Tuesday features a two-game main slate starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
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Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
Stud
After the occasional slog that is the end of the NBA regular season, we are officially on to the Play-In Tournament. It’s a breath of fresh air for all basketball fans, especially those who play DFS. The injury reports are relatively clean for Tuesday’s two games, with no new injuries popping up and no key players listed as questionable.
The game between the Warriors and Grizzlies stands out as the most appealing for DFS purposes. The total on that contest is nearly 10 points higher, and as seven-point favorites, Golden State leads the slate with a 117.5 implied team total.
That makes Steph Curry a strong pay-up option. Curry’s production has been up-and-down for most of the year, but he still leads Tuesday’s point guards with an average of 1.54 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s coming off 52.25 DraftKings points with a 42.8% usage rate in a de facto playoff game vs. the Clippers on Sunday, and his current matchup vs. the Grizzlies is significantly friendlier.
Ultimately, he has the top ceiling projection at the position, and he ranks second in that department on the entire slate.
Value
Sticking with the Warriors, Brandon Podziemski has taken on a much more prominent role for this team down the stretch. He’s averaged more than 32 minutes per game in eight April contests, and he’s responded with 17.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. Overall, he’s averaged 1.07 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s scored at least 34.5 DraftKings points in five of his past seven games.
There’s no reason to expect much different vs. the Grizzlies. He’s currently projected for 34 minutes in our NBA Models, making him one of the best pure values of the day.
Fast Break
If you’re looking to go “stars-and-scrubs” on Tuesday, Cory Joseph could be a viable punt play. He’s priced near the minimum at just $3,200, resulting in a 90% Bargain Rating, and should factor into Orlando’s rotation in the backcourt. He’s projected for 23 minutes, and he’s scored 20.25, 15.0, and 24.75 DraftKings points in his past three games with at least 20 minutes of playing time.
Ja Morant and Trae Young are the other high-priced point guards to consider. Both players have the potential to be the highest scorer on this slate, but Young will have to navigate a brutal matchup. That gives Morant the edge in our models. The Grizzlies have been careful with him for most of the year, limiting him to 30.4 minutes across his 50 games played, but he should be fully unleashed in the postseason.
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NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Dyson Daniels is priced at a massive discount on DraftKings. He’s just $7,000, resulting in a 97% Bargain Rating. It’s tied for the best mark of the day regardless of position, making him an interesting selection.
The Hawks have the lowest implied team total of Tuesday’s four teams, and no team has allowed fewer points per game than Orlando. However, Daniels is capable of racking up fantasy points without scoring. He leads the NBA in steals per game, and he’s added 5.9 boards and 4.4 rebounds. Overall, he’s averaged 1.19 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for 36 minutes vs. the Magic.
This has simply been too cheap of a price tag for Daniels this season. He’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.15 with a comparable figure (per the Trends tool), making him a fine selection at shooting guard.
Value
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has had a pretty disastrous first season with the Magic. He’s shooting the ball far less efficiently than he did during his time with the Nuggets, and he’s averaged just 8.7 points in 29.6 minutes per game.
Still, it’s hard to knock his combination of volume and affordability on Tuesday. He’s projected for 32 minutes at just $3,800, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.22. Ultimately, he’s one of the safest value targets for cash games.
Fast Break
Gary Payton II is a more volatile value target. He won’t see nearly as many minutes as KCP – he’s projected for just 18 in our NBA Models – but he makes up for it with superior per-minute production. He’s averaged 0.97 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he displayed a ceiling of more than 32 DraftKings points three games ago vs. the Rockets. He also saw 24.8 minutes vs. the Clippers on Sunday, so it’s possible he plays a bit more than expected.
Desmond Bane has the top ceiling projection at the position, and he’s been the Grizzlies’ most reliable player this season. More time alongside Morant isn’t great for his outlook – his usage rate has declined by 1.91% when sharing the court with him this season – but he’s still averaged 1.15 DraftKings points per minute in that split.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
It’s time for Playoff Jimmy, y’all. Jimmy Butler has had a tremendous impact since joining the Warriors, but it hasn’t always been felt statistically. He’s averaged 1.15 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, which is a good but not great mark for a high-priced player.
However, Butler has shown previously that he has an extra gear in the playoffs. He’s had some legendary performances in the past, and he’s averaged 21.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists throughout his postseason career. All of those represent increases compared to his regular-season career averages, so it’s possible he sees a similar spike in production with the Warriors.
Butler is also another player available at a massive discount on DraftKings. His $8,000 salary comes with a 96% Bargain Rating, and he ranks second at the position in projected Plus/Minus. That’s more than enough to make him a viable target.
Value
Zacchaire Risacher was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he’s had some moments for the Hawks as a rookie. He’s had nights where he’s completely lit up the scoreboard, including a 54.5 DraftKings-point performance vs. the Nets just last week. Overall, he’s averaged 0.98 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he could approach 30 minutes on Tuesday.
Things are going to be difficult for him against the Magic, but he has way more upside than his $4,300 salary suggests.
Fast Break
Caris LeVert checks a lot of the same boxes as Risacher. He’s a bit inconsistent, but he has the potential to blow his $4,800 price tag out of the water on nights when he goes off. He’s also averaged 0.97 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for 26 minutes vs. the Magic. LeVert is coming off 48.0 DraftKings points in his last contest, and he’s had at least 38.75 DraftKings points in two of his past four.
Franz Wagner has not been a particularly strong value of late, but his salary is down to $8,500 in a solid matchup. He’s also been extremely consistent of late, scoring right around 40 DraftKings points for most of the past month. Butler stands out as a slightly better value at -$500 cheaper, but Wagner leads the position in ceiling projection. He could also be available at a slight discount compared to Butler from an ownership standpoint.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Paolo Banchero has the top ceiling projection on Tuesday, and he’s been an absolute usage monster for the Magic down the stretch. He’s posted a 36.4% usage rate over his past 10 contests, and he’s scored 33 points with double-digit rebounds in two of his past three games. The lone exception was a game against the Celtics, where he was limited to less than 29 minutes in a blowout win.
Ultimately, Banchero has averaged 1.35 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he has immense upside vs. the Hawks. Atlanta has played at one of the fastest paces in the league this season, and Banchero leads the position with a +3.50 Opponent Plus/Minus. His 10 Pro Trends are also the most at power forward, so he’s one of the clear top studs on Tuesday’s slate.
Value
Draymond Green is not the same player that he was in his prime – not even close – but he’s still capable of putting up solid fantasy totals. He’s averaged 0.94 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he should see plenty of minutes in a vital contest for Golden State. It’s pretty telling that he saw 38.5 minutes vs. the Clippers on Sunday, while Jonathan Kuminga didn’t even see the floor. Green leads the position in projected Plus/Minus and is a very reliable midrange target.
Fast Break
If you’re looking to go cheaper at power forward, you could do worse than Georges Niang. He’s only projected for 21 minutes vs. the Magic, but that’s enough for him to potentially return value at $3,200. He’s averaged 0.84 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he had 20.75 DraftKings points in just 16.9 minutes in his last outing.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has not played as well as usual recently, slipping to just 1.03 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. That’s caused his salary to dip to just $7,300 vs. the Warriors. That has historically been too cheap for Jackson in recent years. Since the start of 2023-24, he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.04 with a comparable salary and minute projection. He’s an interesting buy-low candidate.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
The center position lacks a true stud on Tuesday. However, don’t sleep on Onyeka Okongwu. He’s put together some huge games for the Hawks down the stretch, including 62.0 DraftKings points vs. the Magic last Tuesday. Overall, he’s averaged 1.19 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he should be locked into mid-30s minutes with Clint Capela still sidelined.
Value
Zach Edey is arguably the top value option on the entire slate. His minutes have been inconsistent as a rookie, but he’s come on strong down the stretch. He’s averaged 30.5 minutes across his final six regular season contests, and with Brandon Clarke out for the rest of the season, the coast is clear for Edey to continue to see an expanded role.
That’s an appealing proposition. He’s averaged 1.19 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he’s undoubtedly underpriced if he’s going to continue to approach 30 minutes. There’s a chance that he gets run off the court by the Warriors, but Edey held his own in his last meeting vs. Golden State. He was +13 in his 32.4 minutes, and he finished with 40.0 DraftKings points.
Fast Break
Wendell Carter Jr. is a bit of a wildcard on this slate. He’s scored 21.75 DraftKings points or fewer in four of his past five games, but he erupted for 47.75 DraftKings points in the lone exception. That game was against the Hawks, so he can clearly find some success in this matchup. He’s projected for 30 minutes and has averaged a respectable 0.93 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he’s a solid midrange target.
Finally, Kevon Looney is an interesting contrarian option for the Warriors. He probably won’t play a ton, but he’s the team’s best traditional center. They might need his size to combat Edey, giving him a bit of hidden upside. He’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute, so he has appeal at $3,200 if he plays more than expected.
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Pictured: Steph Curry
Photo Credit: Imagn
