It’s Tuesday, April 15th. The National Basketball Association (NBA) has a pair of play-in games on the schedule. The Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic battle at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV/Max in the front end of the doubleheader in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 Eastern Conference game, while the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors meet at 10:00 p.m. ET in the second end of the national double dip.
Here are our top NBA DFS lineup picks and advice for tonight’s slate.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Core Plays
- DraftKings: $9,500
- FanDuel: $9,900
Banchero is easily the best player on the board, and he is facing an Atlanta Hawks defense which was abysmal in the regular season. The Hawks allowed 120.8 points per game (PPG), which was 27th in the NBA, while allowing 48.1% from the field and 37.7% from behind the 3-point line. Each of those marks ranked 28th in The Association.
Against the Hawks, Banchero averaged a robust 33.3 PPG with 8.7 rebounds (RPG) and 4.3 assists (APG) per game in three meetings, hitting 46.5% from the field with 37.5% from behind the 3-point line. He averaged 3.0 3PT per game, too. Build your lineup around the former Duke star.
- DraftKings: $8,500
- FanDuel: $8,800
Why not pair Wagner with his frontcourt partner on this limited two-game slate? Again, the Hawks defense is putrid, with an OPRK which ranks 27th in the NBA, and he was good for 41.4 Fantasy Points Per Game (FPPG) during the regular season.
Wagner was slightly better than his season splits when facing divisional opponents, and he was even better against Atlanta with 28.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.7 APG with 1.3 steals (SPG) per game, too. He also hit 47.8% from the field, while averaging 1.7 3PT per game in three meetings in the regular season.
- DraftKings: $9,300
- FanDuel: $9,200
The sharpshooter is an essential part of any DFS lineup Tuesday, and you’ll want plenty of exposure. While the Grizzlies were pretty decent defensively along the interior, limiting teams to just 45.6% from the field, good for fourth in the NBA, they allowed 36.0% from behind the arc, which ranked 15th. And, Memphis allowed 116.9 PPG, checking in just 22nd, so this is a more than good matchup for Steph.
In three regular-season meetings with the Grizz, Curry averaged 22.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 4.7 APG while dropping in 15 total 3-pointers. He also added 3.3 SPG, so he should pack the stat sheet nicely.
NBA DFS Cash Game Targets
- DraftKings: $6,300
- FanDuel: $6,300
This advice comes with a bit of a disclaimer. Normally, you wouldn’t focus on Green as a cash game target, but with such a limited slate, and a favorable matchup, the veteran is a strong play.
Green averaged just 9.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG and 5.6 APG in the regular season while hitting 42.4% from the field. However, in last season’s play-in game, he stepped up with 12 points, six assists, three boards, two 3-pointers and two steals in 35 minutes in a loss at Sacramento. When it’s do-or-die, Green tends to play his best hoops.
- DraftKings: $8,000
- FanDuel: $8,900
Jimmy Buckets is a tremendous value, especially on DraftKings, against the Grizzlies. Memphis had an OPRK of 28th, and this is the kind of game the Warriors scooped up the well-traveled mercurial star.
There is some concern that he is nursing a bit of a left thigh injury, as he was dinged up Sunday. However, he still score 30 points in that game, and he begins his quest to help another team from play-in team to NBA Finals participant, starting Tuesday.
- DraftKings: $7,800
- FanDuel: $8,300
Bane is worth a look in this battle with the Warriors, as he really finished up the regular season strong for the Grizzlies. The former TCU product averaged 24.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 4.5 APG with 3.5 3PT per game in six April outings, including a 19-point performance with four 3-pointers against the Warriors in 35 minutes on April 1.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
- DraftKings: $7,500
- FanDuel: $7,900
Okongwu doesn’t have the greatest matchup, as the Magic have an OPRK of 3rd, but he is still a decent play in the middle in this two-game slate.
He had a stinker in the regular-season finale in Philadelphia, spending most of his night in foul trouble, while ending up with just four points and eight boards on a dismal 2-of-7 shooting night. However, while Orlando has that stellar OPRK, he went for 30 points, 14 boards, four assists and three steals with four 3-pointers in a 119-112 loss at Orlando this past Tuesday, so don’t get cute with the numbers and roll with Double O.
Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF, C – MEM)
- DraftKings: $7,300
- FanDuel: $8,100
If you’re not feeling Okongwu for some reason, perhaps give Jackson Jr. a spin. He is a good value, especially at DraftKings. He averaged 37.8 FPPG, and Golden State is middle of the road with an OPRK of 12th.
He was consistent in April, averaging 19.5 PPG. 4.8 RPG and 1.3 APG with 1.2 SPG and 2.2 3PT per game in six outings, and he posted 22 points and seven boards with two triples in 31 minutes against Golden State April 1 before fouling out.
Jonathan Kuminga (PF, SF – GSW)
- DraftKings: $5,100
- FanDuel: $4,800
Kuminga is worth a look against the Grizzlies and their OPRK of 27th. He didn’t play in that most recent matchup April 1 against the Grizzlies, but he was good for 13 points while hitting 3-for-3 from behind the 3-point line in 15 minutes in a matchup Jan. 4 in San Francisco.
NBA DFS Value Plays
- DraftKings: $4,100
- FanDuel: $4,500
Moody is a good salary saver in this Western Conference play-in game against the Grizzlies and their OPRK of 28th. He posted 10 points with four rebounds and two 3-pointers in the 134-125 win in Memphis on April 1, and he averaged 10.7 PPG in three regular-season meetings with the Grizz.
- DraftKings: $4,600
- FanDuel: $5,000
Anthony is another good salary saver against the struggling Hawks defense. He saw limited action against the Hawks April 13 in the regular-season finale, playing just 13 minutes, likely as a precaution. In his most recent full game against Atlanta, he scorched them for 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals with a blocked shot on Feb. 20.
- DraftKings: $3,800
- FanDuel: $4,200
Hield is another low-cost option with some upside against the Grizzlies. He was good for 9.5 PPG and 2.9 RPG with 2.5 3PT per game in eight April outings, including eight points, three boards and two triples in 20 minutes at Memphis April 1.
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