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Zach's top DraftKings NBA DFS picks for today, Wednesday, 3/19/25. His favorite daily fantasy basketball lineup sleepers and value picks for DraftKings DFS.
Wednesday night will be a busy one in the NBA with a massive 11-game main slate lined up on DraftKings, which tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Cavaliers are the only one of the 11 teams that are playing for the second day in a row while the Bulls, Pacers, Lakers, Knicks, and Kings will turn around and play again on Thursday. There's no shortage of options in the player pool and several strong options to consider building around
Even with just one team on a back-to-back, many teams are managing workloads and players are dealing with injuries. While there is still uncertainty in some rotations, some strong options to consider stand out 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 3/19/25. 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
Desmond Bane, MEM – SG ($9.3K)
For the third straight game, the Grizzlies won't have star point guard Ja Morant (hamstring) and could also be without Scotty Pippen Jr. ($4.8K; wrist, questionable) leaving plenty of work for Bane. In the last two games with Morant, Bane earned 53 and 61 DraftKings points, including going off for 44 points on Monday against the Kings.
Desmond Bane made Grizzlies history despite the loss.
🎯 44 PTS
🎯 6 REB
🎯 4 AST
🎯 7 3PMHe's the FIRST player in franchise history to record 40+ PTS & 5+ 3PM on 100% shooting from 3! pic.twitter.com/faI8q7ElHI
— NBA (@NBA) March 18, 2025
Since the first of the year, the Grizzlies have been without Morant for 10 games, and in those games, Bane has stepped up with an average of 49.6 DraftKings points per game. Especially in a favorable matchup against the Trail Blazers, Bane should be in a position to post another monster game. His recent success has caused his salary to creep over $9K, but he's still a good value with so much work coming his way.
Josh Hart, NYK – SF/PF ($8K)
The Knicks are also without a key piece in their lineup with Jalen Brunson (ankle) still on the shelf. The team is in a good spot to attack on Wednesday, though, as they visit the Spurs, who have allowed the most points per game in the NBA over their last 15 games, giving up 124.3 points per game.
Hart is a very solid option against San Antonio after posting a triple-double and 59.25 DraftKings points on Monday in a win over the Heat.
12 PTS | 13 REB | 11 AST@joshhart really did that. pic.twitter.com/wgPzk6aPTi
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 18, 2025
Hart had a strange scoreless game against the Warriors on Saturday but has produced over 40 DraftKings points in four of his last six games, dating back to when Brunson was injured. In his six games without Brunson this season, Hart averaged 43.0 DraftKings points with a 17.0% usage rate, which is a marked increase from his 15.8% usage rate on the season.
Kyle Filipowski, UTA – PF/C ($6.2K)
Filipowski has regularly stepped up for the Jazz over the last few months, especially when the team has opted to rest Walker Kessler (rest), who is out on Wednesday. Since February 1, Filipowski has played 10 games without Kessler and John Collins (ankle) and has averaged 41.6 DraftKings points per game in those contests.
The last time Kessler rested, Filipowski had 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 44.25 DraftKings points against the Raptors. In his two other recent starts, he posted 45.75 DraftKings points against the 76ers and 42.75 DraftKings points against the Wizards.
The combination of high-feel as both a passer and ballhandler, improved defense, and inside-outside scoring potential made Kyle Filipowski a lottery-level talent in the ‘24 draft class
And Utah’s move towards resting their starters and vets is allowing him to showcase that pic.twitter.com/tzIK4IJKJ1
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) March 10, 2025
He'll get another shot at the very favorable matchup against Washington on Wednesday night, and since he's barely over $6K he makes a ton of sense to build around. It also helps that he brings PF eligibility, which enables him to slot into more spots.
Others Under Consideration: Karl-Anthony Towns ($9.9K), Coby White - PG/SG ($8K), Deni Avdija - SF/PF ($7.3K), Anfernee Simons - PG/SG ($7K)
DraftKings NBA DFS Tournament Pivots
Luka Doncic, LAL - PG ($12.5K)
If you're going to save on all the bargains available, you also have to find the right pay-up spots to use all those savings. Doncic is the most expensive play on the slate, but he is also one of the safest plays since he is carrying so much workload for the Lakers with LeBron James (groin) out.
Doncic had a triple-double and 62.5 DraftKings points in the first game that LeBron missed with his injury and posted three straight double-doubles since then with 71.25, 64.24, and 61.75 DraftKings points. In those four games, he has a 38.8% usage rate and has produced 1.43 DraftKings points per minute.
When I tell you that Luka Doncic is a generational passer 😳😳
— HeroOfTheDay (@Hero_OfThe_Day) March 18, 2025
Doncic and the Lakers will host the Nuggets on Wednesday, looking to pick up a huge win. If they're going to keep the game competitive, Luka will need to have a big game, and given how good he's been lately, he brings an extremely high ceiling.
Chet Holmgren, OKC - PF/C ($7.6K)
The Thunder will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (rest), Jalen Williams (hip), and Luguentz Dort (hip) on Wednesday against the Sixers. Isaiah Hartenstein ($6.4K; back) is also questionable but Holmgren is not on the injury report. If he plays close to his normal minutes, he brings a very high ceiling against Philly, especially with their injury issues in the frontcourt.
Holmgren had 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 49.25 DraftKings points against the Celtics last Wednesday, reminding everyone of his upside.
Chet Holmgren with the unreal one-handed catch and reverse finish 😲pic.twitter.com/9hZ8dmvcUm
— Thunder Nation (@ThunderNationCP) March 13, 2025
Since he may get a lighter workload without his fellow starters, Holmgren is high-risk, but he could also absolutely go off while carrying the workload.
Mikal Bridges, NYK - SG/SF ($6.3K)
Bridges has stepped up for the Knicks without Brunson with 29+ DraftKings points in each of the last five games since the Brunson injury. He had a high point of 33 points and 47.5 DraftKings points while hitting the dramatic game-winner in Portland last Wednesday and followed that up with 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting on Monday against Miami.
mikal bridges buckets to bless your tl 👀
28 points in the dubbbb ✅ pic.twitter.com/flxpGAg8iH
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 18, 2025
Bridges should at least return good value given his favorable matchup against San Antonio, and he also has the potential to go off with another monster game.
Alexandre Sarr, WAS - C ($6.4K)
The Wizards are in Utah in what should be a good spot for them to produce against the Jazz, but Washington remains without several key pieces and has been doing strange things with their rotation lately. One fairly consistent piece, though, has been Sarr putting up solid stat lines in the middle.
The No. 2 overall pick in last year's NBA Draft has scored at least 19 points in each of his last three games, highlighted by a 34-point game against the Nuggets on Saturday.
A career-high 34 points for Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick in this year's NBA draft 🙌
34 PTS
6 REB
5 AST
5 3PM@WashWizards W pic.twitter.com/Y0TrkAfXDh— NBA (@NBA) March 16, 2025
With such a high ceiling and a favorable showdown against Filipowski in a rookie-on-rookie matchup, Sarr makes a lot of sense at just over $6K. The only hesitation is his uncertain workload since the Wizards continue to shuffle pieces around.
Others Under Consideration: Cade Cunningham - PG ($9.9K), Devin Booker - PG/SG (9.2K), Anthony Edwards - SG ($9.4K), Darius Garland - PG ($8.1K), Pascal Siakam - PG ($8.3K), Zach LaVine - SG/SF ($8.6K), Quentin Grimes - PG/SG ($8.6K), Alperen Sengun - C ($9.5K), Stephon Castle - PG/SG ($6.6K), Shaedon Sharpe - SG/SF ($6.4K)
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DraftKings NBA DFS Value Picks
Isaiah Joe, OKC – SG ($4.3K)
Joe will be one of several Thunder players with a chance to step up with SGA and Dort out. Joe played 33 minutes on Saturday in Detroit and had 11 points and 19 DraftKings points, but he was even better on Sunday night against the Bucks in Milwaukee. He played 30 minutes and knocked down five three-pointers on his way to 19 points and 31.5 DraftKings points.
Isaiah Joe : 19 points on 6-12 shooting, 5-9 from 3 & 6 rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench pic.twitter.com/UuuPgdy8TS
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) March 17, 2025
The Thunder will be looking for places to get offense on Wednesday, and Joe has plenty of potential to pile up plenty of points against his former team, the 76ers. With so much work available, there are not many scenarios in which he doesn't at least return value at just over $4K.
Tristan Vukcevic, WAS – C ($3.8K)
Vukcevic has gotten big minutes in a couple of games over the last few weeks, and when he has gotten a chance, he has produced good numbers. He had 17 points and 36 DraftKings points on Monday against the Trail Blazers in 24 minutes after producing 15 points and 31.25 DraftKings points the previous Monday against the Raptors.
As the Wizards go away from veterans like Richaun Holmes ($4.1K) to give their younger players more opportunities, Vukcevic should get more work down the stretch. At under $4K, he's a huge value against the Jazz, and you can stack him with Sarr in your center spot or use him as an ultra-cheap play to stretch your salary across the rest of your roster.
Luke Kennard, MEM – PG/SG ($4.7K)
Kennard started the last two games for the Grizzlies with Morant and Pippen out. He had 11 points, four boards, four assists, and 22 DraftKings points on Saturday followed by eight points, eight assists, and 25.5 DraftKings points on Monday.
In the 11 games he has played without Morant since January 1, Kennard averaged 29.6 DraftKings points while playing 29.0 minutes per game with an 18.6% usage rate.
Especially if Pippen is also out, Kennard should be an excellent guard play under $6K on Wednesday.
Jaime Jaquez Jr., MIA – SF ($4.1K)
Jaquez has played at least 27 minutes in each of the last three games for the Heat and moved into the starting lineup on Monday against the Knicks without Andrew Wiggins ($6.3K; leg, questionable). Jaquez stepped up with 11 rebounds, seven assists, six points, and 34.75 DraftKings points, showing off his versatility and multi-category potential.
When he has gotten minutes Jaquez has typically returned good value and has 20+ DraftKings points in each of his last six games with 20+ minutes. Keep a close eye on the Heat's injury report, but if Jaquez is lined up for minutes at home against the Pistons on Wednesday, he'll be a nice value to consider.
Others Under Consideration: Aaron Wiggins - SF/PF ($5.1K), Keldon Johnson - SF/PF ($4.9K), Cason Wallace - PG/SG ($4.3K), Jaylen Martin - SF ($3.4K), Jordan Goodwin - SG/SG ($4.7K), Miles McBride - PG/SG ($5.6K), Justin Edwards - SF/PF ($4.6K), Ryan Dunn - SF/PF ($3.6K)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stack
Grizzlies at Trail Blazers (235.5 total)
The Grizzlies and Blazers should score plenty of points in their matchup in Portland. Morant's absence makes Desmond Bane ($9.3K) and Jaren Jackson Jr. ($8.4K) the focal points of the offense with Luke Kennard ($4.7K), Zach Edey ($4.6K) and Vince Williams Jr. ($3.7K) all good value plays to fill in the stack as well. Brandon Clarke ($3.8K) also makes sense if Santi Aldama ($6.5K; calf, questionable) misses a seventh straight game.
For the Blazers, Shaedon Sharpe ($6.4K) and Anfernee Simons ($7K) have formed a dynamic backcourt duo lately. Deni Avdija ($7.3K) has also been very productive in big minutes. Donovan Clingan ($5.8K) and Scoot Henderson ($5.5K) have also been solid mid-range targets while Toumani Camara ($5.4K; calf) went off before missing Monday's game with a calf injury. Duop Reath ($3.6K) had 15 points and 29.5 DraftKings points on Monday and could keep playing meaningful minutes while Robert Williams III (knee) and Jabari Walker (concussion) are out.
Wizards at Jazz (235 total)
Each of these teams only has 15 wins and sits at the bottom of their conference, but there are actually solid fantasy options on both sides. The trick is figuring out exactly who will play.
For Washington, Jordan Poole ($6.8K; elbow) is doubtful and Bilal Coulibaly (hamstring) remains out, so Bub Carrington ($5.3K) should get plenty of work with Alexandre Sarr ($6.4K). Kyshawn George ($5.5K; knee) is questionable but would be a strong play if available. AJ Johnson ($3.5K) got his first career start on Monday and had 22.25 DraftKings points in 35 minutes.
On the Jazz side of things, Kessler, Collins, KJ Martin (elbow), and Svi Mykhailiuk (foot) are all out, leaving more work for Kyle Filipowski ($6.2K), Keyonte George ($6.6K) and Isaiah Collier ($5.9K). Johnny Juzang ($3.5K) and Brice Sensabaugh ($4.3K) should get more work on the wings as well and be solid bargain options to consider to round out the stack.
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: Josh Hart
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Kyle Filipowski
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Mikal Bridges
- My favorite VALUE play: Isaiah Joe
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