NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (5/1/25)

May 1, 2025

Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Koby's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on May 1, 2025.

Welcome back, RotoBallers! I can't believe it's the first day of May already! Last night, we saw the Timberwolves finish out the Lakers, and the Rockets forced a Game 6 against the Warriors. The NBA has a solid Thursday night set of games for us, as the Knicks and Nuggets look to close out their series against the Pistons and Clippers, respectively. The Pistons are just slight 1.5-point favorites at home, while the Clippers are installed as 6.5-point favorites against the Nuggets.

These articles focus on the best plays, typically more suited for cash games. However, some exceptions may apply, depending on the size of the slate. The key to succeeding in NBA DFS is making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. But it's always essential to have a game plan and zero in on the best players and spots before making those adjustments.

This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/1/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:30 p.m. EDT on DraftKings. 

Today's NBA DFS Core Picks

You can build around these guys, offering a mix of floor and upside for both cash games and tournaments.

Jalen Brunson, NYK -  PG ($8.6K DK, $9K FD)

Outside of Game 5, Brunson had been crushing. With the way Tom Thibodeau runs his rotation, Brunson should have no issue getting 40 minutes in this game and resuming his tear in the playoffs. In Games 1-4, he had 30+ points and 47+ FP in all four games. After an off night, we should see Brunson get back on track tonight.

I love Brunson at his price compared to Cade Cunningham, as he has similar production for over a $1K discount. Brunson carries a large workload in this offense, and as long as he gets back on track tonight, we should be in for a solid scoring night.

Kawhi Leonard, LAC  – SF (FanDuel Only)/PF ($8.2K DK, $8.8K FD)

A healthy Kawhi Leonard is an elite Kawhi Leonard. We have seen him be a pivotal piece in this lineup this season, and in the playoffs, that's why they have been competitive. He is averaging 38 MPG, all while averaging 46 FP a game.

Kawhi Leonard tonight:

20 PTS
9 REB
11 AST (playoff career-high)
2 BLK pic.twitter.com/7COOlwFUq1

— Real Sports (@realapp_) April 30, 2025

With the season on the line here, I will have plenty of Leonard. He has had nine or more rebounds in three straight games and is becoming increasingly active in the assist game, as well as almost achieving a triple-double in the last game.

Others To Consider: Cade Cunningham, DET - PG, Nikola Jokic, DEN - C 

Today's NBA DFS Pivots

These players might fly under the radar, but have the ceiling to match the chalkier options.

Jalen Duren, DET – C ($6.5K DK, $6.9K FD)

If you aren't going to pay up for Nikola Jokic, then I highly recommend going with Jalen Duren. Isaiah Stewart's injury has forced Duren to play more minutes than normal, which has raised his ceiling. He went from playing 24 minutes in Game 1 to playing in the 35-minute range in Games 2-5. Duren has scored 29+ FP in all five playoff games, but has 35+ in three of them.

Suppose Stewart remains out for this one. I love going cheaper at the center position with Duren, who has 40 FP upside at a sub-$7K price.

Josh Hart, NYK – SF/PF ($7K DK, $7.5K FD)

Josh Hart makes for the perfect add if you are going for a more balanced build. He's in the $7K range on both sites, but has 40-45 FP upside. He is a do-it-all type of guy, and although he isn't a prolific scorer, he gets all the necessary boards as well as gets the ball down the court quickly for the assists.

Hart has 40+ FP in three straight games and has been a consistent driving force for this Knicks team.

Others To Consider: Mikal Bridges, NYK - SG/SF, Aaron Gordon, DEN - PF/C (DK), Ivica Zubac, LAC - C

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Today's NBA DFS Value Picks

Christian Braun, DEN - SG/SF ($5.3K DK, $5.6K FD)

Christian Braun has arrived in Denver in the playoffs after a poor start to the series. His usage has been up in the last two games, as he has 35+ FP in his last two appearances.

I believe he benefited from Russell Westbrook being out, but Denver, seeing how well he played, has added to his usage even with Westbrook back. He is averaging just under 40 MPG during the playoffs, and at his price, I'll gladly take a shot on that.

Christian Braun just recorded his first NBA Playoffs double double.
pic.twitter.com/C1KKbj5QMC

— Nuggets Lead (@NuggetsLead) April 30, 2025

Kris Dunn, LAC – PG/SG ($3.8K DK, $4.4K FD)

Kris Dunn's defensive upside is what has me reconsidering him as the series has progressed. He is averaging two STOCKS a game during the playoffs and has been solid in getting rebounds as well. The minutes have been sporadic, but at his price, we don't need him to do much. Just enough to allow us to allocate some salary elsewhere.

If you're looking for someone a bit more risky, however, consider Bogdan Bogdanovic, as he saw an uptick in minutes in the last game and is even cheaper.

Tim Hardaway Jr., DET – SG/SF ($4.4K DK, $4.1K FD)

I think getting your value here from either Hardaway or Malik Beasley will be required. Getting a bit of both could be necessary to make sure you get the guy who has the better night. They are both fairly reliant on their shooting, and Detroit is going to need one or both of these guys to shoot the ball well if it wants a shot in this one.

I give Hardaway the edge as he has averaged more minutes during the playoffs, but head coach J.B. Bickerstaff may elect to go with whoever is hotter in this one.

Others to Consider: Malik Beasley, DET - SG/SF, Nicolas Batum, LAC - SF (FD), PF/C (DK)

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 Brunson
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Kawhi Leonard
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Josh Hart
• My favorite value play: Christian Braun

As the NBA playoffs heat up, so do the opportunities to win more in Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) on DraftKings and FanDuel. Staying informed on late-breaking NBA injury news is critical for success, so be sure to leverage RotoBaller’s expert insights and tools throughout the day to gain an edge on the field.

Whether you're grinding out GPPs or locking in safe cash game picks, smart NBA DFS strategy can make all the difference. Good luck tonight, and may your lineups crush!

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