NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (4/23/25)

April 23, 2025

Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Zach's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on April 23, 2025.

After five series have had Game 2 over the past two evenings, the final three first-round matchups get their Game 2 in on Wednesday night, creating a nice six-team player pool for tonight's fantasy basketball DFS contests. The action starts at 7:00 p.m. ET when the Celtics host the Magic. The top-seeded Cavaliers host the Heat for Game 2 shortly after that, with the late game featuring a fascinating Game 2 matchup between the Warriors and the Rockets in the Western Conference.

In this post, we'll break down some of the best DFS plays from the six teams in action. Jayson Tatum (wrist) is doubtful, which has a huge impact on the Celtics' rotation, but there are options to consider from all six teams in play. Let's take a look at my top options from the three games this Wednesday.

This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/23/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7 p.m. EDT on DraftKings. Good luck, RotoBallers!

Today's NBA DFS Core Picks

Jimmy Butler III, GS - SF/PF ($8.5K DK, $9.3K FD)

"Playoff Jimmy" is definitely still a thing after Butler's trade from Miami to Golden State this season. In Game 1, Butler had 56.4 FanDuel points and 52.75 DraftKings points by pouring in 25 points to go with seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals in 42 minutes.

Coach Steve Kerr confirmed that Butler will keep getting big minutes in the playoffs:

Steve Kerr said he thought he made a “mistake” leaving Jimmy Butler in too long in the third quarter of Game 1. But he says he’s comfortable playing Butler “40 to 42” minutes nightly in playoffs. pic.twitter.com/X55IPglDjm

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 22, 2025

If Butler is getting that much work, he should continue to post monster numbers for Golden State. He has had at least 45 DraftKings points in each of his last five games and turns in great multi-category results on a regular basis in the postseason.

Derrick White, BOS - PG/SG (FanDuel Only) ($6.9K DK, $7.4K FD)

Without Tatum, Derrick White will be called on to step up again for the defending champs. White had a 19.9 percent usage rate overall this season, which jumped to 23.4 percent with Tatum off the floor and to 24.2 percent in the eight games he played with Tatum unavailable. He averaged a team-high 34.3 minutes in those contests and produced 40.0 DraftKings points and 38.4 FanDuel points.

In Game 1, White had 30 points and 46.5 DraftKings points, and he has proven to be a peak playoff performer over the last few seasons.

Derrick White in the playoffs since the Celtics went down 0-3 to the Heat in 2023 (24 games)

17.4 PPG
4.0 RPG
3.7 APG
1.3 BPG
1.0 SPG
47% FG
42% 3 PT
91% FT
0.9 TO/PG

Celtics 20-4

— Mike Dyer (@Mike_Dyer13) April 21, 2025

If Tatum sits out as expected, it leaves more work for White, making him an elite play for all formats, especially on DraftKings, where he is slightly cheaper.

Davion Mitchell, MIA - PG ($5K DK, $6K FD)

He doesn't have nearly the playoff resume as my first two core plays, but Davion Mitchell has been key for the Heat since arriving at the trade deadline and is still a very affordable option to slot into your lineup for both a high floor and a high ceiling.

In the Play-in Tournament and Game 1, Mitchell showed a flair for the dramatic, earning 34, 28.25, and 38 DraftKings points in those three contests.

While he's still playing elite defense, his offense has also been strong. He scored double-digit points in 15 of his last 17 games, dating back to the regular season, and he averaged 12.9 points, 6.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 33.4 minutes a contest. Especially at only $5K on DraftKings, he's a great option to build around in the backcourt.

Others to consider: Paolo Banchero, ORL - PF, Alperen Sengun- HOU - C

Today's NBA DFS Pivots

Stephen Curry, GS - PG ($8.9K DK, $9K FD)

Curry lit up the Rockets for 31 points in Game 1, finishing with 45.5 DraftKings points and 41.7 FanDuel points.

Stephen Curry ARE YOU SERIOUS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/H1bfH6YHxZ

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 21, 2025

After stealing home court advantage with that Game 1 win, Curry may cool off in Game 2, but he brings such a high ceiling with the ability to break any slate when he's at his best. He has high variance, but also brings a high enough ceiling that he can't be overlooked in GPP lineups with such a sky-high ceiling.

Bam Adebayo, MIA - PF/C ($8.4K DK, $8.8K FD)

The Heat need Bam to be amazing to have any chance against the deep frontcourt of the Cavs. On Sunday, he led the Heat with 24 points and added nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a blocked shot for 45.75 DraftKings points and 47.3 FanDuel points.

In his six games since March 31, Adebayo has averaged 47.9 DraftKings points and 46.8 FanDuel points. He has to do a lot of everything with the current Miami rotation, and he'll need another huge effort if the Heat are able to keep Game 2 close. He has one of the highest ceilings on the slate since he is being asked to carry so much work in Miami's current rotation.

Others to Consider: Donovan Mitchell, CLE - PG/SG, Kristaps Porzingis, BOS - C/PF (FanDuel Only), Amen Thompson, HOU - SF/PG (DraftKings Only)/SG (FanDuel Only)

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Today's NBA DFS Value Picks

Brandin Podziemski, GS - PG/SG ($5.5K DK, $6.5K FD)

The Pod Racer has been running at full throttle down the stretch, and he's an especially great value play on DraftKings. He played 35 minutes in Game 1 and finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and 36.5 DraftKings points. He has over 28 DraftKings points in seven of his last nine games, dating back to the regular season.

While Butler and Curry do a lot of the heavy lifting on offense, Podziemski's contributions make an impact across the box score and put the Warriors and his fantasy teams in a great position to get the win.

Al Horford, BOS - PF/C ($4.3K DK, $5.5K FD)

Without Tatum, Horford is another key member of the Celtics' rotation, and the veteran has been huge this season for the Celtics with both his leadership and on-court contributions. In Game 1, he had five points, five boards, three assists, and 17.75 DraftKings points in 25 minutes, but he'll have to step into a larger role if Tatum is out as expected.

In the seven games he played without Tatum this season, Horford averaged 26.9 DraftKings points and 25.8 FanDuel points in 28.8 minutes per game. On DraftKings, he's exceptionally affordable, but he's a good value on both sites that can flex to either spot in your frontcourt, depending on the rest of your roster construction.

Ty Jerome, CLE - PG ($4.3K DK, $5.6K FD)

Ty Jerome had an epic playoff debut in Game 1 against the Heat, earning 41.25 DraftKings points and 38.5 FanDuel points.

Ty Jerome : 28 points (16 in the 4th quarter) on 10-15 shooting, 5-8 from 3, 3-5 from the FT line, 5 rebounds, 3 assists & no turnovers in 26 minutes off the bench (4th most points off the bench in a playoff debut in NBA history) pic.twitter.com/nF9UTbyouy

— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) April 21, 2025

The monster game didn't come out of nowhere, though, since he has been outstanding most of the season off the Cavaliers' bench and played great games down the stretch with at least 18 points in each of his last five games. His role can vary based on game script, but his upside is undeniable, and he comes remarkably cheap despite his epic Game 1, especially on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Wendell Carter Jr., ORL - C, Haywood Highsmith, MIA - SF/PF (DraftKings Only), Dillon Brooks, HOU - PF (DraftKings Only) SG/SF (FanDuel Only)

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: Jimmy Butler
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Derrick White
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Bam Adebayo
• My favorite value play: Al Horford

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis