Brian Tulloch 
Welcome back to Bombcarlo’s NBA GPP Picks 4/4 for this four-game slate. We have tons of news to watch with several Pelicans players out or questionable. Among the players questionable we see Zion, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Trae Young. We could also see Joel Embiid sit on the second night of a back-to-back since returning from his knee injury.
That being said, the Discord Chat rooms will be an important piece to taking down tonight’s slate. In there you will find the WinDaily staff and myself helping you stay updated on the top plays on the slate. The two games expected to be high totals are Houston vs New Orleans and Atlanta vs Golden State. I won’t waste any more time before rolling into this great four-game NBA slate.
For today’s shorter four-game slate I will go over each game while breaking down the top plays for NBA GPP Picks 4/4. I will be using DraftKings pricing.
Bombcarlo’s NBA GPP Picks 4/4
Memphis Grizzlies vs Philadelphia 76ers
Grizzlies
I haven’t been playing the Grizzlies for a while and that won’t change unless we get word of an injury. They run a deep rotation and spread out the usage enough for me to avoid them.
76ers
Tobias Harris – ($8,400)
I already mentioned we may see Joel Embiid sit on this second leg of a back-to-back set. If that is the case Harris receives a 3.5% usage increase while recording 1.15 fantasy points per minute during that time. While Embiid was missing Harris saw nearly 20 shot attempts per game. The price has come down slightly recently due to poor performances in two straight games. I don’t love much on the 76ers side if Embiid does play though.
Dwight Howard – ($6,200)
Again, this is only if Embiid is indeed ruled out. If Embiid sits we should see Howard dominate the center minutes for Philly since Tony Bradley is no longer with them. When Embiid was just absent Howard averaged above a 20% usage rate and he has recorded 1.18 fantasy points per minute. I see Howard on the floor whenever JOVAL is so he could easily see 30 minutes in this spot.
Golden State Warriors vs Atlanta Hawks
Warriors
Steph Curry – ($9,800)
The Warriors is pretty simple for me especially today with the prices inflated from Steph’s absence. I will only be playing Steph from this team. He has seen over a 30% usage rate in five straight games. Today he gets a nice matchup against Atlanta who has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to point guards and ranks seventh-worst in defensive efficiency.
Hawks
Trae Young – ($9,500)
When Collins, Hunter, and Reddish are off the floor Young sees a 10% usage increase. During that time Young is averaging a 42.8% usage rate while accumulating 1.55 fantasy points per minute. This matchup is amazing as Golden State is the second-fastest team in the league and Steph’s defense is nothing to be afraid of.
Lou Williams – ($5,500)
I like this play much more as long as Gallinari sits for another game. Trae may sit too as he comes in questionable. In his two games with Atlanta Lou has soaked up a 25% usage rate while scoring 40 fantasy points last game without Young. The Warriors play fast which should allow for plenty of opportunities. I think you can play any mid-priced Hawk player if Gallinari is out again.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets
Pelicans
All of this depends on who plays for them, I assume Ball will miss another game since they signed Isaiah Thomas. We also see Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson questionable. There could be lots of plays from the Pelicans pending who plays with Josh Hart also ruled out.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker – ($7,000)
With all the injuries and now Josh Hart being added to that list will allow Walker to keep his 30-minute streak going. It has been seven straight games that NAW has played 31 or more minutes. During those seven games, Walker has averaged a 24% usage rate and scored under 31 fantasy points just once. The Rockets have been the sixth-worst team in defensive rating over the last ten and will be without John Wall again.
James Johnson – ($4,400)
We will need one of Zion or Ingram to sit for Johnson to be in play. Over the past two games with those two off the floor, Johnson has an average usage rate of 20.5%. In those two games, Johnson played 28 and 29 minutes while recording more than 28 fantasy points in both games. This is a better matchup than those two games facing a depleted Rockets squad.
Rockets
Kevin Porter Jr. – (6,900)
When Wall is absent along with all the other Rockets Porter is seeing a 29% usage rate. He has seen 30 minutes in four straight games and we have seen Porter go for a 45 point or more ceiling without Wall before. He draws an outstanding matchup against the banged-up Pelicans squad who already ranked third-worst in team defense this season.
Avery Bradley – ($3,700)
Bradley has been eased into the rotation with his new team seeing 28 minutes the most since joining the Rockets. Those 28 minutes allowed Bradley to surpass the 28-fantasy point mark. It has now been two straight games that Bradley has eclipsed the 20% usage mark. Today he will get a great matchup against the third-worst defensive team in the NBA.
Orlando Magic vs Denver Nuggets
Magic
Again, we have another scenario where we have injury news to wait on with Birch, Porter, Mo Bamba, and MCW all questionable with Terrence Ross a possible rest candidate.
Wendell Carter Jr. – ($5,800)
Two straight games of 31 or more fantasy points have allowed Carter to score more than 40 fantasy points in both. In those games, Carter has been over a 21% usage rate shooting it more than 12 times. There is a chance of two centers being out with Birch and Bamba tonight as well. The Magic could be even further shorthanded only solidifying the minutes and shot attempts for Carter.
Chuma Okeke – ($5,700)
Since the Magic got the team makeover Okeke has played 30 minutes in four of five games. The fewest fantasy points he has scored in those games is 28.5. Today Orlando could be thin in the frontcourt with Porter, Birch, and Bamba all questionable. If any of those players are out that will just solidify the minutes of Okeke at a reasonable price.
RJ Hampton – ($3,500)
If the same Magic players are out tonight Hampton may be forced to play 30+ minutes again. In that game last night Hampton was second on the team in usage just behind Terrence Ross at 25%. If he sees that again at this price, he should be able to pay it off easily regardless of the matchup. He was able to go for 28 fantasy points last night in a tough matchup with Utah.
Nuggets
The nuggets players are high priced to me especially since they are getting completely healthy and the new trades.
Aaron Gordon – ($6,400)
It seems as if Gordon is fully acclimated with his new squad after playing 39 minutes last game against the Clippers. He scored 40 fantasy points in that game while shooting over 10 shot attempts for the first time with his new squad. It is tough to avoid talking about the revenge narrative here as well since Gordon was just traded not long ago. Another spot to look could be MPJ who has been very consistent over the past 10-15 games.
Bombcarlo’s NBA GPP Picks 4/4
Final Thoughts
I mentioned above that Discord Chat will be important for this slate and I can’t stress that enough. We have several big names questionable that can alter this slate in a hurry. Thank you for reading Bombcarlo’s NBA GPP Picks 4/4. Enjoy what is left of your weekend. Hopefully, we help you turn your screens green!
