day — Luka Doncic: Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings
- Stokastic’s Preliminary Point Projections: DraftKings: 61.82 | FanDuel: 58.81
- Stokastic’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: DraftKings 16.2% | FanDuel: 17.1%
- DFS Salary: DraftKings: $12,000 | FanDuel: $12,200
The Dallas Mavericks have lost seven of their last eight games, but they still have a chance to squeak into the play-in tournament, though they must close a half-game deficit. Luka Doncic is averaging nearly 1.6 fantasy points per minute this season. That rate essentially holds true in his 409 minutes with Kyrie Irving on the court, which is just phenomenal.
Sacramento beat the Pelicans 121-103 in New Orleans last night and is nearly locked into the third-best record in the Western Conference. Domantas Sabonis or De’Aaron Fox could get the night off — potentially both of them. That would seem to be likely with the Mavericks favored by half a dozen points in Dallas tonight, so in turn it would make sense for both Doncic and Irving to go all out.
Kawhi Leonard: Los Angeles Clippers-Los Angeles Lakers
- Stokastic’s Preliminary Point Projections: DraftKings: 44.34 | FanDuel: 43.87
- Stokastic’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: DraftKings 3.3% | FanDuel: 6.9%
- DFS Salary: DraftKings: $10,200 | FanDuel: $10,200
This game should be a spirited contest as the Los Angeles teams are tied at 41-38, with the Clippers sliding above the play-in tournament by virtue of currently having the tiebreaker over the Lakers. That tiebreaker will land with the victor of this matchup. Kawhi Leonard will be carrying the team with Paul George still out. The 31-year-old veteran still has a path to the 50-fantasy-point plateau most nights.
The Lakers featured their starters for heavy minutes with Anthony Davis, Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves all getting 42, LeBron James played 38. Jarred Vanderbilt found himself in foul trouble, so he saw just 18 minutes.
Coach Darvin Ham elected to give D’Angelo Russell (foot) one more day to recover to ensure that he could be in the mix tonight. My best guess is that Davis, James and Russell will see a lot of minutes as long as the game is close, though if the Clippers pull out to a commanding lead, the Lakers may remove their core to preserve them for Friday’s matchup against the Suns.
New York Knicks-Indiana Pacers
Jalen Brunson is going to get tonight off for rest, Julius Randle is out for at least another week with his ankle injury and there is no reason to rush RJ Barrett back from his illness. New York is all but locked into the fifth slot in the Eastern Conference, so this looks like a good game to run out the understudies with Indiana taking no interest in winning games at this point.
Immanuel Quickley, Josh Hart and Obi Toppin should be the featured options tonight along with Quentin Grimes and Mitchell Robinson. There is no pressing need for any of this quintet to play more than 30 minutes, but they should get increased usage in their time on the floor with the big three out tonight.
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Myles Turner, Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte are essentially done for the season, so that means we are getting a prolonged preview for Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard and Jordan Nwora. Each has seen a salary increase with their new playing time baseline, but they still have some upside in this matchup. Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith could easily pop off for 30ish fantasy points, though better value should emerge later in the day, which will push them down the fantasy point-per-dollar rankings.
Additional NBA DFS Building Blocks Pick — Sports Betting Opportunities
Xavier Tillman is an intriguing option in the sports wagering market with a rebound prop total of 6.5. There is a strong probability that one or more of his teammates are out tonight for rest, which should give him the minutes he needs to corral seven caroms.
For the season, Tillman is averaging 9.3 rebounds per 36 minutes. He has an 8.8 rate for the season. In five of his last six games, Tillman has notched at least eight rebounds while playing 29 or more minutes.
NBA Bet Pro has the 24-year-old projected for 30.3 minutes and 8.17 rebounds. This equates to a 53% chance that he surpasses tonight’s milestone, and at +108 at BetMGM, the numbers work out to a solid 4% expected ROI.
Did you know that you can get two free months of Stokastic+ Platinum for signing up and making your first bet at BetMGM? Claim here today!
Washington Wizards-Atlanta Hawks
Both teams are on a back-to-back, and after Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis all missed multiple games for “reasons” they have been joined by Monte Morris (ankle), Deni Avdija (elbow) and potentially Delon Wright (non-COVID-related illness).
If Wright is starting, he is a strong option, but if he is out again, Jordan Goodwin and rookie Johnny Davis will reprise their roles as the punts du jour. Kendrick Nunn makes sense as a tournament dart throw.
Update:Â Delon Wright, Monte Morris, Kristaps Porzingis ruled out.
Other Situations to Monitor
Boston Celtics: Boston lost last night in Philadelphia, 103-101, as Joel Embiid dropped 52 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two blocks. That keeps Boston three games behind Milwaukee for the best record in the Eastern Conference and two games ahead of the 76ers. The Celtics host Toronto again on Friday and then Atlanta on Sunday. They really need to win just one of their last three games to stay ahead of Philadelphia, so we could see some of the key players rest tonight.
It sounds like Jaylen Brown will play after sitting out Tuesday, while Al Horford has been ruled out and Malcolm Brogdon is suspended for this one. If Jayson Tatum is out, Brown will be a premium play against Toronto who crushed the Hornets in Charlotte last night.
Memphis Grizzlies: One of the teams on a back-to-back, the Grizzlies have a two-game lead on the Kings and a two-game deficit against the Nuggets in the Western Conference standings. If Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dillon Brooks are out, Tyus Jones, Santi Aldama, Xavier Tillman and Luke Kennard will become potential lottery tickets.
Update: Ja Morant is doubtful.
Final Thoughts on NBA DFS Picks Building Blocks Today
Tonight is a frontloaded slate. Six of the eight games will tip off in the first 60 minutes, followed by one 8:30 p.m. ET game, and then the Battle for Los Angeles at 10 p.m. ET. The news will be flowing out later this afternoon, so be sure to keep tabs on all of the developments.
Get ready for the slate with all of the latest analysis and information by tuning in to the Stokastic Deeper Dive and Live Before Lock shows at 5 p.m. ET on YouTube, brought to you by Bet365.
