DraftKings NBA DFS Picks for Today (Tuesday, 2/4/25): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

Welcome back, Rotoballers! Tonight, we have a seven-game slate, headlined by the TNT doubleheader of Celtics at Cavs and Lakers at Clippers. These articles focus on the best plays, typically more suited for cash games. However, some exceptions may apply, depending on the size of the slate.

The key to succeeding in NBA DFS is making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. But it's always essential to have a game plan and zero in on the best players and spots before making those adjustments. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and access our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 2/4/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EST on DraftKings. Good luck, RotoBallers!

DraftKings NBA DFS Core Picks

Donovan Mitchell, CLE - PG ($8.6K)

Mitchell has torched the Celtics his entire career (averaging 30.2 PPG over 18 matchups), which increases to 35.1 PPG if you only look at his last 10 matchups. Celtics at Cavs boasts the highest implied total on the slate (235.5) at the time of writing, and Mitchell has been able to rest in the Cavs' last two blowout wins so I expect him to be fresh and ready to go for this clash of the East's top two teams.

Donovan Mitchell in the 4th Quarter against the Celtics:

20 Points
5 Rebounds
6/6 FG
4/4 3PT
4/4 FT#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/2CHLQoWR4I

— Mack Perry (@DevaronPerry) December 2, 2024

Daniel Gafford, DAL - C ($7.2K)

Gafford has stepped up for Dallas in the absence of Dereck Lively. Since Lively's injury, Gafford has scored 40+ fantasy points in eight of ten games, with both misses coming against the Thunder and their league-best defense. Gafford has been a difference-maker on the defensive side in particular; averaging 9.5 rebounds, nearly three more per game than his season average, and three blocks per game.

Others Under Consideration: Tyrese Maxey, PHI - PG ($9.9K)

DraftKings NBA DFS Tournament Pivots

LeBron James, LAL - PG ($10.8K)

After pulling off the heist of the century on the Mavericks, LeGM, I mean LeBron, will have to carry this short-handed Lakers team in this battle of LA. His ownership should be checked by his price tag, the highest on the slate. LeBron has three days of rest, and he should see a massive workload, which sounds like a great recipe for a tournament play.

LeBron James vs New York Knicks

33 PTS / 11 REB / 12 AST @Lakers W (28-19) pic.twitter.com/n8qlwFPFYS

— A Walking Highlight (@11AWH) February 2, 2025

Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK - C ($9.4K)

On a slate with tons of cheap centers, paying up is always a good way to gain leverage. Towns has destroyed the Raptors in his three matchups since being traded to New York, averaging 27.3/12.7/5, and 3.3 stocks. Those averages come out to about 58 points when including the double-double bonus. The Raptors rank 28th in fantasy points allowed to Centers, and if Towns takes advantage of the soft matchup he could blow all of the cheap options out of the water.

Others Under Consideration: Jaylen Brown, BOS - SG/SF ($8K), Ayo Dosunmu, CHI - SG/SF ($5.6K)

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DraftKings NBA DFS Value Picks

Steven Adams, HOU - C ($4.4K)

I did not have Steven Adams to be in the top plays on my 2025 Bingo card, but here we are. The Rockets are currently missing three other Centers to injury, leading to Adams turning back the clock and producing at a high level. Adams has topped 20 fantasy points in six of his last seven games, largely due to his rebounding prowess, particularly on offense.

Thomas Bryant, IND - C ($3.2K)

After Myles Turner was ruled out with an ankle injury last night, Bryant was chosen to replace him in Indiana's starting lineup. Bryant didn't light the world on fire, but his 23.5 fantasy points are more than enough for a player priced close to the minimum. Even with his average performance, his role remained steady. Bryant played 26 minutes, largely due to the Pacers having no other healthy true centers on the team.

Others Under Consideration: Rui Hachimura, LAL - SF/PF ($5.1K), Keon Johnson, BKN - PG/SG ($5K)

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

Pacers at Trailblazers (230.5 O/U)

This game is the second-highest implied total behind the Celtics at the Cavs, but it's significantly easier to stack. With a huge cluster of players priced from $5k-$7k, you can easily stack this game from any angle.

Celtics at Cavs (235.5 O/U)

Besides the implied total, the biggest draw from a fantasy perspective is the rotations for each team. In both of the first two matchups, the games were close and the starters played big minutes, especially for Boston. Core guys for both teams played 33-35 minutes, and opportunities for bench players were few and far between. Fully stacking this game is tough due to salaries, but if it lives up to its implied total, it will likely be the game that determines the slate.

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: Daniel Gafford
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Celtics at Cavs
• My favorite VALUE play: Thomas Bryant

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis