NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
It’s Friday, April 11, marking the last Friday of the regular NBA season before next week’s Play-In Tournament kicks off. Today, all 30 teams are set to take the court.
The Milwaukee Bucks will face the Detroit Pistons at 7:00 p.m. ET, starting an NBA TV doubleheader, while the Houston Rockets will battle the Los Angeles Lakers at 10:30 p.m. ET in the second game of the evening. However, our focus will be on the players and matchups during the 7:00-9:00 p.m. timeframe.
Here’s our go-to NBA DFS lineup advice and top picks for today’s lineup.
**Josh Giddey (PG – CHI)**
Did you ever imagine that Josh Giddey would be priced higher than stars like Jayson Tatum, Paolo Banchero, Anthony Edwards, and Ja Morant? While he may be slightly overvalued following a stellar stretch, he remains a strong candidate for your lineup. It’s wise to seize this opportunity while it lasts.
The 22-year-old Australian just delivered an outstanding performance against Miami, shooting 11-of-19 from the field for 28 points, along with 16 rebounds, 11 assists, three blocks, and two steals, including three 3-pointers made. In his last three games, he has recorded two triple-doubles and at least five consecutive double-doubles. During April, Giddey is averaging a triple-double with 20.8 points, 13 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game.
In his matchup against the Washington Wizards, he faces a team currently ranked last defensively.
**Anthony Edwards (SG, SF – MIN)**
Anthony Edwards presents an excellent play against the struggling Brooklyn Nets, who are missing key players. He recently exploded for 44 points in Memphis, making 13-of-19 shots from the floor, including 7-of-11 from beyond the arc. Over his past five games, he has reached at least 34 points in three of them and has made a minimum of five 3-pointers in four out of five.
In April, Edwards has been averaging an impressive 33.6 points, along with 5.8 rebounds, four assists, 1.2 steals, and five 3-pointers per game. The shorthanded Nets should give him plenty of chances to excel.
**Bam Adebayo (PF, C – MIA)**
For your frontcourt options, Bam Adebayo offers fantastic value, particularly on FanDuel.
Adebayo is set to take on a New Orleans Pelicans squad that is ranked 29th in terms of opponent defense, making this a promising matchup. He is averaging around 40.5 fantasy points per game, but he could very well exceed that against the Pelicans.
After a disappointing outing in Chicago where he scored just 18 points with six rebounds and two 3-pointers on a 6-for-15 shooting night, Adebayo’s April performances have been strong, averaging 24 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and one steal, along with 2.3 3-pointers made per game.
**Coby White (SG, SF – CHI)**
Similar to Adebayo, Coby White had a challenging game against the Miami Heat last Wednesday, only scoring 18 points on 5-of-14 shooting and missing all five 3-point attempts—his first game without a 3-pointer since March 8th against Miami, ending a streak of 14 consecutive games with at least one.
Nevertheless, prior to that game, White was on fire with three successive outings of 28 points or more. He’s still boasting averages of 28.5 points, 5.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 triples in four April contests. Given Washington’s defensive inefficiencies, he should be a prime addition to your lineup, along with other Bulls players.
**Nikola Vučević (C – CHI)**
Don’t overlook Nikola Vučević; he should also have a substantial presence in your lineup. Like his teammates Josh Giddey and Coby White, he has a very favorable matchup ahead.
Vučević has been on a double-double streak this April, averaging 22.3 points, 11 rebounds, 5.3 assists, a block, and a steal per game, while also knocking down two three-pointers per contest. The last time he faced Washington, he tallied 23 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and hit four three-pointers, shooting 9-of-12 from the field. Expect more compelling numbers again today.
**Desmond Bane (SG – MEM)**
Desmond Bane is currently in great form, racking up averages of 24.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 3.6 three-pointers per game in his last five appearances. He has embraced increased scoring responsibilities and is really performing well.
In addition, Bane has been perfect at the free-throw line lately, hitting 15-of-15, and has missed only one free-throw attempt in the last 13 games since mid-March. He will be competing against a Denver Nuggets defense that ranks 28th.
**P.J. Washington (SF, PF – DAL)**
P.J. Washington is an appealing option facing the Toronto Raptors, who rank 23rd defensively. He is averaging 32.2 fantasy points per game while stepping up due to the trade of Luka Dončić and other injuries in the squad.
Washington has recorded at least 12 points in eight of his last nine games, along with five rebounds in four consecutive matchups. He’s also made 15 three-pointers over the past eight games.
**Jrue Holiday (PG, SG – BOS)**
Jrue Holiday is a nice value play against the defensively weak Charlotte Hornets, especially on FanDuel. He’s averaging only 25.7 fantasy points per game, which may not seem impressive initially.
While there are other players in a similar price range with better overall numbers, the Hornets rank 24th against opposing players. Back in November, Holiday averaged 13.5 points, five rebounds, 3.5 assists, and three three-pointers in a two-game series against Charlotte, and similar production is expected here, if not more.
**Christian Braun (SG, SF – DEN)**
Christian Braun has been thriving over his last couple of games, posting averages of 27.5 points, six rebounds, and three assists in his recent two outings, while also hitting three three-pointers per game.
He has been impressive, shooting 21-of-28 (75%) from the field during this period. With the changes in coaching and management recently, Braun seems revitalized.
**Tidjane Salaün (PF – CHA)**
While Tidjane Salaün faces a tough matchup against the Boston Celtics, he is expected to start again due to Miles Bridges’ hip injury. The young player is averaging a respectable 11 points and 7.5 rebounds over the last two games, with four three-pointers, while logging about 30 minutes per contest.
**Sam Hauser (SF, PF – BOS)**
Sam Hauser, the 27-year-old former talent from Virginia, is likely to see an increase in playing time against the Hornets with Jaylen Brown out due to a knee injury. Hauser has shown his scoring abilities lately, averaging 11.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in the past three games. He has also successfully made at least one three-pointer in 15 consecutive games, including seven total in his last three.
**AJ Johnson (PG, SG – WAS)**
AJ Johnson is projected to start again with Jordan Poole out due to an elbow injury. In his five games this April, he has been averaging a solid 11.4 points, contributing three assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 three-pointers per game while playing around 32 minutes on the floor.
