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The NBA has another very busy night on Friday with 10 games on the schedule. The first seven of those games are part of the DraftKings main slate for DFS fantasy basketball, which tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Just one game begins right away with four of the seven games starting at 8:00 p.m. ET, one at 8:30 p.m. ET, and the final game on the main slate featuring the Celtics and Jazz from Utah at 9:30 p.m. ET. The three later games are on a separate slate.
Of the 14 teams on the main slate, the Hornets are the only team playing for the second day in a row, and the Wizards are the only team on the first night of a back-to-back. While there is still uncertainty in some rotations, some players stand out as strong options to consider from a DFS perspective on DraftKings. For FanDuel advice, check out my colleague Thunder Dan's breakdown.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 3/21/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EST on DraftKings.
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DraftKings NBA DFS Core Picks
Quentin Grimes, PHI – PG/SG ($8.8K)
The 76ers have given the keys to the offense to Grimes since acquiring him from the Mavericks, and Grimes has stepped up with an impressive run of results. He'll stay the go-to guy for Friday's favorable matchup with the Spurs since Tyrese Maxey (back), Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee), Andre Drummond (toe), and Adem Bona (ankle) have all been ruled out in addition to Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (adductor) who are out for the season.
Grimes has made the most of his opportunity, scoring 20+ points in six consecutive games. In those six games, he averaged 31.8 points, 4.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 51.6 DraftKings points per game.
Quentin Grimes over his last 6 games:
28 PTS - 5 AST - 3 STL
46 PTS - 13 REB - 8 3PM
28 PTS - 2 REB - 6 AST
29 PTS - 4 REB - 3 AST
35 PTS - 7 REB - 5 AST
25 PTS - 6 AST - 2 STL(Via @realapp_ ) pic.twitter.com/F78Yrf0ERq
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 20, 2025
In a soft matchup against the Spurs, he's a great core piece to build around under $9K.
Zion Williamson, NO – SF/PF ($9.1K)
The Pelicans play the Timberwolves for the second straight game in Minnesota after getting a win on Wednesday, 119-115. Zion Williamson had 51.75 DraftKings points in that game despite playing just 30 minutes.
Zion Williamson 29-5-8-3, 12/16 FG, W pic.twitter.com/rLJ620eO9l
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) March 20, 2025
He has scored at least 20 points in nine straight games, averaging 25.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 47.4 DraftKings points per game. He has over 44 DraftKings points in three of his last four, and he has a strong chance for another big game in Friday night's rematch in Minneapolis.
Alexandre Sarr, WAS – C ($6.7K)
The Wizards have been doing strange things with their rotation and playing for ping-pong balls in the NBA Draft lottery, but their most recent pick, Alexandre Sarr, has been showing that he can be a future start to build around as well.
The No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft is still just 19 years old but has scored at least 19 points in four straight games with at least 37 DraftKings points in each contest.
Alex Sarr Is The YOUNGEST Player In NBA History With 90+ Points, 15+ Threes And 7+ Blocks In A Four Game Span
The Only Other Players To Do It Before Turning 21 Are Wemby And JJJ
The Big Eiffel Is A Star https://t.co/WO9u8gkal7 pic.twitter.com/RwBb89OdvL
— WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) March 20, 2025
He has only played 22 and 23 minutes in his last two games but still managed 37 and 41.25 DraftKings points. The last time he played 30+ minutes, he had 54.5 DraftKings points in the Wizards' win in Denver. On Friday, he'll be back at home in a tough matchup against the Magic, but he should get enough playing time to keep returning elite value at this salary, especially with the home crowd excited about his recent run of success.
Others Under Consideration: Paolo Banchero - PF ($9.9K), Devin Vassell - SG/SF ($6.8K), Jrue Holiday - PG/SG ($5.5K)
DraftKings NBA DFS Tournament Pivots
Cade Cunningham, DET - PG ($10.4K)
Cunningham is coming off a huge triple-double against the Heat on Wednesday with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and 66 DraftKings points. That monster performance also included hitting the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.
CADE CUNNINGHAM WITH THE LAST SECOND SHOT TO BEAT THE HEAT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uW9bJJrYci
— ESPN (@espn) March 20, 2025
Cunnigham has at least a double-double and over 50 DraftKings points in three of his last five games and will look to keep the Pistons firing on all cylinders as they take on the short-handed Mavericks on Friday night.
He has a high enough ceiling to be a great pay-up in tournaments if you can find the right bargains and values to play in other places.
P.J. Washington, DAL - PF/C ($7.9K)
The Mavs got Washington back in the rotation this past week after he missed seven games with an ankle sprain. He had 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 48.5 DraftKings points in his return against the Sixers on Sunday and followed that up with 26 points and 33.75 DraftKings points on Wednesday in Indiana.
P.J. Washington puts Dallas ahead by 4 on a two-hand FLUSH 👊 pic.twitter.com/uvJdQFdFk8
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 20, 2025
With so many injuries opening up all the work Washington can handle, he should be an excellent fantasy contributor down the stretch while he's healthy. On Friday, he and the Mavs host Cade and the Pistons in what should be a relatively high-scoring game that allows Washington to post another good fantasy total.
Stephon Castle, SA - PG/SG ($6.7K)
Castle has started the last four games for San Antonio since the injury to De'Aaron Fox (finger), and the rookie averaged 22.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 0.8 steals in 30.0 minutes per game. He had at least 33 DraftKings points in three of those four games.
Stephon Castle has 20 games with 20+ points this season
NO other rookie has more than 8 such games
6 of Steph’s 20 20-point games have come in March & he’s heating up at the right time with averages of 20.6-4.3-4.1 this month
ROTY Frontrunner?pic.twitter.com/o0SE26Jrtx
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) March 20, 2025
Castle and the Spurs host the Sixers on Friday night in a game that should produce good fantasy numbers on both sides.
Tari Eason, HOU - PF ($6.4K)
Eason has at least 35 DraftKings points in four straight games after producing 45.25 DraftKings points on Wednesday against Orlando. He had 16 points, nine rebounds, five steals, four assists, and a blocked shot in 32 minutes and continues to contribute big numbers on both ends of the floor.
Tari Eason in last night's win:
16 PTS | 9 REB | 4 AST | 5 STL | 1 BLK ➡ 50.8 FPTs
Best fantasy game since Nov. 2 🚀pic.twitter.com/7QZMVQImeV
— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) March 20, 2025
With Amen Thompson ($8,900; ankle, probable) expected to return, Eason's minutes could get squeezed a little, but he has shown enough upside that coach Ime Udoka will surely find a way to keep him very involved.
He brings a high ceiling due to his multi-category production and has become a regular part of Houston's starting five with 13 starts in his last 15 games while averaging 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.8 steals in 30.0 minutes per contest.
Others Under Consideration: Jayson Tatum - SF/PF ($11K), Anthony Edwards - SG ($9.7K), Tyler Herro - PG ($8.3K), Alperen Sengun - C ($9.5K), Jordan Poole - PG ($6.8K), Spencer Dinwiddie - PG/SG ($6.2K),
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DraftKings NBA DFS Value Picks
Isaiah Joe, OKC – SG ($4.6K)
Joe had to step up on Wednesday while the Thunder rested Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11.6K), and he delivered 21 points and 33.25 DraftKings points in 29 minutes. It was his fourth straight game with double-digit points and his second straight over 30 DraftKings points.
Isaiah Joe : 21 points on 7-13 shooting, 5-9 from 3, 2-2 from the FT line & 5 assists in 29 minutes pic.twitter.com/NETtxf1Ygl
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) March 20, 2025
With SGA back on Friday, the Thunder won't need Joe to carry quite as much of the workload but he should stay involved enough to still be a good value since Jalen Williams (hip) and Luguentz Dort (hip) are both out and Cason Wallace ($4.3K; shoulder) is questionable.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, SA – PF/C ($4K)
Mamukelashvili has been a great per-minute option when he gets playing time this season, but his playing time as been very sporadic. He took that production to new levels on Wednesday, though, pouring in 34 points and 55.25 DraftKings points in just 19 minutes.
A CAREER night for Sandro Mamukelashvili ‼️
34 PTS
13-14 FGM
7-7 3PM
9 REB...in only 19 minutes played 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Rqd35fPhZl
— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2025
Whether this results in bigger minutes for Mamu is uncertain, but he's posted over 20 DraftKings points in three of his last four even without that much playing time, so at only $4K in a favorable game environment, he's a strong "boom-or-bust" value play on Friday.
Chuma Okeke, PHI – SF/PF ($4.2K)
The Sixers signed Okeke to a second 10-day contract earlier this week, and the former first-round pick quickly stepped into a significant role. He played over 15 minutes in all three of his games since signing the day and went off for 41.25 DraftKings points on Wednesday in Oklahoma City where he posted a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double.
Chuma Okeke in 37 minutes in the Sixers' loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday:
14 points
5-6 FG
4-5 3P
15 rebounds (7 offensive) pic.twitter.com/3yHidoPY3D— Adam Aaronson's clips (@SixersAdamClips) March 20, 2025
It was an impressive performance that showed plenty of hustle and upside for the veteran. How the Sixers piece together a rotation for the next few weeks will be an interesting storyline to watch and critical to understand for fantasy.
If Okeke gets good minutes on Friday against the Spurs, he should be a great value once again at just over $4K. He could once again be poised for more playing time if Guerschon Yabusele ($5.4K) plays more minutes in the middle with Drummond and Bona out. Oshae Brissett ($4K) is another value play in Philly's frontcourt to consider.
Jaime Jaquez Jr., MIA – SF ($4.3K)
Jaquez has played at least 27 minutes in each of the last four games for the Heat and moved into the starting lineup for three of those four games. While Andrew Wiggins ($6.5K; leg, questionable) has been out, Jaquez has gotten enough run to be a value contributor since he typically fills up the box score in multiple categories.
He had just 17 DraftKings points in 28 minutes on Wednesday, but before that, he had over 22 DraftKings points in three straight, highlighted by 34.75 DraftKings points against the Knicks on Monday. If Wiggins is out, JJJ of the East will be a solid way to save salary and still get a good ceiling.
Others Under Consideration: Kai Jones - C ($5.1K), Justin Edwards - SF/PF ($4.4K), Keldon Johnson - SF/PF ($4.4K), Damion Baugh - PG/SG ($5K), Jaden Hardy - PG/SG ($4.4K), Tristan Vukcevic - C ($4.2K), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - SG ($3.8K), Brice Sensabaugh - SF ($4.1K), Johnny Juzang - SG/SF ($3.3K)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stack
76ers at Spurs (240.5 total)
The Spurs and Sixers rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the NBA for most points allowed over their last 15 games. While both teams have bad records, they should bring fantasy goodness Friday.
The Sixers have given Quentin Grimes ($8.8K) his chance to shine while Jared Butler ($6.3K) has also stepped up a few games along with Guerschon Yabusele ($5.4K). There has been plenty of usage for Justin Edwards ($4.4K), Chuma Okeke ($4.2K), and Oshea Brissett ($4K), and former-Spur Lonnie Walker IV ($4.4K; concussion) is probable. Figuring out the rotation is a little tricky, but there should be lots of value from the options who get minutes.
On the Spurs' side, Stephon Castle ($6.7K) and Devin Vassell ($6.8K) have carried the load with Fox and Victor Wembanyama (blood clot) done for the season. Veterans Keldon Johnson ($4.7K) and Chris Paul ($4.6K) have also gotten more work while Sandro Mamukelashvili ($4K) got everyone's attention with his huge game Wednesday. Even Blake Wesley ($3.1K) has gotten in the mix enough to be a solid punt play.
Pistons at Mavericks (235.5 total)
The Pistons rank second in the NBA in pace over their last 10 games, and the Mavs have allowed the most points per game over that stretch.
Any Pistons' stack has to start with Cade Cunningham ($10.4K) since he operates the offense so effectively, and his chief running mate this season has been Jalen Duren ($6.7K). Tobias Harris ($5.5K) and Malik Beasley ($4.7K) have brought solid veteran leadership and are good mid-range targets, while Ausar Thompson ($4.3K) and Isaiah Stewart ($3.2K) are useful cheap plays to top off the stack.
On the Mavs' side, P.J. Washington ($7.9K) and Spencer Dinwiddie ($6.2K) are my top options with Max Christie ($5.2K) and Kai Jones ($5.1K) in the mix as well. Jaden Hardy ($4.4K) also looked good in his return from a seven-game absence with 24 points and 30 DraftKings points on Wednesday.
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: Quentin Grimes
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Zion Williamson
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Cade Cunningham
- My favorite VALUE play: Chuma Okeke
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