RADIO
The playoffs continue and will feature three solid games on Wednesday night. With so many high-cost options available, you may have to depend on guys who aren't going to hit value, but will get you just enough to make a difference. The Indiana/Cleveland game will feature the fastest pace, followed by Houston/Minnesota and then OKC/Utah.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/18/18. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on DraftKings.
You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. Let me know how I did by giving me a shout on Twitter @Den_Clausen. Good luck!
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DraftKings DFS Guards
James Harden - PG/SG, vs. MIN ($11,200)
Harden played freakishly well against Minnesota on Sunday, scoring 44 points over 40 minutes of play. He seemingly toyed with the Wolves all game long, Euro Stepping and Step Backing all over the place with little effort. Game 1 wasn't an isolated incident either as the MVP front-runner has had their number all season. Expect nothing to change in Game 2.
Russell Westbrook - PG, vs. UTA ($10,800)
Westbrook is another obvious choice for DFS lineups on Wednesday as he played astoundingly against the defensively-sound Jazz in Game 1. He has played well against Utah at home this season, averaging 29 points, 11 boards and 10.5 assists at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Those numbers diminish significantly playing on the road in Utah, but we can worry about that in a few days.
Eric Gordon - PG/SG, vs. MIN ($4,700)
With Gordon, I am choosing to look at the bigger picture here. Game 1 was a mess for him, finishing with only seven points. However, he did take an abundance of shots and also played 30 minutes, which is a lot for anyone to play off the bench in the Playoffs. He is too good of a shooter to go only 3-for-10 from the field and 1-for-7 from deep, so if you are willing to take a risk, which is something we have to do in these big-time tournaments, it could pay off.
Derrick Rose - PG, @ HOU ($3,600)
Rose will likely be a popular DFS play as a result of his sturdy play in Game 1. Rose came off the bench and played 24 minutes on Sunday, finishing the night with 24 fantasy points, which was just under eight times his value. You can also choose to fade him out of your lineup altogether if you are looking to get a leg up on those who are hoping for a repeat performance in Game 2. In the case, if you have a few extra bucks to spare, you can throw in Jamal Crawford instead.
Other DraftKings DFS Guards to Consider: Jamal Crawford, Alex Abrines, Victor Oladipo, Donovan Mitchell (if he plays), J.R. Smith
DraftKings DFS Forwards
LeBron James - SF/PF, vs. IND ($11,500)
James also had a stellar Game 1 performance, scoring 24 points on 7-for-17 shooting from the field in addition to 12 assists and 10 rebounds. He has played well against the Pacers all season, averaging 28.8 points, 10.5 assists and 8.5 rebounds over four meetings with the club throughout the year. With the lack of offensive options on the Cavs' roster, the King is a sure bet to amass a serious amount of fantasy points. However, you will likely get similar production from either Westbrook or Harden, and you will save some money to boot.
Paul George - SF/PF, vs. UTA ($8,300)
George didn't see too much of a price hike despite playing well on Sunday. We tend to forget how talented George can actually be, and though he isn't going to get you LeBron-like numbers on a consistent basis, he can get you something close to it and at a reduced price. Priced at only $8,300, he will only need 41.5 fantasy points to hit value, something that will likely happen in Game 2.
Carmelo Anthony - SF/PF, vs. UTA ($5,400)
Melo is another guy who received only a minimal price increase for Game 2. Priced at only $5,300 on Sunday, Anthony accumulated 36.3 fantasy points in Game 1. He's not consistent by any means and is a risky play, but at only $5,400, it is a risk worth taking.
Other DraftKings DFS Forwards to Consider: Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr., Bojan Bogdanovic, Jae Crowder, Corey Brewer, P.J. Tucker (if Ryan Anderson sits), Taj Gibson
DraftKings DFS Centers
Karl-Anthony Towns - C, @ HOU ($8,900)
Towns had a very disappointing performance in Game 1. Despite matching up favorably against Houston during the regular season, Towns disappeared, scoring only eight points off of nine shots. He did grab 12 boards, but to say he played like garbage is an understatement. Coach Thibs was not too pleased either after this disastrous performance and as a result, look for Towns to come out hot in Game 2.
Other DraftKings DFS Centers to Consider: Clint Capela
