RADIO
One of the wildest trades in NBA history occurred last night, with the Mavericks trading generational superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. We have a slate to analyze, but...Wow. I'm speechless. Buckle up the next time these teams meet. 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.
It's a five-game slate today (four games on FanDuel), and it starts at 3 p.m. ET with what should be a high-paced Bulls-Pistons showdown. The Mavericks-Cavaliers and Grizzlies-Bucks games are the ones to focus on from a game environment standpoint, with Cleveland and Memphis popping as the top teams to target in my K-Grade model. Ja Morant is doubtful to suit up, while we'll have to wait on the Kyrie Irving news before taking any stands on any pieces from Dallas. Let's get into it.
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 2/2/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 3 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.
I am interested in Cade Cunningham, James Harden, Damian Lillard, and Nikola Vucevic, who are at the top of the salary board, but my focus will be on Giannis Antetokounmpo. Any time a player with a "mega ceiling" plays on a slate, I want to get that player in my lineups at whatever cost it takes. Giannis is the only player on the slate who holds a consistent 70+ DK point ceiling (he has reached that mark three times over his last 11 games), and he's in arguably the top game environment on the slate in a high-total, fast-paced game against the Grizzlies. This is a no-brainer.
Cunningham is priced right around his ceiling, but this could easily be a game where we see him go for 60+ DK points against the Bulls. This is a high-pace spot, and Chicago allows the third-most fantasy points per game to PGs this season. They've also allowed the most fantasy points per game to the position over their last 15 games. He will be my focus on FanDuel due to the site excluding Giannis in the Bucks-Grizzlies showdown.
Lastly, Desmond Bane is underpriced for his role with Morant out of the lineup. He has scored at least 42 DK points in five of his last seven games, including a 48.5 DK point performance in his most recent game against the Rockets on Thursday. As mentioned, this will be a fast-paced game with the highest implied total on the slate at 245.5 points, so Vegas is projecting Bane and the Grizzlies to continue their high-scoring ways on the road against Giannis and company tonight.
The Bucks typically aren't the best team to target players against, but they've allowed the most fantasy points per game to SGs over their last seven games and the ninth-most fantasy points per game overall during that stretch.
Top Core Plays:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. MEM - PF/C ($11,700 DK; $12,100 FD)
- Cade Cunningham, DET vs. CHI - PG ($10,200 DK; $10,200 FD)
- Desmond Bane, MEM @ MIL - SG ($7,700 DK; $7,700 FD)
- Ivica Zubac, LAC @ TOR - C ($7,400 DK; $7,500 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:
There is little to love on the value board for today's action. Luke Kennard stands out at under $5,000 on DraftKings, as he will likely step into a starting role and play at least 30 minutes in an elite game environment. He put up 30.25, 44.75, and 39.5 DK points the last three times he has played at least 26 minutes, so this is a smash play as long as Morant remains out.
Norman Powell and Kris Dunn remain out for the Clippers, which means we can roll the dice on players like Kevin Porter Jr., Amir Coffey, and Derrick Jones Jr. in this spot. Jones Jr. is my favorite of the trio, as he should play around 30 minutes and isn't as scoring-dependent as the other two. He has games with 30, 26.25, and 36.5 DK points over his last five contests, so we know he can provide 5x value at his current salary.
Top Value Plays:
- Luke Kennard, MEM @ MIL - PG/SG ($4,500 DK)
- Derrick Jones Jr., LAC @ TOR - PF ($4,200 DK; $4,900 FD)
- Kevin Porter Jr., LAC @ TOR - PG ($3,500 DK; $4,300 FD)
- Santi Aldama, MEM @ MIL - PF ($4,700 DK)
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Porter Jr. and Kennard have already been covered as value options, but I also like getting Coby White as a mid-range play on this slate. He's priced down to $6,100 on DraftKings as he put up a few stinkers recently, but this guy has 40+ DK point potential on any given slate. He produced 42 DK points on Friday against the Raptors, and now he gets a pace-up spot against a Raptors team that allows the seventh-most fantasy points per game this season and ranks 25th in defensive rating.
Lonzo Ball and Josh Giddey are appealing options in the same matchup, but I like taking shots on the upside of White at his price tag.
Top PG Options:
- Luke Kennard, MEM @ MIL ($4,500 DK)
- Cade Cunningham, DET vs. CHI ($10,200 DK; $10,200 FD)
- Kevin Porter Jr., LAC @ TOR ($3,500 DK; $4,300 FD)
- Coby White, CHI @ DET ($6,100 DK; $6,700 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
Kennard and Bane will take up most of my ownership at the SG position, as they're both too cheap with Morant out of the lineup. Kelly Oubre Jr. has benefitted from an increased role with Joel Embiid and Paul George missing time due to injury, and he stands out as a solid option despite a rough matchup against the Celtics. He's averaging 42.6 DK PPG at a tidy 1.1 FPTS/min rate over his last five games, and he'll continue to play second-fiddle to Tyrese Maxey in this iteration of the 76ers lineup.
Khris Middleton pops as a value on DraftKings, and I'm willing to take shots on him, but he has multiple games with less than 20 minutes and fewer than 7 DK points over his last four games. That makes it challenging to love him, but as has been mentioned, this matchup should bleed fantasy points.
Top SG Options:
- Luke Kennard, MEM @ MIL ($4,500 DK)
- Desmond Bane, MEM @ MIL - SG ($7,700 DK; $7,700 FD)
- Kelly Oubre Jr., PHI vs. BOS ($6,400 DK; $7,500 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Khris Middleton, MIL vs. MEM ($5,200 DK)
- Ayo Dosunmu, CHI @ DET ($5,600 DK) DraftKings Only
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
Middleton also qualifies as a deserted SF position today, so he'll be one of my most popular picks by default. However, I'd also like to get to a too-cheap Kawhi Leonard in a smash spot against the Raptors. He's only $6,700 on DraftKings, but his price won't be there for long as he has played at least 28 minutes in three straight contests and finished with 39.75 and 47.5 DK points over his last two. This is too cheap for a player like him, and I'd rather be early to the party than late.
Top SF Options:
- Kawhi Leonard, LAC @ TOR ($6,700 DK; $7,300 FD)
- Khris Middleton, MIL vs. MEM ($5,200 DK)
- Ausar Thompson, DET vs. CHI ($4,700 DK; $5,000 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
The players I like at the PF position have mostly already been covered, with Giannis leading the way and Jones Jr., Aldama, and Leonard mixing in as value and mid-range options to target. Jaren Jackson Jr. is also worth a mention, though, as he needs just 40.5 DK points to hit 5x value, and Morant being out unlocks a higher ceiling for the big man. He's prone to foul trouble, and Milwaukee is borderline elite at limiting fantasy points to bigs, so he won't be someone I will go overboard on getting exposure to with the options we have available.
Top PF Options:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. MEM ($11,700 DK)
- Derrick Jones Jr., LAC @ TOR ($4,200 DK; $4,900 FD)
- Santi Aldama, MEM @ MIL ($4,700 DK)
- Kawhi Leonard, LAC @ TOR ($6,700 DK; $7,300 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
Giannis qualifies at center, but there are appealing options for us in the mid-range salary tier that I will primarily get to him at the PF position today. Ivica Zubac will be a popular play, but he should be, as he has smashed with games 56 and 55 DK points over his last three outings. The Raptors allow the seventh-most fantasy points per game to Cs this season - I will be going back to the well with "Zub" on this slate.
Jalen Duren brings a lot of rebounds and "stocks" to the table with his game, but he has also scored in double-figures in ten straight games. More importantly, he has exceeded what he needs for 5x value today in eight of his last nine contests, including four games with at least 41 DK points. The Bulls don't have the personnel to slow him down, as they allow the fourth-most fantasy points per game to Cs this season.
Top C Options:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. MEM ($11,700 DK)
- Ivica Zubac, LAC @ TOR ($7,400 DK; $7,500 FD)
- Jalen Duren, DET vs. CHI ($6,200 DK; $6,600 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Mavericks @ Cavaliers (o/u 237; 102.7 projected pace)
- Grizzlies @ Bucks (o/u 245.5; 105.1 projected pace)
- Bulls @ Pistons (o/u 233; 104.9 projected pace)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
I won't be getting to the studs priced right below Giannis and Cunningham, and it's simply a matter of opportunity cost. No one is touching the potential ceiling Giannis brings to the table, so there's no chance I'm getting to the likes of Tyrese Maxey, Jayson Tatum, and Scottie Barnes unless significant value opens up before lock.
Maxey is in great form, but he's facing one of the best defenses in the league in the Celtics. Tatum has four games with under 39 DK points over his last five outings. Barnes has hit what he needs for 5x value tonight in two of his last five games. Take Giannis and let the rest of the field chase after a bounceback from this trio.
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: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Coby White / Jalen Duren
- My favorite value play: Luke Kennard / Derrick Jones Jr.
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