NBA DFS Picks for Daily Fantasy Basketball on DraftKings, FanDuel (5/4/25)

May 4, 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 4, 2025.

Welcome back, RotoBallers! We have a solid Game 7 on set as the Warriors and Rockets take each other one last time. We also have the first game of the second round between the Cavaliers and the Pacers. The Pacers game has a much higher total and should be considered highly for a game stack compared to the Warriors game.

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 5/4/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 6:00 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.

Donovan Mitchell, CLE -  PG/SG ($8.6K DK, $8.8K FD)

Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers may be without Darius Garland for the third straight game. If that is the case, then I’ll be all over Mitchell in what should be a very fast-paced environment with the Pacers.

Mitchell has crushed the Pacers recently. He scored 33+ points in four of his last five games. Mitchell thrives in a fast-paced environment and should have his way with the Pacers, especially if he is the primary ball-handler in Cleveland.

Alperen Sengun, HOU  – C ($9.2K DK, $9.6K FD)

Sengun has dominated the Warriors all season long. He has scored 50+ fantasy points in four of the six games. The Warriors have a serious issue guarding centers this season. They have given up the third-most rebounds to them. Sengun has a double-double in four of the six playoff games and was one rebound away from that being all six games. I will continue riding the hot hand with Sengun against a team struggling to guard in the paint.

Alperen Sengun through Round 1 📈

GM 1: 26 PTS | 9 REB
GM 2: 17 PTS | 16 REB | 7 AST
GM 3: 15 PTS | 11 REB | 4 AST
GM 4: 31 PTS | 10 REB | 5 AST
GM 5: 15 PTS | 9 REB | 9 AST
GM 6: 21 PTS | 14 REB | 6 AST

Unbelievable impact. @alperennsengun | #Liftoff pic.twitter.com/MC5836UMjm

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) May 3, 2025

Others To Consider: Jimmy Butler III, GSW - SF (FanDuel Only)/PF, Evan Mobley, CLE - PF/C, Stephen Curry, GSW - PG

Today's NBA DFS Pivots

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

Fred VanVleet, HOU - PG ($6.7K DK, $6.7K FD)

Fred VanVleet has breathed life into this Rockets squad. They were down 3-1 in the series, and he has had 25+ points in three straight games. He is keeping the Rockets alive in this series, and I expect him to continue firing now that it seems he has figured out his shot. His minutes are elite, playing 40+ minutes in all but one game during the playoffs. I expect FVV to lay it all on the line in this one.

Fred VanVleet’s last three games:

29 PTS - 53% FG - 6/9 3PM
26 PTS - 61% FG - 4/6 3PM
25 PTS - 61% FG - 8/12 3PM pic.twitter.com/ZdFzYNxUGM

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 3, 2025

Pascal Siakam, IND– PF ($7.2K DK, $7.5K FD)

Pascal Siakam could be a bit overlooked here as people focus on the Cavaliers. Cleveland was liable to PFs during the regular season, giving up the sixth most fantasy points to them. Siakam has scored 40+ fantasy points in two of his last three games against the Cavs, and given the way Bam Adebayo was scoring against them, we could see something similar here with Siakam.

Others To Consider: Amen Thompson, HOU- PG (DraftKings Only)/SG (FanDuel Only)/SF, Tyrese Haliburton, IND - PG/SG (FanDuel Only)

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Today's NBA DFS Value Picks

Ty Jerome, CLE - PG ($5K DK, $5.6K FD)

Ty Jerome benefits greatly from Garland's absence. If that stays the case, Jerome will be one of the first people I add to my lineups. He is still reasonably cheap and can produce quite well when given minutes.

Ty Jerome in only 91 minutes in round 1....

65 PTS
68.1 TS%
50.0 3P% (20 3PA)
19 assists, 2 turnovers
+88 (leads NBA)

This guy is an assassin pic.twitter.com/kHCllDI9Fs

— NBA University (@NBA_University) April 29, 2025

Jerome has only seen 21 minutes in the two games Garland has been out, but that didn’t stop him from finishing with 39 and 31 fantasy points. I expect the Pacers to keep these games much closer, allowing Jerome to produce more with extended minutes.

Andrew Nembhard, IND – PG/SG ($5.5K DK, $5.7K FD)

Andrew Nembhard has seen solid minutes during the playoffs so far. He has scored 28+ fantasy points in all five games and finished out Game 5 with 37 minutes. He has scored 28+ fantasy points in four of the five games, which is good for nearly 5x his price. He should continue to see solid minutes and usage as long as games stay close.

Steven Adams, HOU – C ($3.8K DK, $4.4K FD)

The Warriors didn’t have an answer for Steven Adams off the bench. He played 31 minutes and finished with 35 fantasy points. With the Rockets blowing them out in their last game, they may continue to run Adams more as if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. For his price, we don’t need much. If he gets the minutes, he should hit value fairly easily.

Others to Consider: De'Andre Hunter, CLE - SF/PF, Moses Moody, GSW - SG/SF

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: Alperen Sengun
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Donovan Mitchell
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Pascal Siakam
• My favorite value play: Ty Jerome

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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