Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: Best Last-Minute NBA DraftKings Picks for April 4
The Los Angeles Clippers may have to settle for the fifth playoff spot, but it won't be because Blake Griffin isn't producing. Blake Superior has been stuck in Beast Mode for the last few games. The Clips are visiting the Denver Nuggets—one of Griffin's favorite whipping posts—on Saturday, and that makes him a must-have.
Griffin is averaging 43.4 fantasy points in his last five games and 49.9 in two games against the Nuggets this season. He looks fully recovered and motivated to do all he can to help push the Clips down the stretch. That's good news for fantasy owners. Even though he'll cost $8,600 in DraftKings salary, we have every reason to believe he'll be worth it.
While Griffin represents the high side, the Charlotte Hornets' Marvin Williams looks like the best low-cost value. He'll cost you $5,100 in DK salary, but his recent hot streak is a good sign.
He's scored double figures in three-straight games, and he has averaged 25.4 fantasy points per game over his last 10 contests. With the team announcing that Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller are nursing injuries, it stands to reason that Williams should be a bigger part of the offense.
I feel a 30-fantasy-point night coming on.
Check out the rest of my optimal lineup for Saturday night:
| PG | Stephen Curry | Dallas | $9,300 |
| SG | Evan Turner | Toronto | $5,900 |
| SF | Joe Johnson | Atlanta | $6,100 |
| PF | Blake Griffin | Denver | $8,600 |
| C | Bismack Biyombo | Philadelphia | $3,400 |
| G | Trey Burke | Phoenix | $5,600 |
| F | Robert Covington | Charlotte | $5,000 |
| UTIL | Ish Smith | Charlotte | $6,100 |
Here are three other spotlighted players from my optimal lineup.
Stephen Curry ($9,300) at Dallas Mavericks
Dallas hasn't had much luck slowing down Stephen Curry this season. If I can coin a DK term, Curry is nearly in the 50-50 club for this game. What's that, you ask? That's when a player comes into a game averaging 50 FPPG in his last 10 days and 50 FPPG against the current matchup.
Curry is just under that heading into Saturday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. In the last 10 days, the Babyfaced Assassin is producing 48.6 FPPG and 53.1 against Dallas in three previous contests.
Aside from Griffin, Curry is the most automatic pick of the day.
Ish Smith ($6,100) at Charlotte Hornets
It's hard to believe Ish Smith has become an offensive force over the past week, but the box scores don't lie. He's scored double figures in eight of his last 10 games, and that includes a 23-point, 36.75 fantasy-point performance against the Washington Wizards on April Fools' Day.
Clearly the joke was on Washington that night.
It seems the 76ers have alternated featuring previously little-used point guards as major DK contributors. Last month, Isaiah Canaan strung together some solid performances. It appears it's now Ish Smith's turn to shine.
With at least 30 minutes of playing time in his last four games, I like his chances to continue his recent production.
Evan Turner ($5,900) at Toronto Raptors
Russell Westbrook and Elfrid Payton have received the majority of triple-double hype, but quietly Evan Turner has proved to be a threat along the same lines.
Turner had his third triple-double on April 1 against the Indiana Pacers. What's even more impressive is that he had just one turnover against his former team. He's not really a threat to score a ton of points, but he's a stat-sheet stuffer.
The Toronto Raptors aren't exactly the best defensive team in the NBA—they allow 101 points per game. Turner hasn't had great games against the Raps this season, but both meetings took place before the All-Star break.
Turner has been a different player of late. If he holds to recent form, he should be good for 30-35 fantasy points. That's not bad for under $6,000 in salary.
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