How to Use Relief Pitching to Win Fantasy Leagues

NBA Play-In Games Best Bets: Friday, April 15

C.J. McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans

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Both matchups tonight are win-or-go-home scenarios and battles for the eighth and final seed in the Eastern and Western Conferences.

The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta is the small favorite for tonight’s game. In the West, the Los Angeles Clippers (who will be without Paul George) are now the underdogs against a fiery New Orleans Pelicans squad with C.J. McCollum at the forefront.

All odds are accurate as of 2:45 PM EST on Fanduel Sportsbook.

Best Bets of The Night

Game: Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers +2.5

Although the Hawks blew out the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday night, they did not shoot the ball well at all. Although Trae Young had the “big night” for the Hawks, he only scored 24 points (8-24 FG) and went one-of-seven from downtown. He did lead the team to an important victory and recorded 11 assists. I think this will push Young to have a much better night shooting from the field than he did against the Hornets.

For tonight’s game, the away team is the small favorite. One reason for this is the potential lack of depth among bigs in Cleveland going up against Clint Capela. If Evan Mobley is the only big active for the Cavs tonight, they will fail to contain a ferocious Capella, who recorded a 15-point and 17-rebound double-double in only 29 minutes on the floor Wednesday night. Some good news has surfaced in regards to Cavs' starting center, Jarett Allen. Shams Charania reported earlier today that Allen would be in warm-ups and is planning to make a start tonight in Cleveland. Without Allen, Cleveland struggled immensely against Brooklyn's Andre Drummond and Nicolas Claxton with Mobley starting at the center position. Despite Kevin Love's double-double off the bench, neither Love nor Mobley can truly body up with Capela in the post whereas Allen can.

While Allen is officially listed as a game-time decision at the moment, all indicators suggest he is going to suit up and at least try to play as much as he can. Whether he will be successful on the floor remains a mystery, but if Allen joins Mobley in the Cavs' frontcourt, Cleveland will have the upper hand down-low and Capella might have a difficult time considering the undersized Danilo Gallinari is starting at power forward with John Collins still sidelined. If Allen suits up, that means he feels ready. If he and Mobley play tonight, I think the Cavs have a great chance of defending the home floor against the Hawks tonight to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Pick: Cleveland ML +102

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Game: New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers +1

In addition to C.J. McCollum’s big night against the Spurs, Jonas Valunciunas and Brandon Ingram also scored well above 20 points. In total, six players on the Pelicans' roster scored in double-figures against San Antonio to combine for 113 points of offense as a team on Wednesday night. The Clippers, however, are only the 23rd highest-scoring team in the league, averaging 108.4 PPG this season. Now that Paul George has been ruled out for tonight’s contest after entering the league’s health and safety protocols, other shooters and wings will need to step up for the Clippers' two sidelined stars (George and Kawhi Leonard).

Everything screams good news for the Pelicans while the Clippers are edging towards a status of crisis mode with PG-13 ruled out for tonight and Luke Kennard currently listed as questionable for tonight’s game. For the Clippers to win, Reggie Jackson and the Clippers' bench will need to step up in big ways. New Orleans has Ingram, Valunciunas, and McCollum locked and loaded and ready to go.

The Pick: New Orleans Pelicans -1 (-116)

NBA Player Props of the Night

Game: New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers +1

Prop 1: C.J. McCollum Over 25.5 Points

The main man in New Orleans has hands down become McCollum. Just take a look at the 32 points, seven assists, and six rebounds he had in a decisive win against the Spurs. Tonight, McCollum will record at least 26 points and score the majority of those points by the end of the first half. As a Pelican, McCollum has shot 49.3% from the field to average 24.3 PPG, up from the 20.5 PPG on 43.6% shooting from the field he had in the first half of the season in Portland. With everything on the line, the Pelicans should let McCollum fire away.

Prop 2: Reggie Jackson, Over 20.5 Points

Now that Paul George is out, expect Reggie Jackson to be the Clippers' highest scorer. This season, Jackson averaged 16.7 PPG in 45 games without PG-13 in the lineup. With Paul George out in a playoff game, expect Jackson to shoot many more shots than he has in recent weeks and return to the offensive production we’ve seen him produce throughout most of the season with PG-13 unable to suit up. Even with George in the lineup against Minnesota, Jackson still attempted 18 shots from the field, though he only converted seven of them. Still, he finished with 17 points, seven boards, and five assists. Expect a lower assist-tally tonight and more points from the arguably the Clippers' best scorer who is still healthy. Considering PG-13 attempted 24 shots against the Wolves, Jackson should easily attempt 20+ shots tonight against the Pelicans. That bodes well for his point-total prop line.

Prop 3: Nicolas Batum, Over 1.5 Threes

With Paul George out and Luke Kennard questionable for tonight’s game, Normal Powell has been bumped up into the starting lineup and Batum should see 25-30 minutes as a trusted veteran on this mostly inexperienced team. Over his last two seasons as a Clipper, Batum has shot at least 40% from downtown. Along with Reggie Jackson, Batum should be contributing more significantly tonight to the Clippers' high-power three-point offense. As a result, I think it’s safe to assume Batum knocks down at least two three-pointers tonight against the Pelicans. In three games against the Pelicans this season, Batum averaged 1.3 threes in 26 minutes per game. He only attempted 3.7 shots from downtown in those three games and his 36.4% conversion rate was lower than his 40% conversion rate on the season. If Los Angeles is going to keep this game competitive and potentially upset the Pelicans, Batum will need to score double-figures and convert at least two shots from beyond the arc.

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sports betting

Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going As We Head Into The Summer

With Football and March Madness in our rear-view window, you must think that there is nothing good to bet on these days. However, there’s so much going on right now that even we are having a hard time keeping up!

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on to help you out.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, they are offering new users their No Sweat $1,000 promotion. This means you will get up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets if you lose your first bet!

Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going Even After March Madness

So March Madness is over, and either you won big or died trying. Whatever the case may be, now that the hoopla of the tournament is behind us, you may be thinking that there’s nothing exciting to bet on before the ramp-up to the NBA Playoffs. However, there’s so much more going on post-March Madness than you might realize.

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on now that the winning team has been crowned.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, when new users bet $5, they get $150 in Bonus Bets, win or lose!

It’s post-March Madness- Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going Even After March Madness

So March Madness is over, and either you won big or died trying. Whatever the case may be, now that the hoopla of the tournament is behind us, you may be thinking that there’s nothing exciting to bet on before the ramp-up to the NBA Playoffs. However, there’s so much more going on post-March Madness than you might realize.

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on now that the winning team has been crowned.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, when new users bet $5, they get $150 in Bonus Bets, win or lose!

It’s post-March Madness- Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

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