NBA DFS Preview - First Look (4/1)

A 10-game NBA DFS slate is how the work week will end. With some teams playing for everything and other teams playing for nothing, keeping an eye on the injury report is even more important than it has been all season long.

Be sure to check out the FTN NBA Optimizer.

NBA Vegas Data for April 1 | NBA DFS First Look

Dallas Mavericks @ Washington Wizards

DAL -8.5, total: 217.5
Pace: DAL (30th), WAS (23rd)

Situations to monitor:

Kyle Kuzma will remain sidelined for Washington.

Toronto Raptors @ Orlando Magic

TOR -10.5, total: 216.5
Pace: TOR (25th), ORL (10th)

Situations to monitor:

Wendell Carter (wrist) is questionable for Orlando. Jalen Suggs (ankle) remains sidelined.

Indiana Pacers @ Boston Celtics

BOS -14.5, total: 225.5
Pace: IND (17th), BOS (24th)

Situations to monitor:

Malcolm Brogdon, Isaiah Jackson, Goga Bitadze and Oshae Brissett are listed as questionable.

Sacramento Kings @ Houston Rockets

SAC -2.5, total: 232.5
Pace: SAC (6th), HOU (1st)

Situations to monitor:

Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox will remain sidelined for Sacramento.
For Houston, Christian Wood, Eric Gordon and Dennis Schroder will miss the remainder of the season. Alperen Sengun (leg) is listed as questionable.

Phoenix Suns @ Memphis Grizzlies

PHX -7, total: 229.5
Pace: PHX (9th), MEM (3rd)

Situations to monitor:

Ja Morant remains out. Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson, Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane and Steven Adams are all listed as doubtful.

Los Angeles Clippers @ Milwaukee Bucks

MIL -7.5, total: 228.5
Pace: LAC (17th), MIL (7th)

Situations to monitor:

None.

Detroit Pistons @ Oklahoma City Thunder

DET -4.5, total: 221.5
Pace: DET (13th), OKC (12th)

Situations to monitor:

Marvin Bagley left Thursday’s game with a hip injury and did not return.

Portland Trail Blazers @ San Antonio Spurs

SAS -15, total: 231
Pace: POR (13th), SAS (4th)

Situations to monitor:

Portland continues to miss most of their roster.

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets

DEN -2.5, total: 240
Pace: MIN (1st), DEN (20th)

Situations to monitor:

Jaden McDaniels and Malik Beasley remain out for Minnesota.

New Orleans Pelicans @ Los Angeles Lakers

NOP -2.5, total: 230
Pace: NOP (20th), LAL (8th)

Situations to monitor:

Anthony Davis plans to return to the lineup Friday. LeBron James (ankle) is hopeful to play.

Matchups to Target | NBA DFS First Look

Keldon Johnson vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Johnson has played very well as of late, averaging 22.8 points and nearly 40 fantasy points per game over his last four outings. And in competitive games, he is logging anywhere between 36 and 38 minutes. He has a great chance to remain productive on Friday, facing an awful Portland team that is allowing the sixth-most three-pointers per game to opposing power forwards this season (2.28). The Trail Blazers are also allowing the second-most spot-up points per game on the year (31.3), as well as the second-most points per possession (1.06) and second-highest field goal percentage (40.6%) off the play type. Johnson, meanwhile, is averaging a league-leading 7.0 points per game off spot-ups this season, while sporting a near 39% frequency rate off the play type.

CJ McCollum vs. Los Angeles Lakers

McCollum put together a very strong month of March, averaging 24.8 points, 6.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. A lot of that came with Brandon Ingram out of the lineup and although he is back for the Pelicans, I still love the spot for McCollum. Los Angeles is hopeful to get both Anthony Davis and LeBron James back for this game, but this defense has still struggled all season long. McCollum has played a lot of point guard since joining New Orleans, which makes this matchup favorable. Los Angeles is coughing up the most points per game to opposing point guards this season (24.95), as well as the third-most assists per game (9.14). The Lakers have also been an awful transition defense, surrendering the second-most points per game off the play type (22.0). That bodes well for McCollum, who is averaging 6.2 points per game in transition, tied for the fourth most in basketball since joining the Pelicans.

Al Horford vs. Indiana Pacers

With Robert Williams sidelined for Boston, Horford will have to play more minutes, just like we saw Wednesday against Miami. During that game, Horford logged 34 minutes, scoring nearly 37 fantasy points. He hauled in 15 rebounds, seeing 20 rebounding chances in the game, way up from his season average of 11.9 per game. With Williams off the floor this season, Horford is sporting a 27% rebounding rate, while averaging 1.06 fantasy points per minute in the split. A matchup with the Pacers stands out, as they are allowing the fourth-most points per game to the post on the year (5.6), as well as the third-highest field goal percentage off the play type (52.8%).

Value Plays | NBA DFS First Look

Brandon Clarke vs. PHX — The Grizzlies are likely to be short-handed tonight, as Ja Morant is out, while Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams, Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones are all listed as doubtful. Clarke will play a much larger role today and with just Adams and Jackson off the floor this season, he is averaging 1.19 fantasy points per minute, while also sporting a healthy 24% rebounding rate.