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Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Max Kulish's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on November 18th, 2025.
Welcome back, RotoBallers! Tonight, we have six games on tap, highlighted by the doubleheader on NBC of the Grizzlies at the Spurs, followed by the Suns at Blazers. DraftKings is only including the four games that start at 7-8 PM EST, while all six games will be included on FanDuel's main slate. For this article, I will only feature players in games on both sites. Whichever site you're playing on, there are plenty of good DFS fantasy basketball options to consider. These articles focus on the best overall plays, which are typically more suited to cash games. However, some exceptions may apply, depending on the size of the slate.
As always, watching the injury report updates will be critical to finalizing your strategy. Some big names will be on the sidelines for this slate, including Victor Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham, Paolo Banchero, Trae Young, and Ja Morant. There are many more players out, and there will undoubtedly be players who pop up on the injury report tomorrow, or even get ruled out, so keep a close eye on the NBA injury news and make adjustments as needed.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 11/18/25. 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 FanDuel and DraftKings. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and also gain access to our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where our experts are talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
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NBA DFS Core Picks
De'Aaron Fox, SAS - PG (DK $8.3K, FD $8.3K)
Fox has only played five games so far this season after suffering a hamstring injury in preseason, and it looks like he's finding his basketball legs at the perfect time. He's posted 50+ fantasy points in consecutive games after not clearing 35 fantasy points in his first three appearances this year. Not only are the Spurs missing Wemby, but Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper have also been ruled out, leaving Fox as the only active PG on the Spurs roster.
Fox would be an elite play regardless of his matchup, but the Grizzlies are 28th against PGs, which is another huge plus for his outcome. The Grizzlies are also down to their third-string PG, making the matchup that much more enticing.
De’Aaron Fox today
• 28 PTS, 11 AST, 4/8 3PM, 11/20 FG pic.twitter.com/qiE2LtNWHK
— Bala (@BalaPattySZN) November 16, 2025
Jalen Duren, DET - C (DK $8K, FD $8.1K)
Duren was starting to produce at an elite level before getting hurt, averaging 48 fantasy PPG over his last six games before a three-game absence. Any questions on how much a lack of Cade Cunningham would alter his production were answered last night, with Duren dropping 31/15 and shooting 92.3% from the field upon his return.
Atlanta has been a tough matchup for centers, but with both of their top two centers looking to be game-time decisions, there's reason for optimism in this spot. Onyeka Okongwu would be a bigger loss, as he's Atlanta's best chance to keep Duren, who is 5th in the NBA in rebounds per game so far, off the boards.
Jalen Duren (31 PTS, 15 REB) leads the @DetroitPistons to their 10th straight win!
He becomes the youngest player in NBA history to record 30+ PTS and 15+ REB on 90%+ FG% in a regular season game 🤯 pic.twitter.com/C4CmgdiWxX
— NBA (@NBA) November 18, 2025
Michael Porter Jr., BKN - SF (DK $7.6K, FD $7.9K)
The Nets emerged victorious from Sunday's highly anticipated clash with the Wizards, with MPJ leading the way, posting 34/9/7. With Cam Thomas hurt, MPJ is by far the Nets' best offensive option, and has been treated as so, posting a 32% usage rate in Thomas' ongoing, five-game absence.
MPJ's sheer volume is the stuff dreams are made of when talking about cash games. With all of the notable injuries on tonight's slate, there's an argument to be made for him having the best role (from a fantasy perspective) on the slate. The matchup against Boston, and the ever-present systemic failure of the Nets as a whole, mean his ownership should be pretty modest.
NBA DFS GPP Pivots
Jalen Johnson, ATL - PF (DK $9.5K, FD $9.4K)
The slate's most expensive option, Johnson is definitely not someone you typically see setting the pace in price for a slate. Obviously, his ceiling is slate-breaking, as seen in last Thursday's 92-point fantasy performance against the Jazz.
I don't expect Johnson to catch a ton of ownership due to a tough matchup against the Pistons, and his floor has been pretty stable, but this is his highest price tag all season. As long as Trae Young remains sidelined, Johnson can be your ticket to the top if he goes off.
Jalen Johnson is the youngest forward this century to record 3-straight games with:
20+ PTS
10+ REB
5+ AST
50%+ FG pic.twitter.com/zFLflX1eDh— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) November 17, 2025
Derrick White, BOS - PG ($7.2K DK, $7.6K FD)
White has been a rock for Boston this year, averaging 40.4 fantasy PPG over his last seven games, while never scoring less than 35 fantasy points in that stretch. While that sounds like a profile for someone you'd see in Core Plays, White's ownership looks like it will be squeezed a bit by the two standout PG options.
The Nets are a bad defense, and the Celtics are huge favorites. White could outscore both Jenkins and Fox at a fraction of the ownership, making him a great leverage piece tonight.
Nicolas Claxton, BKN - C ($6.4K DK, $6.8K FD)
Claxton has a great role on a talent-deprived roster, giving him a pathway to big games. He's posted 40+ fantasy points in five of his eight games during November. The Celtics are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, but they do rank 24th in offensive rebounds allowed. Claxton is an above-average offensive rebounder (2.8 per game), and the Nets will have to crash the boards and attack the Celtics' interior weaknesses if they want to keep this game close.
NBA DFS Value Picks
Daniss Jenkins, DET - PG (DK $6K, FD $5.6K)
Typically, I would consider $6k too expensive for a "value" pick, but since this slate has fewer options at the top end of pricing, you'll have more average salary per position than usual. Jenkins came out of nowhere once Cade Cunningham went down with an injury and has been lighting it up, averaging 42.9 fantasy PPG in that span. He will undoubtedly be one of the most popular plays on the slate tonight.
Luke Kornet, NOP - C (DK $5.4K, FD $5.1K)
With Victor Wembanyama hurt, someone has to fill his spot in the Spurs' starting lineup, and that someone would be Kornet. Kornet posted 34.75 fantasy points in 28 minutes against the Kings last game, and figures to have the same role on the team doing the dirty work until Wemby returns.
Tristan da Silva, ORL - SF/PF (DK $5K, FD $4.4K)
The Magic are also missing their star player, and da Silva has made the most of his return to the starting lineup. He's played season-highs in minutes in consecutive games and has scored 37.75 and 32.5 fantasy points in those contests. His ownership will be on the lower side of the cheap options, giving him some tournament appeal from a strategy perspective.
Luka Garza, BOS - C (DK $3.3K, FD $3.9K)
Garza is dirt cheap and has scored 19+ fantasy points in four straight games. He's an incredibly productive scorer on a per-minute basis, and with the Celtics being double-digit favorites, he's a prime candidate to see blowout minutes for Boston.
Today's Top Game Stacks
Grizzlies at Spurs (232.5 O/U) - This game stands heads and shoulders above the other games on paper, having the highest implied total by a three-point margin. Both teams are missing key players, providing plenty of value for both sides. This game should be the starting point for all your lineups.
Pistons at Hawks (229.5 O/U) - This game profiles almost identically to the Grizzlies / Spurs game just mentioned. Detroit will be down three starters, and Atlanta could end up missing their top two centers, as well as Zaccharie Risacher. This game's cumulative ownership will depend on Atlanta's inactive list, so keep an eye out for news about this game throughout the day.
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: Jalen Duren
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: De'Aaron Fox
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Jalen Johnson
- My favorite VALUE play: Daniss Jenkins
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