NBA Daily Fantasy Picks: DraftKings + FanDuel Ownership Projections

Friday’s full slate features nine NBA games, and below are some of the best NBA daily fantasy picks for both FanDuel and DraftKings based on Awesemo’s grades and values.

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NBA Daily Fantasy Picks: Awesemo Grades | April 9

Power Forward: Bobby Portis

DraftKings Grades: A, Values: A

FanDuel Grades: A, Values: A

Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss his fourth in a row tonight, and Jrue Holiday will be joining him on the sidelines. Last night, filling in for Antetokounmpo, Portis started at power forward against the Mavs and recorded 44.5 DraftKings points in 35 minutes of work. He is now producing 36.9 DraftKings points per game in the four starts he has made this season. Portis is a very strong fantasy player to begin with, but his production increases to 1.25 DraftKings points per minute when Antetokounmpo, Holiday and D.J. Augustin are off the floor.

Down two of their top three options, Portis will almost certainly eclipse 30 minutes again tonight, going against a soft Hornets frontcourt. He is going to destroy his sub-$7,000 price tags on both DraftKings and FanDuel, and Portis is the best play on the board for this nine-game slate.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 14.0%, FanDuel 16.6%

Point Guard: Stephen Curry

DraftKings Grades: A, Values: B

FanDuel Grades: A, Values: A

Tonight the Warriors and Wizards will go head-to-head in the Oracle, and having exposure to this shootout is a must in every lineup. This contest’s massive 239.5 total is the high mark of this nine-game slate by a significant 9.5 points. The Wizards and Warriors rank first and second in pace this season, and Golden State boasts a slate-high 122 point implied team total, which is a new season high for the club.

Curry has been incredible, scoring 53.3 DraftKings points per game across his last four. When he has been on his home floor and the total has been 235 points or greater this season, he is averaging 54 DraftKings points per game. Curry couldn’t ask for a better spot than this, and he needs to be one of the core plays.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 27.0%, FanDuel 31.4%

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Power Forward: Jalen McDaniels

DraftKings Grades: D, Values: B

FanDuel Grades: D, Values: D

After getting blown out by the Celtics this past Sunday, coach James Borrego decided to switch up the Hornets’ starting lineup for Wednesday’s matchup with the Thunder. Bismack Biyombo was moved to the bench and eschewed from the rotation completely, with McDaniels joining the first unit at small forward. All of Gordon Hayward, LaMelo Ball and Malik Monk were inactive, and McDaniels impressed with the starting job, posting a career-high 38.5 DraftKings points in the winning effort. With Charlotte only using nine players in total, he received the most playing time of his career (31.2 minutes). Considering that McDaniels led his team in scoring in this victory, it is hard to imagine him not seeing north of 30 minutes Friday against the Bucks.

In all the time he has spent on the floor sans Hayward, Monk and Ball, McDaniels has contributed 0.9 DraftKings points per minute. Plus, Milwaukee is a friendly matchup, with the club ranking fourth in pace and 20th in defensive rating over their last 10. At a near-minimum $3,300 on DraftKings, McDaniels is a necessary play tonight to allowing for jamming in multiple studs.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 47.4%, FanDuel 16.2%

Center: Wendell Carter

DraftKings Grades: B, Values: B

FanDuel Grades: B, Values: C

Carter ruined many lineups on Wednesday (23.5 DraftKings points), but the Magic decided to waive Khem Birch yesterday after he got 16.3 minutes on Wednesday. This should tighten Orlando’s rotation, with Carter and Mohamed Bamba being the primary beneficiaries. As the starting center and the better talent, Carter should see close to 30 minutes on a nightly basis going forward.

Before Wednesday’s speed bump, Carter had topped 40 DraftKings points in three consecutive contests, and he has supplied an effective 1.21 DraftKings points per minute since joining the Magic. Based on Awesemo’s ownership projections, it appears that most are avoiding Carter coming off the dud, creating an opportune time to attack him in GPPs against the beat-up Pacers. Myles Turner has already been ruled out, and for the month of April, Indiana is giving up the second-most points in the paint per game.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 13.2%, FanDuel 0.6%

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