Welcome to “Silly Season” in the NBA, where we see a lot of instances of teams resting starters to tank for a better draft pick or preserve health for the playoffs. In these articles, I focus on the top plays, traditionally geared toward cash games. However, with over a decade of NBA DFS experience under my belt—and as someone who rarely dives into cash formats—I’m selecting picks that also typically come with high upside. That means they offer the steady floor needed for cash games while packing the high ceiling we need for tournaments.
We have a tidy six-game NBA slate tonight, featuring a Cavaliers-Bucks showdown with a high implied total of 238. Giannis is the highest-priced option on the slate, but Cade Cunningham, James Harden, and Anthony Edwards are viable options as they’re all capable of scoring the highest tonight. The Grizzlies-Pelicans game should be fast-paced and high-scoring, while the Jazz-Sixers game is one we’ll want to target as both teams are incredibly short-handed. Let’s get to it.
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/9/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 6:00 p.m. EST on DraftKings and FanDuel. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Today’s NBA DFS Core Picks
Here is a look at some of the higher-priced players we can use as building blocks for cash and GPP contests.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the cream of the crop on this slate. As long as we get enough value opening up as the day progresses, we should prioritize the big man on the Bucks. He’s averaging 60.9 DK PPG over his last five games, and a marquee matchup against the East-leading Cavaliers could be his opportunity to shine. They have a stellar defense, but the game has a high 238-point implied total, which makes me believe Giannis will get his (as he usually does).
I like taking shots on Anthony Edwards in non-Giannis lineups. He has been alternating between failing to hit 5x value and crushing value lately, but this should be a game he can shine in, as the Spurs have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game and the most fantasy points per game to SGs over their last seven games. They no longer have anyone to slow him down in the paint, so it’s all systems go for Ant tonight.
We should target the Grizzlies-Pelicans game, as it has the highest implied total and the fastest projected pace on the slate. Desmond Bane is my preferred route, though you could argue that you should pay more and get to Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. Bane is cheaper and has put up games with 47.25, 45.5, 66, and 68 DK points over his last five contests. He holds a 24.6% usage rate and averages 1.25 FPTS/min with Jaren Jackson Jr. off the floor, and a matchup against a team that allows the third-most fantasy points per game is just what the doctor ordered to keep the good times rolling.
Top Core Plays:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. CLE – PF/C ($11,100 DK; $11,500 FD)
- Desmond Bane, MEM @ NOP – SG ($8,000 DK; $8,300 FD)
- Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. SAS – SG ($9,500 DK; $9,400 FD)
- Ivica Zubac, LAC vs. SAC – C ($7,700 DK; $7,800 FD)
- Ja Morant, MEM @ NOP – PG ($8,500 DK; $8,400 FD)
Today’s NBA DFS Value Picks
This is where we talk about saving salary. Whether it’s a severely underpriced backup or even as simple as a guy playing like someone who should be priced higher, this is where you’ll find guys who make lineups work.
Sorting the best value picks of the day by fantasy points per dollar:
The value board is littered with potential land mines on tonight’s slate. Many players look good on the surface, but we have to exercise some level of caution any time a player is projecting for 26 minutes or less. Guys like Brandon Clarke, Vince Williams Jr., Oscar Tshiebwe, Andre Drummond, Zach Edey, and Jake LaRavia all run the risk of seeing their minutes cut for various reasons, so while it may make sense to throw darts at them, keep that volatility in mind.
I like Walker IV, Williams Jr., Filipowski, Oubre Jr., and Grimes the most from the above screenshot. Walker IV and Williams are punt options that should see enough minutes to hit, while Oubre Jr. and Grimes benefit from the Sixers being shorthanded and a favorable matchup against the Jazz. Filipowski is the best of the bunch, though, as he has put up dominant numbers when the Jazz have ruled out all their veteran starters.
Top Value Plays:
- Kyle Filipowski, UTA @ PHI – C ($5,900 DK; $6,400 FD)
- Vince Williams Jr., MEM @ NOP – SG/SF ($3,900 DK; $4,300 FD)
- Lonnie Walker IV, PHI vs. UTA – SG ($3,400 DK) DraftKings Only
- Quentin Grimes, PHI vs. UTA – PG/SG ($6,500 DK; $6,700 FD)
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Today’s NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Morant is back to playing heavy minutes, but his price tag hasn’t been updated to reflect that. He has scored at least 40 DK points in four of his last five games, and tonight’s matchup against the vulnerable Pelicans defense could spark a ceiling game from the dynamic guard.
Keyonte Goerge isn’t the most exciting name on the board, but he’s hitting 5x value more often than not, and his ability to pop off for a 40-50 DK point game is better than most players in his price range. He leads the team with a 27% usage rate with all the vets off the floor, and his 1.12 FPTS/min rate will work as long as he gets the 30-ish minutes he’s projecting for. The Sixers haven’t defended PGs well lately, permitting the fifth-most fantasy points per game to PGs over their last 15 games.
Top PG Options:
- Ja Morant, MEM @ NOP ($8,500 DK; $8,400 FD)
- Keyonte George, UTA @ PHI ($6,400 DK; $6,500 FD)
- Donte DiVincenzo, MIN vs. SAS ($5,600 DK; $5,600 FD)
- Jose Alvarado, NOP vs. MEM ($5,000 DK; $5,500 FD)
Today’s NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. have been sharing the offensive workload with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey off the floor this season. Oubre Jr. holds a 26.8% usage rate and 1.07 FPTS/min with those two out, while Grimes holds a 25.5% usage rate and 0.87 FPTS/min in such situations. They both look great tonight against Utah, a team that bleeds fantasy points (second-most fantasy points per game allowed) and can’t defend guards (second-most fantasy points per game to PGs, most fantasy points per game to SGs).
Donte DiVincenzo has finished at or over what he needs for 5x value tonight in eight of his last nine games. He’s not a player who will go ballistic with a 60+ DK point game for various reasons, but our lineups also need consistent 30-40+ DK point players. The Spurs have allowed the most fantasy points per game to SGs over their last seven games, so he’ll have an opportunity to keep his excellent form rolling tonight.
Lonnie Walker IV is playing too many minutes to ignore at his $3,400 price tag on DraftKings. The vet has produced games with 24.25 and 29.25 DK points over his last three, and he should see upwards of 30 minutes of action again tonight. He’s a viable punt option on this slate against the Jazz, and he’ll probably get some blowout run if the game is uncompetitive.
Top SG Options:
- Quentin Grimes, PHI vs. UTA ($6,500 DK; $6,700 FD)
- Kelly Oubre Jr., PHI vs. UTA ($6,600 DK; $7,100 FD)
- Donte DiVincenzo, MIN vs. SAS ($5,600 DK; $5,600 FD)
- Lonnie Walker IV, PHI vs. UTA ($4,200 FD; $3,400 DK)
Today’s NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
Can we skip this position? Williamson is worth throwing some darts at due to his upside and excellent game environment, but I’m more likely to get to Giannis and have to pay down at the SF position tonight. Jaden McDaniels has been playing well lately, but he’s priced closer to his ceiling than his median projection. I’ll still have him in the mix because the Spurs give up fantasy points with the best of them, and he has shown a 50+ DK point upside.
Top SF Options:
- Kawhi Leonard, LAC vs. SAC ($7,800 DK; $8,200 FD)
- Vince Williams Jr., MEM @ NOP ($4,400 DK; $4,500 FD)
- Kelly Oubre Jr., PHI vs. UTA ($6,600 DK; $7,100 FD)
- Jaden McDaniels, MIN vs. SAS ($6,800 DK; $6,800 FD)
- Justin Edwards, PHI vs. UTA ($4,000 DK; $4,600 FD)
Today’s NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
Top PF Options:
The Spurs have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game over their last seven games and the third-most fantasy points per game to PFs over the year. Julius Randle is lining up to be in an excellent spot to produce at his cheaper price tag tonight. He has been solid lately, exceeding 50 DK points twice over his last six games while only falling below 32 DK points once during that stretch. If Rudy Gobert remains out, I’m all over him tonight.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. CLE ($11,100 DK; $11,500 FD)
- Julius Randle, MIN vs. SAS ($7,200 DK; $7,100 FD)
- Guerschon Yabusele, PHI vs. UTA ($5,200 DK; $5,400 FD)
- Jaden McDaniels, MIN vs. SAS ($6,800 DK; $6,800 FD)
Today’s NBA DFS Picks: Center
Zubac is an intriguing option at his higher mid-range salary tonight. He needs 38.5 DK points for 5x value and has hit that mark in five of his last seven games, including monster games of 57.5 and 49 DK points during that stretch. He’s capable of big point and rebound totals in the right matchups, and this one profiles as a great one with Jonas Valanciunas down low for the Kings. Sacramento has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to Cs over their last seven games.
Duren is going to eat against the Blazers tonight. His production is a bit volatile, but that’s baked into his price tag, and he has shown an easy 50+ DK point upside as recently as 3/1 against the Nets. The Blazers have Donovan Clingan lurking down low, but they’ve been hesitant to play him at starter-level minutes, and they’ve allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to Cs over their last seven games.
It’s still the Kyle Filipowski Show. He’s averaging 1.34 FPTS/min over his last 14 games with the veteran Jazz off the floor, and he holds a solid 23.2% usage rate in the same split. The Sixers have surprisingly defended centers well, even without Joel Embiid, but we’re still getting too much value on the Utah big man to pass him up on this slate.
Top C Options:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. CLE ($11,100 DK; $11,500 FD)
- Ivica Zubac, LAC vs. SAC ($7,700 DK; $7,800 FD)
- Jalen Duren, DET @ POR ($6,700 DK; $7,600 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Kyle Filipowski, UTA @ PHI ($5,900 DK; $6,400 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Zach Edey, MEM @ NOP ($4,700 DK; $5,300 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
Today’s Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Grizzlies @ Pelicans (239 o/u)
- Jazz @ 76ers (227.5 o/u)
- Cavaliers @ Bucks (238 o/u)
Today’s Top NBA DFS Avoids
De’Aaron Fox. Fox is averaging a paltry 29.8 DK PPG over his last five games, and he hasn’t exceeded 5x value at his current salary in seven consecutive contests. He gets a brutal matchup on the road against the Wolves tonight, a team that has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to PGs this season. This game also doesn’t project too well from a game environment standpoint, as Minnesota plays slowly (25th in the NBA) while ranking sixth in defensive rating. Get to the cheaper options on the Spurs and move along with your lineup building.
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: Desmond Bane
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Kyle Filipowski
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Ivica Zubac / Jalen Duren
- My favorite value play: Kyle Filipowski
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