NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Monday (4/1)

It’s hard to believe, but we’re in April! That means we’re winding down to the final days, with only two weeks remaining in the regular season. That’s evident in the injury report, with many players sitting every night. We’re trying our best to bank off those injuries, so let’s go ahead and get into this Monday card!

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer:

Schedule and Odds

• MEM at DET (DET -2.5) O/U: 213
• BKN at IND (IND -11.5) O/U: 229
• POR at ORL (ORL -16) O/U: 209.5
• BOS at CHA (BOS -17) O/U: 218
• PHX at NOP (NOP -1.5) O/U: 225.5
• ATL at CHI (CHI -2.5) O/U: 224

Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.

Injury Report

• Ja Morant (shoulder) OUT
• Desmond Bane (tanking) OUT
• Vince Williams (knee) OUT
• Marcus Smart (hand) OUT
• Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) OUT
• Jerami Grant (tanking) Doubtful
• Anfernee Simons (knee) OUT
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Brandon Ingram (knee) OUT
• Trae Young (hand) OUT
• Onyeka Okongwu (toe) OUT
• Jalen Johnson (ankle) Questionable
• Cade Cunningham (knee) Questionable
• Jaylen Brown (ankle) Questionable
• Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) Questionable
• Santi Aldama (illness) Questionable

Core Plays

Dejounte Murray (PG/SG – ATL): $9,800 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
Murray was an All-Star player in his days with the Spurs, and he’s returned to a similar role with the Hawks. Trae Young getting injured is what forced Murray into that playmaking role, scoring at least 41 DraftKings points in 17 of his last 19 outings. He’s also averaging over 50 fantasy points per game in that span and shouldn’t have any problems adding to that against a 20th-ranked Chicago defense.

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $9,100 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
Haliburton was terrible after the All-Star break, but something has clicked in the last few weeks. The All-Star has scored at least 40 DraftKings points in 10 of his last 12 outings, generating a 47-point average for the year. That alone is amazing from a $9K player, but the matchup is nothing to worry about. Hali has at least 59 fantasy points in two of his last three outings with the Nets.

CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $7,700 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
Somebody needed to step up with Brandon Ingram getting injured, and McCollum has been happy to take that on. CJ’s usage, minutes, and shot attempts have skyrocketed in BI’s absence, scoring at least 40 DraftKings points in five straight fixtures. He’s also got a 46-point average in that span and should have success since the Suns surrender the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Cash Game Considerations

Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $10,000 DraftKings, $10,600 FanDuel
Tatum is one of the only Boston players who avoids the injury report regularly, making him an excellent cash game option. The All-Star forward has established a 35-point floor this season, averaging 49 DK points per game. The best part of this is the matchup with Charlotte, posting the worst defensive rating in the NBA. The last time they played, JT had 45 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists en route to nearly 80 fantasy points!

Paolo Banchero (SF/PF – ORL): $8,400 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel
This top pick from last season is starting to look like one of the best players in the NBA, averaging 45 DraftKings points per game since the All-Star break. He’s also scored at least 36 fantasy points in 10 of his last 11 outings and should slice right through this pitiful Portland defense. The Trail Blazers rank 23rd in defensive efficiency ratings.

Cam Thomas (PG/SG – BKN): $7,100 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
Thomas has become the focal point of this Nets offense in the second half, averaging 37 minutes and nearly 20 shots a game. This expanded role has led to Cam scoring at least 32 DK points in 11 straight outings, flirting with a 40-point average in that span. Thomas also has a 49-point average across his last three outings and should have success since Indiana ranks 29th in total defense while playing at the fastest pace in the NBA.

GPP Targets

Myles Turner (C – IND): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
Turner’s minutes can be frustrating for fantasy managers, but this guy is a stud whenever he receives a full allotment of playing time. The big man has at least 36 DK points in three of his last five fixtures, which isn’t far off his 32-point average for the year. Turner is also one of the sub-$7K players who have a 60-point upside, which makes him an excellent GPP option against a 19th-ranked Brooklyn defense.

Scotty Pippen Jr. (PG/SG – MEM): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
The fact that Pippen is here shows how rough it’s been for Memphis. This team has lost nearly every ball-handler to an injury this season, forcing Pippen to play 30-35 minutes as the starting point guard. This newfound role has led to Scotty averaging 27 DraftKings points per game across his last seven starts. This is also one of the few Memphis games that could be close, facing a Detroit defense that ranks 26th in points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $4,800 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
To say Valanciunas is risky would be an understatement. The big man has been limited to 20 minutes regularly recently, but all we need is 25-30 minutes for him to be one of the values of the day. Something tells me that will happen because he’s the perfect prototype to match up with Jusuf Nurkic. In his three matchups with Phoenix this year. JV is averaging 30 fantasy points per game! We also saw him drop nearly 40 fantasy points a few nights ago, and the potential is there for a 7X game at this diminished price.

Value Plays

Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
Clax is one of my favorite big men in the NBA. This defensive stud is averaging 33 DraftKings points per game while establishing a 25-point floor. We expect those 33 fantasy points to be his floor here because Indiana is the second-worst defense while playing at the fastest pace in the league. That pace should lead to many rebounds for Clax, which is incredible since he has 38 and 45 DK points over the last week.

Clint Capela (C – ATL): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
With Okongwu and Johnson both nicked up, Capela is dominating the glass in Atlanta. The big man has scored at least 29 DraftKings points in 11 of his last 12 games while scoring at least 34 fantasy points in nine of those! That’s all you can ask for from such an affordable player, but he has one of the highest floors out there since he has to snatch down 10-15 rebounds every night.

Jalen Suggs (PG/SG – ORL): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Why is Suggs still so cheap? The former Top 5 pick has taken a leap recently, scoring at least 29 DraftKings points in four of his last six outings. That form is challenging to overlook against a terrible Trail Blazers defense, with Portland posting a 21st OPRK against opposing guards. He’s also matching up with Scoot Henderson, which means a few steals and blocks could also be in play.

Advantageous Pricing

• Clint Capela (C – ATL): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $4,800 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
• Cam Thomas (PG/SG – BKN): $7,100 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
• Luke Kornet (C – BOS): $3,900 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
• Dennis Smith (PG/SG – BKN): $3,300 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Brandon Clarke (PF/C – MEM): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
• Andre Drummond (C – CHI): $4,600 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
• Bruno Fernando (C – ATL): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
• Royce O’Neale (SF/PF – PHX): $3,900 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel

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