DraftKings NBA DFS Picks for Today (Monday, 2/24/25): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

It feels great to write about basketball this morning, as I'm 24 hours out from enjoying suite life with the oldest son at the TD Garden Center. The result was not what I wanted, but it was a fantastic bonding experience and I already have the bug to go back.

With basketball on the brain, it's time to jump right into tonight's seven-game slate on DraftKings. There are a slew of questionable tags (most notably on Philadelphia and Utah), and many players have already been ruled out. Stick with us to find the best value plays that open up as a result of these.

I'll be in the RotoBaller Discord tonight with my esteemed colleagues breaking down the whole slate this evening, and you can follow us @Rotoballer on X! Good luck tonight, and post those winners!

DraftKings NBA DFS Core Picks

Nikola Jokic, DEN - C ($12,000)

Evidently the Lakers figured out the secret sauce for defending Nikola Jokic the other night, as they smothered him all game and only let him take seven shots. The rub? He STILL had a triple-double for 46.75 points, and it was only the fifth time all season he's been under 50 DK points.

I'm more than happy to call this game an outlier performance and hold out for his 65.6-point average tonight. Indiana has no means of stopping him, and have allowed the tenth-most FPPG to opposing centers while also ranking 28th in rebounding rate. If there's enough value, buy the dip.

This game also carries a game total of 246.5, which is by far the highest of the night.

Tyrese Maxey, PHI - PG ($9,000)

Tyrese Maxey is currently questionable with a thumb injury, but he's expected to play and not have any limitations. Joel Embiid, on the other hand, looks a lot more iffy as he continues to battle issues with his knees. Even if Embiid plays, Maxey is still a rock-solid option.

Maxey is now leading the NBA in minutes per game with 38, and he's making the most of those minutes with a 30.5% usage rate (seventh in the league). Chicago is a prime matchup as they rank second in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency. They've also allowed the third-most FPPG to opposing PGs.

If Embiid sits and Maxey plays, Maxey is a lock for cash games with an uber-high floor/ceiling combo. If Embiid plays, Maxey still has the price tag and floor for cash but may lack the requisite upside in GPPs.

Others Under Consideration: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC - PG ($10,700), James Harden, LAC - PG ($9,700), Anthony Edwards, MIN - PG/SG ($9,300)

DraftKings NBA DFS Tournament Pivots

Cade Cunningham, DET - PG ($10,500)

Cade Cunningham is HIM, as the kids say. We saw him flex his full muscle last night with 76.25 DK points in 38 minutes in a win against the Hawks. The Pistons won their sixth game in a row and are, dare we say...good?

At any rate, Cunningham is back in action again, and I assume he won't attract a ton of ownership. The matchup is difficult against the Clippers, and DFS players may not like the back-to-back effect. If we get Cunningham at single-digit ownership on a seven-gamer, sign me up. He's absolutely proven he can break the slate.

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DraftKings NBA DFS Value Picks

Quentin Grimes, PHI - SG/SF ($5,600)

This Knicks fan is certainly wishing Quentin Grimes was back in the orange and blue, as we could certainly use his 3-point defense in our rotation. I'll have to settle for playing him in DFS, as he's thrived lately with the 76ers.

Over the past four games, Grimes has played 36, 36, 33, and 37 minutes and scored over 30 DK points in three of the four (with a 54-point ceiling game thrown in there as well). The Bulls have allowed the third most FPPG to opposing SGs and have also given up the sixth-highest 3PT%.

If Maxey happens to sit, Grimes will likely be the highest-owned player on the slate, but he's a solid choice regardless at his price tag.

Toumani Camara, POR - SG/SF ($5,600)

Who put Kryptonite in Toumani Camara's Wheaties lately? The second-year Trailblazer has burst out of the All-Star Break with DK outputs of 42.75 and 50 points. I'm willing to drink the Kool-Aid here, as Camara's price is not at all catching up to his production.

Utah is seventh in pace, 29th in defensive efficiency, and has allowed the most FPPG to opposing wings this year. They seem to have fully embraced the tank, while Portland is actually using the season to get their young players (like Camara) going.

Kevin Huerter, CHI - SG ($3,400)

If you're looking for an extreme (albeit unsafe) punt, Kevin Huerter's your guy. He's been eased into the offense since coming over from Sacramento at the trade deadline but got up to 30 minutes last game. In those minutes, Huerter shot ten threes and posted 25.5 DK points.

There's no data to suggest Huerter's minutes will repeat again, but at a near-minimum price tag, you can take this risk. The Sixers have allowed the eighth-most FPPG to opposing SGs and the seventh-most 3PA.

Others Under Consideration: Cameron Johnson, BKN - SF/PF ($6,400), Deni Avdija, POR - SF/PF ($6,300), Kelly Oubre Jr., PHI - SG/SF ($5,500), Lonzo Ball, CHI - PG ($5,000), Matas Buzelis, CHI - PF ($4,800)

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stack

Bulls at 76ers (232.5 O/U)

I'll be honest - if you can make a DEN/IND stack work, that's the move since its 246.5-point total is light years ahead of the rest. Any Jokic-included stack is incredibly difficult to do, however, as his price tag often cripples the rest of the lineup (since you can't really get Haliburton, Siakam, etc).

We'll settle for the second-highest total, which also features two defense-deficient teams in the Bulls and Sixers. Assuming Joel Embiid sits, all of Maxey, Oubre, Grimes, Gerschon Yabusele, and Andre Drummond would be in play against the fast-paced Bulls.

Josh Giddey has been a usage monster lately and should be the first click for the Bulls. Coby White and Nikola Vucevic are also fine (the latter especially if Embiid sits). Lonzo Ball's usage has been down but he's consistently near 30 minutes, and Matas Buzelis is also a solid value even at 24 minutes.

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: Nikola Jokic
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Tyrese Maxey
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Cade Cunningham
• My favorite VALUE play: Quentin Grimes

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