Monday’s NBA brings a pair of Game 4s tipping off at 7:30 p.m. ET on 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 LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo and more.
NBA DFS Picks Today: Monday, April 24
NBA DFS Picks for Milwaukee Bucks-Miami Heat
Will Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jimmy Butler be available for their respective teams, that is the key information we need before crafting our lineups. Fortunately this is the earliest of the two Monday games, so we will have that information in hand prior to lock. Of course, we may not know the effectiveness of either player, but we will have starting lineups.
Miami has been impressive against what was a strong Milwaukee defense, at least it was during the regular season. The Heat have scored 130, 122 and 121 points on the way to a 2-1 record and they have a chance to back the Bucks into a lose-or-go-home game on Wednesday in Milwaukee if they can just take care of business at home tonight.
During the regular season, Milwaukee allowed opponents and average of 113.3 points per game, while Miami scored 109.5. Of course, when we realize the Heat have converted at least 53% of their field goal attempts in the first three games — including 44% or better from beyond the arc — things make more sense. This torrid conversion rate is going to regress, but that does not mean it will happen all at once in Game 4.
Butler did not practice on Sunday, but coach Erik Spoelstra has indicated that he expects the heart and soul of the Heat to suit up for Monday’s action.
Even with Butler likely to play, Miami is still without Tyler Herro (fractured hand) and Victor Oladipo (knee), who tore his left patellar tendon in the last game. The fifth starter for the Heat has shifted each game, with Herro getting the nod in the series opener, before his injury, Duncan Robinson being inserted for Game 2 and then Kevin Love receiving the baton on Friday. None of the games have been particularly close and outside of Game 1 we have seen the bench unit getting plenty of minutes.
Butler and Adebayo are core plays tonight, with Gabe Vincent and Max Strus mix-and-match plays since they should see 25 to 28 minutes as starters. Cody Martin is a strong option off the bench, and he should see 30-plus minutes tonight, with Kyle Lowry getting 25-ish. Even if Love starts again, it would be a surprise to see him with more than 24 minutes, which means we need to see how popular he is to determine if we want to go over or under the field.
It would be a shame if Antetokounmpo missed a third consecutive game with his back injury. Bobby Portis would likely stick in the starting unit if Giannis is out once again. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton each get a 10% to 15% boost with their per-minute fantasy production when playing without Antetokounmpo. They will continue to carry the load, along with Brook Lopez and Portis. After that it is a bunch of interchangeable role players and coach Mike Budenholzer is not afraid to have a quick hook.
Among the reserves, Grayson Allen is the best bet, as he will be in the starting unit, but Pat Connaughton and Joe Ingles can easily step into his slot if he is underperforming. This trio becomes tertiary choices if Antetokounmpo returns to action.
Update:Â Giannis Antetokounmpo will play tonight.
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Additional NBA DFS Building Blocks Pick — Sports Betting Opportunities
Kevin Love is an intriguing option in the sports wagering market, with a rebound prop total of 5.5. In the two games where Love played 20-plus minutes, he corralled seven and eight caroms. One game where he was a starter and one where he came off the bench.
NBA Bet Pro has Love projected for 22.2 minutes and 7.17 rebounds. This equates to a 61% chance that he surpassed the half dozen boards needed for tonight’s milestone, and at -130 at BetMGM, the numbers work out to a solid 4% expected ROI.
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NBA DFS Picks for Memphis Grizzlies-Los Angeles Lakers
Forget the Grizzlies putting up a 28-10 second quarter against the Lakers in Los Angeles, Memphis was down 35-9, YES, THE GRIZZ SCORED ONLY 9 POINTS in the first quarter. The L.A. faithful were all over Dillon Brooks, as he was doing his pre-game preparation, and it clearly got in his head, with all the booing on his missed shots BEFORE THE GAME, again youngsters… even if you are a Grizzly, don’t poke the bear!
For those living under a rock, the TLDR: version is Brooks said he wouldn’t worry about anyone until they dropped a 40-spot on him, after Memphis bested the Lakers in Game 2… OOPS!
That was a not so veiled reference to LeBron James, who now enjoys a 2-1 series edge and a chance to make it 3-1 on Monday, putting the Grizzlies into an elimination spot when the series reconstitutes in Memphis on Wednesday.
Understatement of the year, but this has been a chippy series. Heck, not to bury the lede, but Ja Morant returned after missing Game 2 with a hand injury and posted a career postseason effort, with 41.5 minutes, 45 points, nine rebounds, and 13 assists — which was somehow in a losing cause. Of course, some of this can ONCE AGAIN be softly set at the feet of Brooks, who managed to get himself tossed after hitting James in the groin 17 seconds into the third quarter.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane had so-so games, but they should rally for tonight. Jackson does not get as many chances for blocks and steals in the postseason, but he is still a threat to make a foray into the 40-fantasy-point plateau. Bane is the secondary scorer and while he should get his buckets, it will be the peripheral stats that make or break his fantasy fortune.
Luke Kennard and Tyus Jones should get the most minutes off the bench, with each live for something in the mid-20s, making them viable differentiation plays. Xavier Tillman continues to do yeoman’s work cleaning the glass, but he is content to defer on offense which makes him a boom or bust lottery ticket. Santi Aldama and David Roddy will at least see the court; however, they need Brooks to be foolish or one of the other key frontcourt players to get into foul trouble before they can be trusted.
James and Anthony Davis continue to power the Lakers, though in a surprising twist, former Washington Wizard Rui Hachimura has been the fantasy darling off the bench. The clock will strike midnight at some point for this Cinderella story, but until it does, keep going back to the Gonzaga alum.
D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Dennis Schroder are viable options, though each are well behind the dynamic duo of James and Davis in the offensive pecking order. Schroder has been a disaster from a fantasy perspective this postseason, which should have game log watchers staying away. Russell and Reaves have each seen double-digit field goal attempts this series and that should continue tonight. That gives them a reasonable fantasy floor, but their upside is muted by James and Davis.
Final Thoughts on NBA DFS Picks & Building Blocks Today
Monday dials things back with a two-game docket after a pair of rousing four-game weekend slates. There are still uncertain situations with both Butler and Antetokounmpo questionable in the first game of the night.
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