FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 4/2/23

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Luka Doncic ($12,200): At his highest salary since March 5th, the Mavericks' superstar is ranked third overall with 57.1 expected FanDuel points against an Atlanta Hawks' defense allowing 23.6 real-life points and 46.9 FanDuel points per game to his position. Since his return on March 22nd, the 24-year old is averaging 1.55 FanDuel points per minute and a 37.1% usage rate.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,500): Despite a 2.9% salary increase, Oklahoma's City leading scorer still offers a 4.54 return with a 47.7 fantasy projection versus a Suns' team ranked seventh in defensive rating. In his previous encounter against Phoenix, SAG accounted for a monster performance, recording 40.0 real-life points and 52.0 FanDuel points on 24.0 shot attempts.

Stephen Curry ($10,200): In the past week, Curry's salary has moved up 4.0% while averaging 1.40 FanDuel points per minute and a 32.7% usage rate. The Warriors' stud has played well in today's high profile matchup versus a Nuggets' defense allowing 48.6 FanDuel points per game to point guards, producing 31.0 real-life points on 19.5 shot attempts.

Trae Young ($9,800): At his lowest salary since March 11th, Young is fourth among guards with a 45.2 fantasy projection versus a Dallas defense ranked 21st in opposing true shooting percentage and 23rd in defensive rating.

James Harden ($9,500): Since his last meeting against Milwaukee, "The Beard" is producing 1.24 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has declined by 4.0%. Harden has played extremely well in this matchup, accounting for 34.5 real-life points and 62.9 FanDuel points in 39.5 minutes.

Jalen Brunson ($9,200): In 153.7 minutes with Julius Randle and RJ Barrett off the floor this season, Brunson's fantasy output sees a 0.11 boost to 1.24 FanDuel points per minute with a team-high 34.6% usage rate.

Kyrie Irving ($9,000): Since March 17th, Irving's salary has decreased by 5.2% to his third lowest point during 2023 while producing 1.14 FanDuel points per minute and a 26.8% usage rate.

Dejounte Murray ($8,800): Atlanta's guard is recording 1.11 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.4% usage rate in 925.2 minutes with De'Andre Hunter inactive on Sunday.

Jamal Murray ($7,900): If Nikola Jokic is unable to suit up on Sunday, Murray's production increases by 0.07 to 1.15 FanDuel points per minute with a 31.1% usage percentage.

Delon Wright ($6,200): Even at his highest salary this season, Washington's veteran remains an optimal value option with a 5.01 rating and a 31.1 fantasy projection. In 144.2 minutes with Washington's current rotation, Wright is recording 1.02 FanDuel points per minute and a 20.9% usage rate.

Killian Hayes ($6,000): After a 4.7% salary decline, Detroit's 21-year old guard ranks sixth among guards with a 5.07 rating and a 30.4 fantasy expectation versus a Magic team allowing 47.6 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Tre Jones ($5,800): With three starters unlikely to play on Sunday, Jones' fantasy average moves up by 0.16 to 1.14 FanDuel points per minute with a 23.7% usage rate. After a 9.3% decrease in salary, the 23-year old is fourth overall in value with a 5.62 rating and a 32.6 fantasy projection.

Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5,100): The Mavericks' veteran has been in a groove in his last four starts, scoring 0.58 real-life points and 0.88 FanDuel points per minute with a 21.2% usage rate.

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,000): At his third highest salary during 2023, "The Greek Alphabet" is second overall with 57.2 expected FanDuel points versus a Philadelphia 76ers' team ranked eighth in defensive rating. In his last opportunity against Philadelphia, the two-time MVP winner produced 54.6 FanDuel points at a salary 3.3% lower than today's.

Anthony Davis ($11,500): The Lakers' star has been on fire in his last five starts, averaging 31 real-life points per game and 1.47 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has increased by 3.6%.

Domantas Sabonis ($10,000): At his lowest salary since March 13th, Sacramento's versatile playmaker is sixth overall with 50.2 expected FanDuel points versus a Spurs' team he has averaged 45.6 fantasy points in three prior meetings.

Kevin Durant ($9,400): In 160.2 minutes with the Suns, Durant is averaging 1.28 FanDuel points per minute and a 27.3% usage rate while his salary has decreased by 5.0% since his Phoenix debut.

Paolo Banchero ($8,300): Orlando's rookie is seventh among forwards with 37.4 expected FanDuel points in a favorable opportunity against a Detroit Pistons defense allowing 22.3 real-life points and 45.3 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Deni Avdija ($7,200): Washington's third-year forward is recording 0.84 FanDuel points and a 21.3% usage rate in 136.7 minutes this season with Monte Morris, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis, and Bradley Beal off the floor.

Josh Hart ($6,200) / Quentin Grimes ($6,000): After two starters were ruled out on Sunday, both wings should see increased roles with New York's first unit against a Wizards' team ranked 20th in defensive rating. In a 75.6 minutes sample size, Hart is producing 0.95 FanDuel points per minute and a 13.3% usage rate while Grimes' production stands at 0.76 FanDuel points per minute.

Harrison Barnes ($5,400): Since March 3rd, Sacramento's veteran is recording 0.69 FanDuel points per minute despite an inconsistent 17.0% usage rate.

Jonathan Kuminga ($5,300): The 20-year old has played an important role in Golden State's rotation since his return last month, averaging 24.4 minutes per appearance and 0.95 FanDuel points per minute.

Corey Kispert ($5,000): Washington's three-point specialist sees his production increase by 0.09 to 0.67 FanDuel points per minute and a 17.6% usage rate with today's projected rotation. Even at his highest salary this season, Kispert is eighth overall in value with a 5.2 rating and a 26.0 fantasy projection.

Centers

Joel Embiid ($11,800): At his third highest salary in 2023, "The Process" is fourth overall with 55.7 expected FanDuel points versus a Milwaukee Bucks' team allowing centers to score 22.7 real-life points and 53.5 FanDuel points.

Nikola Jokic ($11,700): If "The Joker" can return from his two game absence, Denver's superstar is numberFire's top option on Sunday with 58.2 expected FanDuel points in a favorable spot against a Golden State unit ranked 14th in points allowed in the paint and 21st in fantasy production (54.6 FanDuel points) allowed to centers.