There isn’t much time left in the regular season. As games wind down, so are your abilities to cash in on regular-season NBA DFS contests. While there’s playoff action to be had, with so many teams making that last push, this is one of the best times of the year. A few teams need that win badly, including the Lakers, who are now on the outside looking in. So with all the stakes so high, let us help you set that lineup for DraftKings tonight.
(NOTE: This NBA DFS lineup was made ahead of time. Always check for the latest injuries and inactives prior to lineups locking. )
NBA DFS Picks for Thursday – March 31st
PG – Darius Garland ($10,100) – CLE
Back-to-back 50 fantasy point outings, double-doubles in six of his last seven games, increased rebounding output – what is not to love about Darius Garland right now?! Even at the premium price, he’s worth spending a bit of your NBA DFS salary cap on. In addition to all of the positive gains we’ve mentioned, he’s getting sharper from three-point. I don’t know how much more that can improve, but it seems to give him a higher ceiling.
SG – Paul George ($9,400) – LAC
After not playing for over three months, Paul George returned and looked remarkably like Paul George. We are in a limited window where his NBA DFS salary is still low due to the fact that there are doubts about his health. However, with 34 points on six three-pointers in his first game back, I’m sold.
SF – Kevin Huerter ($5,400) – ATL
Trae Young has been racking up the assists as of late and this man right here has been the beneficiary. He’s picked up 15 three-pointers over the last three games and is shooting over 50% on attempts. That’s led to at least 30 fantasy points in each game over that span. Even short of that, he would be worth his NBA DFS salary, but I think he can crack that number again.
PF – Kevin Love ($5,900) – CLE
Love is a little bit of a risky NBA DFS play for me this week. He’s been up in the 30s on some games and down in the teens for others. However, if you look at the common denominator in his high-scoring games, they are all from high scoring in the actual game. When Love scores, he’s valuable. Luckily for him, he’s facing off with the 23rd ranked defense in stopping buckets.
C – Andre Drummond ($6,000) – BKN
Drummond is coming off of three straight double-doubles – which also includes a 16 board effort. His scoring hasn’t made much of a jump, but even if he sniffs 20 points, he’ll be worth his NBA DFS salary and then some. He went off for 46 fantasy points last time he played Milwaukee with a 17-12-5 line – expect it again.
G – Jordan Clarkson ($6,200) – UTA
While I like Clarkson and always have, the major reason I’m making this pick for my NBA DFS lineup is I love the matchup. The Lakers are dead last in the league in preventing points by guards. They’ve been even worse as of late, so expect Clarkson to go off tonight.
F – Patrick Williams ($3,200) – CHI
If you’re going digging in the bargain bin of NBA DFS after spending big on the likes of Garland and George, you could do worse than Williams. He’s seen an uptick in his minutes, netting 25 on Tuesday. That amount of usage is what you want to see from the bottom of your lineup. The Clippers are also second to last in rebounding percentage, which bodes well for the type of stats that Williams needs to be worth it.
UTIL – Rudy Gay ($3,200) – LAC
In the words of Rick Majerus, “I’m not a big Gay guy” typically. However, like Williams, he’s been logging quite a few minutes and has a high NBA DFS ceiling. He’s cracked 30 fantasy points twice in the last two weeks, which would be a windfall at this salary. So if your bank is dwindling, he’s a great boom or bust target.
Make sure to check out all the great NBA coverage we have to offer and be sure to listen to the NBA Gambling Podcast, which airs twice a week. This week the guys are breaking down all the best plays for the coming days and possibly giving you even more info that could help your NBA DFS plays.
