DraftKings NBA Picks March 29: How the West(brook) was won

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 14: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat calls a play in the first quarter during the game against Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 14, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Picks March 29: How the West(brook) was won

We have a strong six game slate for our DraftKings NBA tournaments tonight. Four players top the five figure price, but one of them is out of the playoff race and the other is playing in a game that has massive blowout potential.

Portland is clinging to the third spot in the West, one they would like to keep, but there is blowout potential with Atlanta. Indiana and Boston will be a hotly contested, and important, game. The Warriors are only a half game out of the top seed in the West, but Minnesota may not be able to keep it close. Denver and OKC is an important game. The only turds come later with Utah likely to blow out Washington and two disappointing teams finishing off in L.A.

I only entered one lineup last night and it was a bust because Jokic was. If you get one star wrong at this stage of the season, you really have no chance. Everyone is playing a stars and scrubs lineup with all of the value going around. I had a solid 272.25 DraftKings points, but the money line was a shade over 300 again.

Nickelback4Lyfe took it down with 392.25 DraftKings points. He built with Embiid, Middleton, and Siakam and hit the lottery with Goran Dragic, VanVleet, Norman Powell, and Mitch Robinson.

By popular demand, I am switching back to the old format. As always, if you have suggestions to improve the article (besides making better picks), let me know!

If you would like to try DraftKings for the first time, use this link for the referral bonus! It is good for $10 in free DraftKings entry tickets with your first deposit of $5 or more.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 03: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 03, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Point Guards:

Best Bets:

Russell Westbrook ($10,700): Another day, and another tougher matchup for the most expensive player. Westbrook has a solid 156 DraftKings points in three games against Denver this year, but even that total will leave you wanting more. That said, if Russ can put up the numbers he did against the Pacers and Raptors with playoff seeding on the line, there is reason to believe that he could be better than usual here as well.

Damian Lillard ($10,100): Atlanta may be able to keep this close since McCollum and Nurkic are both out. Lillard’s production lately has been outstanding with the exception of the Chicago game in which he only played 28 minutes. Other than that, Lillard has topped 50 in every game with C.J. out. I would say the upside is better on Lillard than Westbrook tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Stephen Curry ($8,900): It’s been a long time since someone kicked Curry into the lower tier. I don’t expect him to score like it tonight though. Curry has averaged 57.25 DraftKings points in three games against the Timberwolves this season. He just laid 54.25 on them in 33 minutes ten days ago. Curry is well worth the price in this matchup.

Kemba Walker ($8,500): Walker was a disaster in the first meeting with the Lakers. He has been prone to poor shooting nights here and there, but Walker always seems to rebound. Kemba is rolling right now, putting up 194.5 DraftKings points in the last three games. Yes, that’s more than anyone else priced higher than him on this slate. It’s hard to say that he can’t keep this up against the Lakers.

Trae Young ($8,300): Young put up 48 DraftKings points in the first meeting with Portland, but Lillard missed that game. That could have an impact on his output here tonight. Young has a combined 116.25 DraftKings points over the last two games against the Sixers and Pelicans. He has nailed 9 of 24 shots from beyond the arc and has four straight games of double digit assists Young is playing well enough right now to not move off of him.

Dark Horses:

Jamal Murray ($5,900): Murray, who was one of the more consistent plays when Denver was down a couple of guards, is about as far from consistent as you can get now. However, when Denver plays close, Murray is usually in there for most of the game. This should be a closely contended game with the Thunder, so Murray is worth taking a chance on tonight. After all, he has averaged 36 DraftKings points per game in three tries against Oklahoma City.

Tyus Jones ($5,400): I don’t trust any of the minutes for Utah’s starters down the stretch. The team has already been limiting them when possible, and there is plenty of possibility for that tonight against Washington as well. For that reason, I’ll roll with Jones. His minutes are safe since he is the only healthy true point guard that Minnesota has. Jones put up a solid 26.5 DraftKings points on the Warriors ten days ago. I’ll take 5x value for this price.

My pick: Lillard(PG), Curry(G)

SAN ANTONIO,TX – OCTOBER 18: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves watches his shot go in against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center on October 18, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

Klay Thompson ($6,700): There are very few instances where I don’t trust Brad Beal, but this is one of them. Utah locked him down 11 days ago, as in held him under 20 DraftKings points. I don’t trust Utah’s starters, and quite honestly, I’m not sure I trust Klay either, but someone has to go here. Thompson has averaged 35.3 DraftKings points in three games against Minnesota this year. That’s a good return for the investment. Thompson had his best game against Minnesota just ten days ago when he went for 42.25 DraftKings points. Klay is the safer of the top SG’s tonight.

Andrew Wiggins ($6,100): Wiggins almost put up the same numbers as Klay in the last meeting, falling 1.5 points shy. The Timberwolves have come to rely on Wiggins’ scoring with so many injuries on this team. Wiggins now has more than 20 real points in four straight. I wouldn’t be surprised if this continued through the end of the season. Wiggins is a strong play for the price.

Honorable Mention:

Bojan Bogdanovic ($5,800): Bojan continues to pace this offense with Oladipo out. He has been particularly hot lately, sinking 24-36 shots over the last two games. It may be unreasonable to expect him to be that efficient against Boston, especially since Irving should be back, but the upside that we want is here with Bojan.

Dark Horses:

Seth Curry ($4,500): Curry had a huge game against Atlanta the first time around with Lillard out. He’s not getting 36.5 DraftKings points again with Lillard in there, but Curry should continue to score in the mid to high 20’s in place of McCollum Curry looks comfortable in this offense right now, and his long range shooting has been huge in taking some pressure off of Lillard. Curry is a great value with his price still this low.

Dwayne Bacon ($4,300): Batum is back, but he is playing off the bench right now. Who can blame Charlotte for wanting to see what they have in Bacon? Bacon has put up 93.5 DraftKings points starting in the last three games. Check the lineups, but as long as Bacon continues to start, he is an excellent value play at this price.

My pick: Curry(SG), Bacon(F)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 07: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on February 07, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

LeBron James ($10,300): The King has a long history of abusing the Hornets from his time in the Eastern Conference. LeBron has played 49 career games against Charlotte and holds a strong 56 DraftKings points per game average over all of those games. Yes, that includes blowouts. LeBron took Charlotte for 61.5 DraftKings points in just 30 minutes earlier this year. If the Lakers play LeBron, I see no reason not to use him.

Paul George ($9,700): George just appeared on the injury report. Apparently his shoulder is still bugging him. George hasn’t been the same player he was before that shoulder sidelined him for three games earlier this month. This probably isn’t the place the Thunder want to rest him, but even if they wind up as the five or six seed because they get that shoulder right, isn’t it worth it to have George at full strength in the playoffs? Keep an eye on this situation. If George plays, he’s tempting since he has averaged 51.8 DraftKings points on Denver this year. If George sits, I don’t think we can fade Westbrook.

Honorable Mention:

Jabari Parker ($6,200): I don’t like the matchup against Utah, but Parker put up 35.25 DraftKings points against them 11 days ago. If Ariza is still out, which it looks like he will be, then Parker should have no problems playing upwards of 30 minutes again. There is actually good potential here even though Parker is playing a tough defensive team.

Joe Ingles ($5,800): Ingles had one of his best games of the season against the Lakers on Wednesday. This is a similarly good matchup for Ingles. What seems to be the difference between Ingles and the stars on this team is that he’ll still play a lot of minutes unless the game gets really out of hand. If it’s within 20 points, Ingles still gets 30 minutes or more. Ingles is less of a risk than anyone else in the Utah starting five.

Dark Horses:

Miles Bridges ($4,900): It’s the Charlotte version of the killer B’s (Bridges and Bacon) coming down the stretch this year. Bridges’ price is getting up there, but he is playing between 32 and 35 minutes per game and hasn’t been below 5x value at this price since the Hornets fell out of contention on March 18th. Bridges is another great value play. We’re going to need them!

Lance Stephenson ($4,100): Stephenson is basically padding his resume for free agency this summer. He’s doubtful to be retained by the Lakers, but it seems as though he and LeBron are playing pretty well together. It’s a small sample size, but Stephenson has three straight games of more than 20 DraftKings points. I like this play a lot more if the Lakers hold LeBron out, but Stephenson should be a solid play regardless.

Rodney Hood ($3,900): Hood is playing big minutes and putting up good numbers lately with all of the injuries that have attack the Blazers. Hood has 52 DraftKings points over the last two games. The issue here is that Hood needs a lot of minutes to hit value. He so inconsistent that Hood usually needs the minutes to put up a respectable line. That said, the minutes should be there on a beaten up Portland team.

My pick: Bridges(SF)

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 25: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a play against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on February 25, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Power Forwards:

Best Bet:

Kevin Durant ($8,800): This is a really good matchup for Durant, but it has been Curry and Klay that have torched the Timberwolves. KD is averaging a pedestrian 44 DraftKings points per game against Minnesota in three games this year. That is exactly 5x value, so I can see using him in cash games. However, Durant’s last game against Minnesota 10 days ago was by far his worst against them. Durant only mustered 35.5 in that one. I’d rather pay for Curry or Westbrook than make it a point to target Durant.

Honorable Mention:

John Collins ($6,900): Portland is a little more thin up front than the first time Atlanta saw them. Collins still put up 31 DraftKings points in that one in just 28 minutes. I don’t think Atlanta will turn Collins loose enough to go way over value here, so it’s not really worth the risk in my mind. If we knew that Atlanta would play Collins 32 minutes or more, he would be a lock.

Thomas Bryant ($6,600): Bryant is another one of those young Wizards getting significant run. The Wizards have stated that he will through the end of the year. My issue here is that Utah is very good up front. We have seen Bryant still fall flat on occasion despite the increased minutes. He’s a solid play, but I see more risk with Bryant than most at this price, and it’s not just the matchup.

Domantas Sabonis ($6,200): Sabonis has 66 DraftKings points in 54 minutes against Boston this year. We know that Sabonis probably wont see more than 30 minutes here, but at that mark, Sabonis should be close to 6x value. There is less risk with Sabonis than Bryant, so the price is right.

Dark Horses:

Draymond Green ($5,800): Green has chewed up the Timberwolves this year, putting up a lofty 37 DraftKings point per game average on them. The last meeting, Green took them for 39 DraftKings points. Judging by the fact that Minnesota hasn’t been able to keep Draymond under 30 in any of the three games this year, Green is going to flirt with 6x value or more here.

Dario Saric ($4,700): Saric has had a couple of solid games against the Warriors, but nothing to get too excited about. His 23 DraftKings points against the Warriors ten days ago is his lowest total since then. The Timberwolves have no choice but to play Saric here, and the price is right to take advantage of that.

Gordon Hayward ($4,600): Hayward is one of those guys that Boston needs to play down the stretch. He has been off most of the year. If Hayward is going to be a factor in the playoffs for the Leprechauns, he needs to get in a groove. I tend to think Boston will give him enough court time to do that. Hayward has two strong games in a row. Is this the start of a hot streak? It might be worth paying this price to find out.

My pick: N/A

DENVER, CO – APRIL 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on April 5, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Centers:

Best Bets:

Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,500): There is a clear divide in Towns’ season. Before the break he was good, but not great. Towns has been great in almost every game since the break. His first two games against the Warriors were far below average. Ten days ago, Towns went for 59.25 on them. I would be more than a little surprised if Towns can’t hit that mark again tonight.

Nikola Jokic ($9,400): Jokic played just 25 minutes in the blowout loss to Houston last night and that was part of what torpedoed my lineup. Jokic has a healthy 53.2 DraftKings points per game average in the three games against the Thunder this year. Denver needs to beat some of these West playoff teams at some point. I expect Jokic to come back and put up strong numbers tonight. I also suspect some will move off of him after last night.