FREE 04/01 NBA Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

We’ve got a solid 6-game NBA slate tonight, with all the action tipping off between 7:30 PM and 8:00 PM ET. The two games that immediately stand out are POR at ATL and GSW at MEM, both sitting at a slate-high total of 238.0. These matchups should draw plenty of attention given their high-scoring potential and pace, making them key spots to target for DFS lineups. How you approach these games—whether you stack them heavily or look for leverage elsewhere—will likely be critical.

The rest of the slate offers some slower-paced, lower-total matchups, which could lead to interesting roster construction decisions. With no late games on the schedule tonight, there’s less opportunity for late swap strategy, so getting your core plays right from the jump will be important. Keep an eye on how ownership shakes out in those high-total games because they’ll dictate a lot of the chalk. Let’s dive in and see how to attack this one!

Game Environment Analysis

POR @ ATL (O/U: 238.0, Spread: -5.5)

• Pace: POR (19th) vs ATL (3rd) 🏃 (Pace mismatch)
• Off Eff: POR (23rd) vs ATL (18th)
• Def Eff: POR (20th) vs ATL (17th)

PHX @ MIL (O/U: 224.0, Spread: -5.5)

• Pace: PHX (25th) vs MIL (12th)
• Off Eff: PHX (7th) vs MIL (13th)
• Def Eff: PHX (27th) 🎯 vs MIL (12th)

PHI @ NYK (O/U: 220.0, Spread: -13.0)

• Pace: PHI (24th) vs NYK (26th)
• Off Eff: PHI (22nd) vs NYK (5th) 🔥
• Def Eff: PHI (26th) 🎯 vs NYK (16th)

ORL @ SAS (O/U: 216.5, Spread: 4.0)

• Pace: ORL (30th) vs SAS (13th)
• Off Eff: ORL (28th) vs SAS (15th)
• Def Eff: ORL (2nd) vs SAS (25th) 🎯

TOR @ CHI (O/U: 235.5, Spread: -4.5)

• Pace: TOR (11th) vs CHI (2nd)
• Off Eff: TOR (26th) vs CHI (19th)
• Def Eff: TOR (14th) vs CHI (22nd)

GSW @ MEM (O/U: 238.0, Spread: 4.0)

• Pace: GSW (16th) vs MEM (1st) 🏃 (Pace mismatch)
• Off Eff: GSW (17th) vs MEM (6th)
• Def Eff: GSW (7th) vs MEM (10th)

Legend:

🏃 = Significant pace mismatch

🔥 = Strong offense vs weak defense

🎯 = Poor defensive team

⚠️ = Blowout risk

Bold = Favored team

PG - Anfernee Simons ($6,500)

Anfernee Simons is in an intriguing spot tonight at $6,500, especially given his projected 37.5 DK points and strong value at 5.8x. The matchup against Atlanta is appealing, as the Hawks rank middle of the pack defensively and often find themselves in high-scoring environments. Simons is expected to log heavy minutes (35+) with Scoot Henderson potentially sidelined, which solidifies his opportunity for usage and production. While his recent shooting struggles are a concern—he’s shooting just 31% from deep over the last five games—his ability to contribute across multiple categories (rebounds, assists, steals) keeps his floor respectable for cash games.

At 27.6% projected ownership, Simons will be one of the chalkier plays on the slate, but it seems justified given his price and role in Portland’s offense. His Boom% of 34.5% and appearance in nearly 29% of optimal lineups highlight his upside in tournaments as well. However, keep in mind that if his shot doesn’t fall or if Atlanta pulls away early, he could underperform relative to expectations. For GPPs, consider how comfortable you are eating this level of chalk; pairing him with lower-owned plays elsewhere might be the way to go if you’re building around him tonight.

More PG Plays:

• Trae Young ($9,800)
• Shaedon Sharpe ($6,700)
• Josh Giddey ($9,600)

SG - Mikal Bridges ($6,900)

Mikal Bridges ($6,900) is in a strong spot tonight against Philadelphia, making him one of the more appealing mid-range options on the slate. Over his last five games, Bridges has been rock-solid, averaging 39 DK points while logging heavy minutes (38.0 per game). His 1.03 FPPM production and a projection of 36.99 DK points give him a solid floor at this price point, with upside for more if his shot volume stays high. The Sixers are a tough defensive team overall, but they’ve been more vulnerable to wings who can create their own offense, and Bridges has shown he can take on an increased scoring load when needed. With Jalen Brunson still sidelined, Bridges’ role as a secondary playmaker also adds to his value.

The 20.2% projected ownership is high, but it’s hard to argue against it given his consistent production and favorable price tag. His 5.36x value rating and appearance in nearly 20% of optimal lineups further justify the chalk here—this is good chalk rather than something to fade unless you’re looking for extreme leverage in tournaments. If you’re building around stars tonight, Bridges offers reliable mid-tier salary relief without sacrificing ceiling potential in what should be a competitive matchup.

More SG Plays:

• Shaedon Sharpe ($6,700)
• Devin Booker ($9,700)
• Franz Wagner ($8,700)

SF - OG Anunoby ($7,300)

OG Anunoby ($7,300) is in a strong position tonight against the 76ers, making him one of the top plays on the slate. His recent performances have been stellar, with DraftKings scores of 50.3, 43.5, and 41.8 over his last three games. He’s playing heavy minutes (36+ in four straight) and has been delivering consistent value across multiple categories, averaging 1.09 fantasy points per minute this season. Philadelphia’s defense is solid overall, but Anunoby’s two-way skill set allows him to contribute even in tough matchups, as shown by his ability to rack up steals and blocks while maintaining efficient scoring. With a projected output of 39.4 DK points and a strong value of 5.4x at this salary range, he’s well-positioned to deliver another impactful performance.

The main concern here is his high ownership (20.5%), which makes him chalky compared to the field average. However, this level of popularity feels justified given his current form and role within the Knicks’ offense. Anunoby appears in 22.3% of optimal lineups and carries a solid boom percentage (25.8%), indicating strong upside potential for tournaments despite being chalky. If you’re building around mid-range plays tonight, Anunoby offers reliable production with clear upside that could anchor your lineup in both cash games and GPPs alike. While fading him for leverage is an option in large-field tournaments, it’s hard to ignore how well-rounded his profile looks heading into this matchup against Philly.

More SF Plays:

• Deni Avdija ($8,100)
• Josh Hart ($8,200)
• Franz Wagner ($8,700)

PF - Deni Avdija ($8,100)

Deni Avdija is an intriguing option at $8,100 tonight, especially given his strong recent performances and consistent minutes. He’s projected for 41.9 DK points with a solid 5.2x value, making him one of the better mid-tier plays on the slate. Over his last five games, Avdija has averaged 48 DK points while logging heavy minutes (36+ in four of those contests). His matchup against Atlanta is appealing as well—the Hawks rank middle of the pack defensively but often struggle to contain versatile forwards like Avdija, particularly when they’re active on both ends of the floor. With a 22.2% Boom rate and 19.2% Optimal lineup percentage, he has legitimate upside in tournaments.

At 16.6% projected ownership, Avdija is moderately popular but not overly chalky. This makes him a reasonable play even in GPPs where you want some differentiation without sacrificing too much ceiling or value. His recent production—averaging over 50 DK points in two of his last three games—suggests that he’s capable of exceeding his projection if this game stays competitive. Given his ability to contribute across multiple categories (as seen with his steals and assists), he offers a safe floor with plenty of upside to justify the price tag in this spot.

More PF Plays:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,100)
• Paolo Banchero ($9,900)
• Josh Hart ($8,200)

C - Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,100)

Giannis Antetokounmpo comes in as one of the top high-priced options on tonight’s slate, and for good reason. At $12,100, he’s projected for 59.7 DK points with an elite 1.71 FPPM, making him a strong value even at this elevated salary (4.93x). The matchup against Phoenix is intriguing—while the Suns boast a solid defense overall, they’ve been vulnerable to dominant frontcourt players who can attack the paint and control the boards. Giannis has averaged 33+ minutes over his last five games while posting consistent stat lines of 30+ points and double-digit rebounds, showcasing his ability to deliver ceiling performances in competitive environments like this one.

The ownership is notable at 17.3%, which makes him one of the chalkier plays on the slate relative to the field average. However, this level of popularity feels warranted given his ceiling and optimal lineup rate (16.7%). Giannis’ combination of raw production and consistency makes him hard to fade in both cash games and tournaments, especially considering his recent performance against Phoenix (54 DK points in 37 minutes). While he’s not a contrarian play, fading him entirely could be risky if he hits his projection—or exceeds it—in what should be a fast-paced game environment with plenty of scoring opportunities.

More C Plays:

• Onyeka Okongwu ($7,600)
• Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,400)
• Jakob Poeltl ($6,600)

Good luck tonight! Make sure to check the Lineup Optimizer for latest updates before lock. Visit DFS Hero for our full suite of DFS tools including the Lineup Optimizer, Contest Simulator, Player Projections, and Ownership Projections. Use code HEROPLAY15 to get 15% off your first month!