FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Tuesday 4/30/24

Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. Our projections -- which are powered by numberFire -- update throughout the day to reflect current news. You can also turn to numberFire for player news updates as well as a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down some of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

Betting lines via the NBA odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. Projections and betting odds may change after this article is published.

NBA DFS Picks

Tuesday's main slate on FanDuel features three games. For a full breakdown, see numberFire's matchup heat map.

• 7:10 p.m. ET | Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks (-4.0), 204.0 total
• 8:00 p.m. ET | Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ( -4.5), 201.5 total
• 9:30 p.m. ET | Indiana Pacers (-4.0) vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 216.0 total

Guards

Top Plays

Jalen Brunson ($10,300) -- After a lackluster first two games, Jalen Brunson has exploded for 56.9 and 68.8 FanDuel points (FPs) over the last two outings. He's averaging 33 real-world points and 9.0 assists in 42 minutes per game this series, so he's about as safe an option as you'll find on a three-game slate. He's one of just two players we project for more than 50 FPs, and his 50.9-FP projection tops all guards as of Tuesday afternoon.

OG Anunoby ($6,500) -- Like Brunson, OG Anunoby struggled in Games 1 and 2 before breaking out when the Knicks traveled to Philly. He went for 29.8 and then 40.8 FPs in Games 3 and 4, notably playing 46 minutes in their most recent W. After playing lockdown defense in the fourth quarter of Game 4, expect Anunoby to get all the run he can handle as New York looks to close out the series.

Andrew Nembhard ($5,900) -- Andrew Nembhard doesn't have much of a ceiling, but he's notched at least 27 FPs in three straight games while playing 37+ minutes in each of the last two. With PG and SG eligibility, he offers much-needed salary relief on a slate lacking value guards. Nembhard's notably scored at least 15 real-world points in three straight games. His points prop is set at 10.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Others to Consider

Donovan Mitchell ($8,800) -- Donovan Mitchell did not enjoy his visit to Orlando. The Magic held Mitchell under 32 FPs in both games after he finished with 41.9 and 41.6 in Games 1 and 2. With the series tied, I like Spida to bounce back at Rocket Morgage Fieldhouse. On the season, Mitchell's averaged 29.7 real-world points on 48% shooting at home compared to 23.9 points on 44.4% shooting on the road.

Jalen Suggs ($6,000) -- Jalen Suggs has become my go-to mid-range guard during the playoffs, and tonight's no different. Though Suggs is coming off an 11.9-FP stinker, he had a ceiling performance (41.3 FPs) in Game 3. Expect something more in the middle of those two outcomes tonight.

Wings

Top Plays

Khris Middleton ($8,900) -- With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard out, Khris Middleton's salary has sky-rocketed. Still, he's well worth the price of admission. Middleton's exceeded 40 FPs in three of four games this series, peaking with 42 actual points and 58.5 FanDuel points in Game 3. I'm not sure he quite gets there tonight, but he'll have as high of a usage rate as anyone tonight. Middleton's attempted 51 shots over the last two games.

Josh Hart ($7,900) -- After scoring 20 real-world points in each of the first three games, Josh Hart failed to make a field goal in Game 4, going 0-for-7 with a measly 4 points. That didn't stop him from notching 35.9 FPs thanks to 17 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. Hart's ability to fill up the box score gives him an uber-high floor on a night-to-night basis, and there's a sizable ceiling if his jumper's falling. His rebounds prop is set at 12.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook -- a total he's exceeded in three of four games thus far.

Malik Beasley ($4,700) -- Malik Beasley was a non-factor in Games 1 through 3, but Dame's injury propelled him to 34 minutes in Game 4. He turned in 20 actual points and 26.6 FanDuel points in an expanded role, proving to be a serious value in DFS. We shouldn't expect Beasley to reach 20 again tonight, but he did score 17 in Milwaukee's only other game without their two stars.

Others to Consider

Paolo Banchero ($8,500) -- Paolo Banchero has failed to hit 33 FPs in three of four games this series, but it's hard to ignore the one game he did. In their Game 3 win, Paolo went for 31 actual points and 58.3 FanDuel points, so we know there's a ceiling here. If Orlando keeps things close tonight, that would likely coincide with Paolo or Franz Wagner ($7,800) having a big night. Franz is coming off a 58.6-FP effort himself -- his second game over 40 FPs this series.

Aaron Nesmith ($6,200) -- I don't love how much Aaron Nesmith's salary has risen this series, but the mid-range wing market is dry enough to consider him tonight. Nesmith's averaging 38.5 minutes and 27.0 FPPG this series, so at the very least we know he'll be on the floor. Indiana's slate-best 110.0 implied total gives him a ceiling, too.

Bigs

Top Plays

Myles Turner ($8,300) -- While Pascal Siakam ($9,200) was the talk of the town after the first two games, Myles Turner is the Indiana big man I'm after tonight. After a quiet, 34.6-FP effort in Game 1, Turner's gone for 48.4, 44.3, and 54.8 FPs in the last three games. He's exceeded 20 real-world points in each of the last three games, chipping in 6 blocks over that span. His points prop is set at 20.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook, with +100 odds toward the over.

Bobby Portis ($8,200) -- I've been all over Bobby Portis this series, to no avail. Portis has exceeded 35 FPs only once in four games, and he got ejected after 6 minutes of action in Game 4. That could be a blessing in disguise for his salary tonight, as he should see a boatload of usage without Giannis or Dame. In nine regular season games without Antetokounmpo, Portis averaged 39.7 FPPG and registered a 26.8% usage rate, according to RotoGrinders CourtIQ. Lillard posted a 36% usage rate in those outings, so expect Portis to get as many shots as he wants tonight.

Jonathan Isaac ($5,500) -- After playing 28 minutes in Game 1, Jonathan Isaac hasn't hit 20 minutes in any of the last three games. He was held under 16 FPs in two of those but managed 32.9 FPs in Game 4's win. He's been a FP-per-minute demon all season, so I'm happy to play him as a value even with the workload restrictions.

Others to Consider

Joel Embiid ($11,800) -- Joel Embiid is our highest-projected player tonight, with our model pegging him for 58 FPs. Still, the salary is hard to get to on such a top-heavy slate, and I can't help but worry about his workload. The Knicks held Embiid scoreless in the fourth quarter of Game 4, and it's fair to question if his myriad of injuries is catching up to him. There's certainly upside here, but there's a degree of risk, too.

Obi Toppin ($4,400) -- There's little-to-no value inside tonight, but I'm willing to take another shot at Obi Toppin as a punt play. Toppin struggled mightily in Game 1, but he's gone over 20 FPs in two of the last three games, scoring 9, 15, and 13 real-world points over that span. He won't see much more than 20 minutes, but we know he's not shy about putting shots up. Despite playing just the seventh-most minutes on Indiana this series, he's attempted the fifth-most shots (9.3) per game.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.