FanDuel NBA DFS Picks for Today (Wednesday 2/12/25): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

We have one of the biggest slates of the season tonight as FanDuel's main slate has 14 games. All 30 NBA teams are in action tonight, some for the last time before the All-Star break, and there is still a lot of injury information we will need before finalizing lineups, but we can still start penciling in the top plays this morning anyway!

I always make it a point to recommend some higher-priced players for cash games and GPPs while highlighting some of my favorite value plays and game stacks. If you want DraftKings picks, see who Zach Thompson likes by reading his piece here.

This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 2/12/25. 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 EST on FanDuel. 

Vegas Data For Tonight's Games

Wow, that's a lot of big spreads! And, of course, the closest spread of the night comes in one of the games with the lowest totals.

The Detroit-Chicago game checks box boxes with a decent spread and high total, however, the Pistons beat the brakes off the Bulls last night, winning by 40 points.

Kings-Pelicans looks ripe for a game stack! And I wouldn't recommend fading all of the potential blowouts, but we can be picky tonight when deciding which games and players to target with so many options.

FanDuel NBA DFS Core Picks

Damian Lillard, MIL - PG ($9.5K) 

Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to miss his sixth straight game for Milwaukee, leaving Damian Lillard to carry the load offensively for the Bucks.

Dame has been fantastic lately in Giannis's absence, averaging 33 points, six rebounds, and nine assists in his last four games. That's been good for 53.6 FD points per game and yet he remains under 10k.

Tonight the Bucks get the Wolves in a game that I think can stay close for the full 48 minutes. He will be a chalky play for cash games but don't avoid him based on projected high ownership in tournaments, he has an elite ceiling for his price, too.

Domantas Sabonis, SAC - PF/C ($9.7K)

I have a soft spot for Sabonis, admittedly, especially on FanDuel, where we can play him at PF when he's really just a traditional center. I consider playing an extra center at a PF slot one of my favorite FD hacks and something I'll do with guys like Jarrett Allen and Onyeka Okongwu when the matchups are too good to pass up.

We need to have a conversation about the NBA’s mistreatment of Domantas Sabonis pic.twitter.com/U3Q4Q8jpsd

— Slam (@slamstudios) February 11, 2025

This is one of those matchups. I already mentioned this game pops with a high total and close spread, we simply need the Pelicans to show up and give enough resistance for the Kings to have to expend maximum effort and we could get a serious Sabonis ceiling game.

Sabo just went for 47 FD points in 34 minutes against them last week, and earlier this season, he dropped 32 points, 20 rebounds, and 65 FD points on the Pelicans. I'm always hunting 60 FD point ceilings for less than 10k, and both Lillard and Sabonis could get there tonight.

Jimmy Butler, GSW - SF/PF ($8.1K)

I think Jimmy B likes it in the Bay Area, don't you? In two games as a Warrior, Butler has scored 38 and 51 FD points. He did that in only 28 and 31 minutes, too! I guess he's not nearly as old or as injured as we thought.

Jimmy Butler as a Warrior (2 Games):

24 Field Goal Attempts
28 Free Throw Attempts

WENT TO THE BAY AND TURNED INTO SHAI 🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/ZQiQhOW6Ov

— Hater Central (@TheHateCentral) February 11, 2025

Butler is still underpriced here, only 8k, and is thriving in his new role. He already has some solid chemistry with Stephen Curry and could feast on a Dallas team that has zero rim protection with both starting centers and Anthony Davis out tonight.

Others Under Consideration: Anthony Edwards - SG/SF ($9.7K), Cade Cunningham - PG ($10.5K), Karl-Anthony Towns - C ($9,600)

FanDuel NBA DFS Tournament Pivots

Jayson Tatum, BOS - SF/PF ($10.1K)

Jaylen Brown is questionable tonight and Jrue Holiday has already been ruled out. If Brown does sit, then look for Tatum to take over on offense as he usually does in that scenario.

This Spurs team is a solid unit offensively but they still struggle on the defense end. Tatum should be able to get what he wants, and we've seen what he can do without Brown on the floor this season (averages of 30-7-5).

Franz Wagner, ORL – SF/PF ($8.8K)

The price discount on Wagner is something I am looking to take advantage of tonight. With the return of Paolo Banchero, the FD pricing has discounted Wagner back under 9k. However, the Magic are still without Jalen Suggs tonight, and Franz has gone for 50+ FD points in two straight.

Franz Wagner has scored 30+ points in 13 games this season.

37 PTS
7 REB
3 AST
15-29 FG
3 3PM pic.twitter.com/Y74WO7aQXJ

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 11, 2025

The only snag here is blowout concern as the Hornets are resting LaMelo Ball and double-digit underdogs. They'll need to stay within arm's length in order for Wagner to get his full allotment of minutes, which is why I am keeping Wagner reserved for GPPs only.

Josh Hart, NYK - SF/PF ($7.8K)

Watch the status of OG Anunoby for tonight's game against Atlanta, but I would be surprised if the Knicks rush him back with the break coming up. If he sits, then look for the offense to flow through Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns primarily.

All three guys are worth consideration in GPPs tonight, as the Knicks are favorites against a pretty bad defensive team in Atlanta. New York played last night, and Hart scored 30 points and added 10 boards on his way to 52 FD points.

He has a major mismatch tonight against Georges Niang at PF and could play 40 minutes again if this game stays close - knowing how Tom "Thibs" Thibodeau doesn't care about playing his core guys' big minutes.

Others Under Consideration: Onyeka Okongwu - PF/C ($6.8K), Deni Avdija - SF/PF ($6.8K), Isaiah Collier - PG ($5.8K)

FanDuel NBA DFS Value Picks

Thomas Bryant, IND – C ($5.5K)

Myles Turner is out again tonight, and Bryant has been filling in admirably with 32, 28, and 37 FD points in his last three starts. He was close to being a core play tonight in a fantastic matchup with the lowly Wizards, but there are a lot of cheap center options, so choose wisely!

Donovan Clingan, POR - C ($5.2K)

Clingan is another backup who gets a chance to start and flashes major per-minute upside based on his elite rebounding and shot-blocking. He managed 31 FD points in just 21 minutes against Denver on Monday night and should be back in the lineup tonight with Deandre Ayton out.

Bol Bol, PHX - C ($4.9K)

Where the heck did Bol Bol come from and why has Phoenix had this guy on the bench all season? We've seen him do this before - put up huge numbers out of nowhere, but perhaps this time, he's done enough to stick in the lineup for a bit longer. He certainly collected my attention after a 50-burger against Memphis last night.

Naji Marshall, DAL – SF/PF ($5.5K)

Marshall and Max Christie should both get plenty of runs tonight, as the Mavs will be without Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and Anthony Davis. Dallas will have to play small quite often with Marshall at the four, and he's proven he can put up numbers with minutes.

Buddy Hield, GSW – PG/SG ($5.3K)

Buddy is thriving in his new starting role, posting 15.5 points, five rebounds, and 2.8 assists in his last four games. He makes for a great cash game play tonight at SG, as he's shown a very solid 25-30-point floor lately.

Others Under Consideration: Kyshawn George - SF/PF ($5.0K), Bub Carrington - PG ($5.1K), Jose Alvarado - PG ($5.0K), Quentin Grimes - SG/SF ($4.8K)

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: Domantas Sabonis
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Damian Lillard
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Jayson Tatum
• My favorite VALUE play: Thomas Bryant

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis