It's Wednesday, April 22nd, and we have a 2-game NBA DFS main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. We have two Game 2s on our hands.

Can the top seeded Pistons even the series or will they be shockingly down 0-2 going to Orlando for Game 3? They'll need the best version of Cade Cunningham they can possibly get. Can Phoenix steal a game away from the Thunder or are they too powerful? We'll see what Devin Booker and Jalen Green can do here.

Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.

  • News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
  • Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
  • Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
  • NBA DFS Projections
  • Lineup Generator
  • NBA Ownership

NBA DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, April 22nd

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Pre/Post-Lock Update Section

This section will be used for anything that changes from the morning until right up to roster lock. 

Injury updates, players we’re higher on than we were in the morning and so much more.

All status updates after contest roster lock will be made in the Fantasy Alarm Discord: https://discord.gg/2yATJxXe8G

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NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 4/22

 

 

NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews

In the section below, I’m listing the most notable things we need to look at in Las Vegas, including notable O/U and spreads. Not every game is listed, but every game listed has the pace and defensive numbers listed.

 

 

NBA DFS Game-by-Game Breakdown

Here are the core players I’m looking at for my NBA DFS picks tonight. You can see the full analysis of tonight’s NBA DFS projections and player pool below or skip ahead to building the best lineups possible by locking these into the aforementioned lineup generator now.

Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons

Total: 218.5

Spread: DET -8.5

Magic NBA DFS Breakdown

The Magic stole away Game 1 as they were in charge from the jump ball. Jalen Suggs was trending towards 37 minutes until he fouled out, but he's a very solid fantasy asset. $6,800 is a solid DK price. Anthony Black has floated in between 22-27 minutes in all three play-in/playoff games. Black's a decent value option on this two-game slate.

The wings look pretty good for the Magic as Desmond Bane has had two really good games since the play-in/postseason began. Bane led the team in USG in Game 1 at 27.4%. Franz Wagner played 32 minutes in Game 1, which was the most he's played since returning from injury. He had a 24.6% USG in Game 1 and has played extremely well in back-to-back games. Wagner is one of the best per dollar plays if he's going to play over 30 minutes.

The Magic leader in both FP/min and USG this year is Paolo Banchero at 1.17 FP/min and 28.2% respectively. Banchero is cheaper than he's been in quite a while. Tristan da Silva has floated around 19-20 minutes this postseason and his role should stay right there. He's really cheap.

The Orlando center room is however many minutes Wendell Carter can play and then Goga Bitadze plays the rest. WCJr is solid at this price and Bitadze is a good FP/min and if he gets up to 16-17 minutes – which is possible – he has a pretty high ceiling for his price point.

Tier 1: Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black

Tier 2: Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter, Goga Bitadze (GPP)

Pistons NBA DFS Breakdown

The Pistons gave away Game 1 but Cade Cunningham played 40 minutes in Game 1 and had a robust 39% USG. He's the top overall play for me considering the minutes and role. Daniss Jenkins actually had a great Game 1 role and while it's possible his role shrinks, if he's going to play 20+ minutes at a sub-4K play on DK.

I thought the Pistons might give Duncan Robinson a bit more runway, but he only played 26 minutes in Game 1. They barely played Caris LeVert and gave Kevin Huerter high-teens minutes, so I like him in GPPs. Robinson's GPPs only because if he does get hot from three, his leash can be extended.

I figured Ausar Thompson's role would be solid and ya know, it just wasn't. He didn't close the game and finished 25.5 minutes but he still floats around 1 FP/min. Tobias Harris' role is incredibly solid and so is the price. I think his minutes are the safest behind Cade Cunningham. Very much in on Harris and his floor.

The lackluster Game 1 from Jalen Duren was one of the primary reasons the Pistons were upset. He can't have a 13% USG and take four shots across 33 minutes. Plain and simple. Duren, on the year, has a 23.8% USG and 1.35 FP/min. That's the version the Pistons need and version we possibly get here. Isaiah Stewart is OK, but over $4K I'm not totally in on.

Tier 1: Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, Daniss Jenkins (GPP)

Tier 2: Ausar Thompson, Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter

 

Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Total: 215.5

Spread: OKC -17.5

Suns NBA DFS Breakdown

The Suns are the most injured team in the postseason as they have three key members of their rotation listed as questionable, including Jordan Goodwin, who has taken over as a starter in recent weeks. If he can't play, which I'm leaning towards due to it being another calf injury, we could see Collin Gillespie starting here. He played 23 minutes in Game 1 but t was Royce O'Neale who started the second half. I would absolutely play Gillespie if Goodwin sits.

The Suns offense is going to rely on Devin Booker and Jalen Green here. Booker has a 32.1% USG while Green's at 31.7%. Booker's at 1.19 FP/min and Green's at 1.09. Both are near the top of the teams list in every offensive category and both are firmly in play because of their upside. We don't know if Grayson Allen is going to play and if he does if he's going to play a lot, so I'm a fade at $5,000.

I like that Dillon Brooks' price is coming down, but the concern is how often he's in foul trouble and is going to have to chase SGA around all night. GPPs only. I definitely would be OK with Royce O'Neale if the likes of Jordan Goodwin and Grayson Allen are out or limited. He started the second half last game as I mentioned above.

Whether or not Mark Williams plays, I prefer Oso Ighodaro because I think they're not going to extend Williams too much, especially with how much he's battling through this injury to his foot. Both profile best in GPPs anyways.

Tier 1: Collin Gillespie (if Goodwin is out)

Tier 2: Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Oso Ighodaro, Mark Williams, Royce O'Neale

Thunder NBA DFS Breakdown

The Thunder come into Game 2 as 17.5-point favorites after blowing the Suns out of the water in Game 1. The defending champs look great and it starts with the likely back-to-back MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Can SGA play full minutes is the question because he'll be the clear pivot away from Cade Cunningham, but one guy played 40 minutes last game and one hasn't played more than 30 minutes the ENTIRE month of April.

The rest of the back court isn't overly appealing outside of Ajay Mitchell. Mitchell's a 22% USG and 1.02 FP/min on the year while Luguentz Dort, Cason Wallace, and Isaiah Joe are all .85 FP/min or below.

Jalen Williams had a fantastic Game 1 and had a 27% USG and over 44 DK and FDP. His wrist and hamstring have slowed him down this year but he's fully healthy heading into this postseason and ready to look like the 2025 All-Star he was. The Thunder only had to extend Alex Caruso for 13 minutes in Game 1 but we know in competitive games, they're willing to play him high-20s and start him over Isaiah Hartenstein for the second half. If you think this game stays close, Caruso's a good value.

I definitely prefer Chet Holmgren to Isaiah Hartenstein despite the price difference, especially if it's a close game because iHart might get limited. It's what the Thunder do in close games. Holmgren has a 22.1% USG and averages 1.26 FP/min this year.

Tier 1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell

Tier 2: Alex Caruso (GPP), Isaiah Hartenstein