How’s it going guys. Alex here, and I am back with my DraftKings NBA Playoff picks for April 25th, 2018. Tonight, we get a slate with four playoff games to attack. Be sure to follow all of the injury news tonight, all the way up until the 7:00 PM EST lock, to see if any new injury news comes up. As always if any of these picks help you win or if you need any advice, let me know on Twitter. @Hunta512.
*Just an FYI, with one team being eliminated last night and two more potentially tonight, this could be the last NBA DFS slate of three or more games. So, I recommend playing more than usual for both cash games and GPPs, because this very well could be the last slate worth playing this season. If one of The Thunder or Wolves win, there will be a three game slate on Friday, but with the possibility that both teams could lose and go home, I just want to take the time to thank everyone who read my NBA articles this season. I truly appreciate it and look forward to giving you more NBA DFS content next season.
Top Pick:
PG: Russell Westbrook: (10,600)
In these last two losses on the road in Utah, Westbrook has let The Jazz and their crowd get the best of him (43.6 DK PPG), but tonight, with the whole season on the line and on his home floor, I think we see Russ bounce back and have a classic Westbrook performance. He isn’t stupid and he knows everyone in the media has been talking about him in these last two losses. He may shrug it off, but we all know Westbrook takes it personally and there is no doubt in my mind he is going to come out tonight with a purpose to show this Jazz team and The NBA world he is still the reigning MVP.
In the first two home contests of this series vs The Jazz, the two teams split the games, but Westbrook was a much more effective player at home, scoring 58+ DK points in each game. In fact, in his last five home games, Westbrook is averaging 65.75 DK PPG. This is the lowest he has been priced since the first few weeks of the season and at this salary he needs 53 DK points to return value. Overall in home tilts this year, he is averaging 57.6 DK PPG and his current Vegas prop score is sitting at 53.1 DK points. (via Fantasy Labs) LeBron is obviously the top overall option, but in my opinion, Westbrook is the strongest high end value of this slate and I don’t know about you, but I feel like I need exposure to him in this must win situation.
Value Picks:
C: Rudy Gobert: (7,000)
Following their game one loss, Gobert has been a huge factor in The Jazz winning three straight over The Thunder, notching a double double in each game, averaging 40.6 DK PPG. His minutes have stayed steady throughout the series, playing 35.7 MPG. Tonight, he and The Jazz have a chance to close out The Thunder, in the game that is expected to be the most competitive of this slate, with The Thunder favored by only 3.5 points.
He should see 35-40 minutes again and with this matchup slightly positive at the moment (2.09 opponent +/-), Gobert should meet five times value, with a ceiling around 45 DK points. His current Vegas prop score is right over what he needs for value, at 35.48 DK points (via Fantasy Labs) and he is a strong spend in both cash games and GPPs.
SG/SF: Kyle Korver: (4,300)
As expected, Korver bounced back after his quiet night in the game three loss to The Pacers, with 29.25 DK point on Sunday. The Cavs won this matchup and now head back home with this series all tied up at two games apiece. Korver has had two productive games in this first round and both of those performances have resulted in wins for The Cavs. It is evident they need his offense right now and I think LeBron and this Coaching staff now know that Korver needs to be involved if they want to move on to the second round.
He should take close to 10 threes in this game and with roughly 30 minutes of work as a starter, I think we see Korver score 20+ DK points in this pivotal game five. His floor is a shaky because he mostly relies on scoring, but they clearly need him right now, making Korver a viable target in all formats.
PG: Ricky Rubio: (7,500)
Rubio has been a pleasant surprise for The Jazz so far this Playoffs. Yes, Im sure they expected the veteran to play well, but he has been tremendous in helping this Jazz team get a 3-1 lead over the higher seeded Thunder, at 46.1 DK PPG. This number is inflated because of his massive 64.25 DK point game on Saturday night, but he is still averaging 40 DK PPG in the remaining three contests.
His price hasn’t been adjusted at all since their 17 point in Monday and with this game having the smallest spread of the night (-3.5 OKC), Rubio will likely see 35-40 minutes once again. He has a current implied score of 37.5 DK points based on his Vegas props (via Fantasy Labs), which is exactly the score we need for him to reach value. Personally, I am expecting 40+ DK points from him and believe we should keep attacking Rubio tonight during this hot streak.
Also Consider:
John Wall: Just been outstanding in the postseason, averaging 59.2 DK PPG. I always like targeting Wall more at home, but he is just playing to well right now to let that be a factor. He has a current Vegas prop score of 52.72 DK points. (via Fantasy Labs)
Victor Oladipo: Dramatic $600 price drop from his last game. He needs 40.4 DK points to reach five times value, which we should see, with him having DK implied score of 41.98 points, based on his Vegas props. (via Fantasy Labs)
Paul George: 40+ DK points in three of these four games. He is averaging 40.25 MPG this series and the minutes should stay very high, considering this is do or die for The Thunder. If he want to live up his self titled nickname “Playoff P”, George must have a big game tonight.
Kyle Lowry: 40+ DK points in three straight games.
Jeff Teague: Better for GPPs at this point, but this is it for The Wolves and they need him desperately to have a good game. Plus, the $6,000 price tag is very friendly.
Serge Ibaka: We should have seen the two down games coming from Ibaka on the road. This season he is much better at home, scoring 2.8 more DK PPG. He averaged 38.4 DK PPG in the first two home games of this series and is averaging 35.5 DK PPG in his last six in Toronto.
Thaddeus Young: 33.25 DK PPG in these past three and this matchup is outstanding at a 5.3 opponent +/-.
Kelly Oubre: Struggled in game one, but the low score was mostly due to him only playing 16 minutes in the loss. He has been much more involved ever since, playing 26.3 MPG and scoring 23.6 DK PPG.
Jerami Grant: No upside, but could get 20+ DK points.
Jamal Crawford: 19.3 DK PPG this series. He is the veteran of this group and I think we see a solid outing with this being win or go home.
Delon Wright: Really intriguing GPP play if VanVleet is out. His minutes and usage go up when the guard sits and Wright is a much better player at home, scoring 3.2 more DK PPG in Toronto. In the first two home games of this series without VanVleet, Wright averaged 30 DK PPG.
Gorgui Dieng: If you need a full punt, Dieng should get 10+ DK points. He has done this in every game of this series.
PLAY THIS LINEUP