The Bulls and the Kings are both coming off victories in the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament in must-win scenarios, whereas the Heat and Pelicans are coming off losses in their first play-in contests. Now that all four teams find themselves in must-win positions to secure the final spots in the playoffs, how will their previous performances carry over to Friday night and affect those in the NBA DFS player pool? Coby White exploded for 42 points, nine rebounds and six assists after never scoring more than 37 in a game, but can daily Fantasy basketball players expect a performance like that against Miami's No. 3 defense?
With Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Jimmy Butler (knee) both out on Friday, daily Fantasy basketball players will have to significantly alter their NBA DFS strategy. What opportunities will their absences provide for lower-priced players in the NBA DFS player pool on sites like FanDuel and DraftKings? Jonas Valanciunas averaged 17 points and 10.4 rebounds over 12 games without Williamson in the lineup, compared to 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds on the season, so should you include him in NBA DFS lineups? Before making your NBA DFS picks, be sure to check out the NBA DFS advice, player rankings, stacks, and top daily Fantasy basketball picks from SportsLine's Jimmie Kaylor.
Kaylor is a DFS and betting expert for SportsLine, who won a DraftKings Millionaire Maker contest in 2022. He uses a combination of his background as a former college and professional athlete and his keen eye for statistical trends when making his picks and locking in his DFS lineups. Kaylor enters the 2024 calendar year with multiple five-figure tournament cashes on his DFS resume.
Kaylor's approach allows him to find the best NBA DFS values and create optimal lineups that he only shares on SportsLine. They're a must-see for any NBA DFS player.
Last Friday (when Kaylor last made picks), Kaylor highlighted Timberwolves center Naz Reid as one of his top picks in his NBA DFS player pool on both sites. The result: Reid had 19 points and three rebounds, two assists and a block, returning 27.75 points on DraftKings and 26.6 points on FanDuel as one of the better values in the NBA DFS player pool. Anybody who included him in their lineups was well on the way to a profitable day.
Kaylor has turned his attention to NBA action on Friday and locked in his top daily Fantasy basketball picks. You can only see them by heading to SportsLine.
Top NBA DFS picks for Friday, April 19
For Friday, one of Kaylor's top NBA DFS picks is Heat center Bam Adebayo ($8,700 on DraftKings and $8.500 on FanDuel). Adebayo had 10 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks in Miami's 105-104 loss to the 76ers on Wednesday. Now with Butler out, the Heat will need Adebayo to take on a larger scoring role, which he's proven capable of doing. Adebayo had a tough matchup against Joel Embiid on Wednesday, and although the Bulls also have size in the middle with Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond, it won't be as challenging as going up against Embiid while straining energy guarding him defensively.
Adebayo averaged 19.3 points and 10.4 rebounds this season as one of just 13 players in the NBA to average a double-double. Clint Capela had 22 points and 17 rebounds against the Bulls on Tuesday, and Adebayo can take advantage of similar matchups on Friday. Adebayo averaged 22.1 points, 11.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists over 21 games without Butler in the lineup this season.
Another part of McClure's optimal NBA DFS strategy includes rostering Kings guard Keon Ellis ($5,000 on DraftKings and $5,600 on FanDuel). Ellis had 15 points, four rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks in a win over the Warriors in their first play-in tournament contest. He was a contributor in all facets offensively and defensively both for the Kings and in generating points for NBA DFS lineups. It was his third straight game with multiple steals and second straight with multiple blocks as his defensive contributions make him an asset for NBA DFS picks even on days when De'Aaron Fox or Domantas Sabonis may dominate the scoring.
Ellis, an undrafted player out of Alabama in his second NBA season, didn't start playing substantial minutes until March but quickly proved he should be in the rotation. Ellis averaged 8.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, two assists and 1.6 steals over 23 games since March 1. Kevin Huerter (shoulder) and Malik Monk (knee) remain out for the Kings as Ellis has seen his role increase without them on the floor. Kaylor thinks Ellis has a great chance at providing value at his price point and by using him in NBA DFS lineups, you'll also be able to afford some of the higher-priced options in the NBA DFS player pool. See Kaylor's other NBA DFS picks right here.
How to set your NBA DFS lineups for Friday, April 19
Kaylor is also targeting a player who could go off for massive numbers on Friday because of a dream matchup. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.
Who is DFS pro Jimmie Kaylor putting in his optimal NBA DFS lineups for Friday? Visit SportsLine now to see optimal NBA DFS picks, rankings, advice, and stacks, all from a professional DFS player who a DraftKings Millionaire Maker contest, and find out.
