Friday’s docket is loaded with one-sided affairs, so gamers will need to be judicious with their decision making. The fun tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET on FanDuel and DraftKings. Let’s get into the top NBA DFS picks and building blocks, including Nikola Jokic, who is as close to a must-play as we can get against Ja Morant and the Grizzlies, a team that is also desperate for a win. Then there is a matchup between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Cade Cunningham that has the teams in direct competition with seeding implications.
These picks are based on the latest available data. For real-time lineup updates, check out our NBA DFS Starting Lineups Page!
NBA DFS Picks Today – Building Blocks: Friday, April 11
NBA DFS Picks Today: Building Blocks
Nikola Jokic: Nuggets vs. Grizzlies
NBA DFS Projections
DraftKings: 70.83 | FanDuel: 67.57
NBA DFS Ownership Projections
DraftKings: 88.3% | FanDuel: 81.8%
DFS Salary
DraftKings: $13,000 | FanDuel: $12,700
Tonight Nikola Jokic has a median fantasy point projection that is nearly 20 points higher than the next wave of players (Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo).
Denver is motivated to win since the Nuggets will host a first-round series if they hold onto the fourth seed. Memphis is on a back-to-back but also fighting to escape the Play-In Tournament.
The winner of this game will hold the tiebreaker over the loser, which is still crucial because the Clippers, Timberwolves, and Warriors joining the Nuggets and Grizzlies in a scrum of teams bunched within one game of each other, and everyone has two left on the schedule. The shenanigans over the final two days of the regular season will be endless, so finding discount dandies is not going to be an issue at all. That is why Jokic projects to be on a ridiculously high percentage of lineups tonight, and there is an argument that 100% is the correct answer.
Per the F-R-E-E Stokastic Starting Lineups page, it looks like second-year point guard Jalen Pickett is going to be starting for the fifth time in the last six games. While his play has been uneven, he saw 31.2 or more minutes three times in his four games with the first five.
Pickett is sharing the point guard role with Russell Westbrook, who was mentioned as a source of frustration for some players, particularly former head coach Mike Malone’s favoritism for Westbrook making Westbrook mistakes with his frenetic playing style in key situations and not facing any repercussions. Interim coach David Adelman, son of former NBA head coach Rick Adelman, is well aware of these complaints.
While a young player like Pickett also is prone to mistakes, he is unlikely to get out over his skis and play beyond his means.
Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun have all seen their salaries adjusted for the absence of Jamal Murray. That has them as tertiary targets in the expansive player pool, though they at least have secure minutes in this high-pressure matchup.
Memphis had a meltdown in the third quarter last night, watching a 72-67 halftime lead evaporate as Minnesota piled up a 52-25 advantage in the period. The Grizzlies just had a wakeup call with head coach Taylor Jenkins being fired, so it is disappointing to see how poorly they played in that decisive frame.
Ja Morant, Demond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. should see heavy minutes tonight, making them interesting tournament options. Rookie Zach Edey mostly mirrored Rudy Gobert’s minutes, though his veteran counterpart saw more fourth quarter action when Memphis was in panic mode. Jokic missed both games when these teams squared off in November, with Edey missing one game and seeing 16 minutes off the bench in the other. It is hard to know how the former Purdue stalwart will fare against Jokic, who is currently the best post player in the league and perhaps the best overall. Leave Edey for the pick’em sites, with his salary and taking away the center position too costly tonight.
Stokastic’s NBA DFS Single Lineup Simulator is a groundbreaking tool that revolutionizes lineup building by providing data-driven simulations, making it a must-have for serious players. Check out how the Simulator evaluates this single lineup for today’s slate:
NBA DFS Picks Today: Building Blocks
Cade Cunningham: Pistons vs. Bucks
NBA DFS Projections
DraftKings: 43.87 | FanDuel: 41.74
NBA DFS Ownership Projections
DraftKings: 2.8% | FanDuel: 7.8%
DFS Salary
DraftKings: $10,700 | FanDuel: $10,400
This is a back-to-back for the Pistons and Bucks, who play tonight in the Motor City and then in Wisconsin on Sunday. Detroit is two games back, but if the Pistons win both games, they will also earn the tiebreaker over Milwaukee, moving into the fifth seed and a likely matchup against the Indiana Pacers instead of the New York Knicks.
It is important to note that the Knicks have a one-game lead and the tiebreaker over the Pacers, though Indiana faces Orlando tonight with the Magic locked into the top Play-In Tournament slot, and then the Pacers get a coasting Cavaliers squad in Cleveland on Sunday. New York is hosting the Cavs tonight then heading to Brooklyn on the final day of the regular season.
Best guess is that the Pistons and Bucks will play this straight tonight with Detroit a 5.5-point home favorite. Giannis was pulled last night with 2:40 left in the third quarter after racking up 28 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and a block in just under 26 minutes against the punting Pelicans. If this game goes sideways, then Cunningham, Antetokounmpo and other key players may sit, depending on the situation. If it is a close game, then it would make sense that the regulars would battle down to the wire, with Sunday being the ultimate deciding factor. Plus there will be additional knowledge about the Pacers and Knicks seeding then as well.
This game is really about Cunningham and Antetokounmpo since the rest of the pieces are afterthoughts with every team in action. Bobby Portis Jr. is back from his 25-game suspension, so that crowds the frontcourt for the Deer. Tobias Harris also returned last night for the Pistons, making things tighter for the Detroit rotation.
Kevin Porter Jr. is an interesting option since he has a knack for putting up significant production, though it is usually against the opposing second unit. Last night he was sublime with 20 points, five rebounds and seven assists in just 23 minutes, also racking up FIVE steals against the New Orleans understudies. His $7,000 salary on FanDuel makes him unplayable, while his $5,200 cap hit on DraftKings has him projecting for sub-5% representation in tournaments. He continues to split the point guard role with Ryan Rollins, so despite the impressive fantasy performances, it is unlikely there will be a changing of the guard.
Today’s Top Sports Betting Picks
If you’re serious about winning in NBA DFS, you know the edge comes from having the right tools. The same principle applies to sports betting — and that’s where Portfolio EV steps in.
Take tonight’s Anthony Edwards’ under 37.5 points + rebounds + assists, for example. It’s a +EV bet, meaning it has positive expected value when compared to the best odds available across the market. But the real strength of Portfolio EV isn’t about finding just one good bet — it’s about consistently finding dozens. With the Mass Entry tool, you can scale up, place a high volume of +EV bets, and let the math do the heavy lifting.
Just like you wouldn’t count on one DFS lineup to ship a GPP, you don’t count on one bet to carry your night.
Portfolio EV is built for long-term profitability. It helps you spot market inefficiencies, compare lines across books and generate a steady stream of +EV bets. It doesn’t chase heaters, but rather trusts the numbers, follows a process and builds sustainable profit over time.
Edwards and the Timberwolves are nearly 20-point home favorites against the pathetic Brooklyn Nets, who are in “asset protection” mode, sitting pretty much every NBA-caliber player on the roster. Expect Minnesota to pull the starters as soon as it is viable. The team plays again on Sunday against the Utah understudies, so it should be able to win out. Of course, that may not be enough to get it out of the Play-In Tournament, so keeping Edwards and the other key cogs healthy is paramount.
Final Thoughts on NBA DFS Picks & Building Blocks Today
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