NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (4/26/25)

April 26, 2025

Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Thunder Dan's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on April 26, 2025.

It's another all-day NBA slate with four games set to take place in the association, starting as early as 1:00 pm EST and the last game going off at 8:30 pm.

The Cavs head to Miami up 2-0, while the Thunder try to close out Memphis with a sweep. Then the Clippers host the Nuggets, up 2-1 in their series, and Denver needs a win there badly. The final game of the evening is in the Bay Area, where the Warriors will try to take the lead in their series against Houston, which is tied 1-1.

This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/26/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Good luck, RotoBallers!

Today's NBA DFS Core Picks

These are your lineup cornerstones—players with the best blend of floor, matchup, and ceiling.

Alperen Sengun, HOU - C ($8.9K DK, $8.6K FD)

Sengun continues to be underpriced for his elite skills, roll on his team, and the plus matchup he has against the Warriors.

GSW has had no answer for the big Turk as he posted 26 points in game one and had a huge 17-16-7 line in Houston's game two win. He went for 52 DK points in that one and continues to exploit the undersized Warriors in the paint while showing his ability to pass and find open teammates.

This late game is the most stackable as it should continue to be a back-and-forth series with a lot of close games. I love the idea of pairing Sengun with a Warrior (maybe Steph or Podz, if Butler sits) in a mini game stack.

Donovan Mitchell, CLE - PG/SG ($8.5K DK, $8.8K FD)

Was Donovan Mitchell sandbagging it for an entire season or what? Mitchell's scoring average dropped to just 24 points per game this year, as the Cavs did not have to lean on him nearly as hard with Darius Garland's bounceback campaign and Evan Mobley's continued ascension to stardom.

But when the playoffs come around, Donovan has no problem stepping up to be the guy.

Donovan Mitchell in his Last 40 Playoff Games:

30.1 PPG
4.8 RPG
5.4 APG
1.3 SPG
46/39/85 Splits
59.3% TS

Playoff Riser pic.twitter.com/e7g8Y6BN3f

— 🧙🏾‍♂️🧣 (@Precision80) April 25, 2025

He's had nearly identical lines in the first two games, scoring 30 points in each and cracking 50 DK points in the process. I see no reason to think he won't do it again tonight and if Darius Garland does happen to see, we could see Mitchell go nuclear and break the slate.

Scotty Pippen Jr., MEM - PG/SG ($5.4K DK, $5.6K FD)

With the news that Ja Morant is doubtful for game four and Luke Kennard being listed as questionable, too, we pretty much have to lock Pippen into our lineups at this price. Even if the game gets out of hand and the Thunder roll to another big win, Pippen could still make or exceed value based on his high-usage role in Ja's absence.

He played 38 minutes in game three after Morant left with his injury and went 28-5-5 to lead all Memphis scorers. He's been dynamic all season long, and the Grizzlies simply don't have another guard who can score or pass like Pippen. Just lock him into one of your guard spots and try to get different elsewhere.

Also consider: Nikola Jokic, DEN - C ($11.5K DK, $11.6K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Pivots

These guys might be less chalky but have the upside to crush GPPs.

Kawhi Leonard, LAC - SF/PF ($8.4K DK, $8.7K FD)

The Nuggets held Kawhi in check in game one, but he's been pretty much unstoppable since then, as we've seen prime "Playoff Kawhi" for the first time in several years. He dropped 39 in game two and then went 21-11-6 in game three. The Nuggets have no match for him when he wants to bully his way to the basket,t and that has been the Clippers' best offense so far.

Kawhi Leonard was 15-of-19 from the field last night. Watch how many of those makes were contested.

This was one of the most impressive shotmaking displays I've witnessed. He was like the older sibling dominating everyone on a nerf hoop. pic.twitter.com/aDGJGDMJSi

— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) April 22, 2025

Leonard isn't settling for threes, he's getting to the rim and the free throw line. I expect him to be ultra-aggressive on offense again as the Clippers try to take control of this series at home.

Brandin Podziemski, GSW - PG/SG ($5.8K DK, $6K FD)

We have to see if Jimmy Butler plays for the Warriors tonight, but I think, knowing him, that he probably will do everything he can to play. If he can't go, then Podz is an auto-play for me as he should pick up a lot of the responsibilities on offense that Butler carries as the secondary scorer and distributor after Stephen Curry.

Even if Butler plays, Podz is too cheap here, considering he went for 14-8-5 in game one of this series in 35 minutes. He only played 14 minutes in game two, but he was sick and likely wouldn't have even suited up if it wasn't a playoff game.

I hope the zero in the game log keeps people from rostering him, I think he's a great value at this price,e given his role on the Warriors this season. He can do a little of everything and is an elite rebounder at his position.

Also consider: Tyler Herro, MIA - PG/SG ($7.6K DK, $8.4K FD)

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Today's NBA DFS Value Picks

These players are under $6,000 and deliver salary relief with solid upside.

Santi Aldama, MEM - PF/C ($4.8K DK, $4.9K FD)

Zach Edey has had a great rookie season, but he's also been exposed in the playoffs for his inability to play defense on the pick and roll. Aldama has played 30 minutes in each of the last two games and is the more versatile big man, who can also stretch the floor on offense with three-point shooting. He's a good bet to play a lot tonight and to be asked to take more shots with Morant out as well.

Ty Jerome, CLE - PG ($4.3K DK, $5K FD)

Jerome went off on the Heat in game one, piling up 28 points in 26 minutes off the bench and continuing to be that catalyst for the Cavs on the second unit. He was much quieter in game two with just six points and no assists, so which version of Jerome will we see tonight?

Well, let's first acknowledge that Darius Garland is questionable for this game, and if he sits, then Jerome becomes a MUST-PLAY at this price. If Garland does play, then Jerome is still a potential GPP option as he has a solid point-per-dollar ceiling in his current microwave role.

Davion Mitchell, MIA - PG/SG  ($5.2K DK, $5.7K FD)

The Heat have been reliant on Tyler Herro to carry the offense this season, and while Herro is doing his best against Cleveland, it hasn't been enough to get Miami a win yet in this series.

The second-leading scorer for the Heat has been...Davion Mitchell with 18 points in each of the first two games. He came off the bench in game one, but started game two and played 36 minutes. If there's one position the Cavs do allow production to, it's opposing guard,s so I am fine using Mitchell to save some salary on this slate today.

My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today

Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.

• My favorite overall play on the slate: Donovan Mitchell
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Scotty Pippen Jr.
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Kawhi Leonard
• My favorite value play: Davion Mitchell

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis