NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (5/9/25)

May 9, 2025

Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Thunder Dan's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on May 9, 2025.

Both games tonight are the third game in their respective series, with the Pacers holding a surprising 2-0 lead over the Cavs, and the Thunder-Nuggets series being tied 1-1.

Cleveland is in must-win territory, but could get one or more of DeAndre Hunter, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland back tonight. All of them are currently questionable, but you'd have to think they'll make every attempt to play with the Cavs having their backs up against the wall. There are no real injury concerns in the other game, which has a slightly higher total of 232.5 and a similar spread with OKC installed as five-point road favorites.

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 FanDuel and DraftKings on 5/9/25. 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.

Today's NBA DFS Core Picks

Nikola Jokic, DEN -  C ($11K DK, $11.6K FD)

You could try to fade Jokic tonight and hope for another OKC beatdown like we saw in game two, but I don't think we'll see that happen. In any kind of close game, it's much more likely that we see something closer to Jokic's game one output (42-22-6 and 79 FD points).

OKC can throw Hartenstein and Holmgren at Jokic, but he remains the most skilled big man in the game (and perhaps ever?), and he's not likely to be slowed down by the Thunder for a second straight game.

He costs a pretty penny, but the salaries of a lot of other players have been depressed by the sites so that we can fit him into lineups without having to punt too much, and I plan to do just that.

Jamal Murray, DEN – PG/SG ($6.8K DK, $7.6K FD)

Murray is just far too cheap for how much of the Denver offense he represents. For years now in Denver, it's been the Jokic and Murray show, and if the Nuggets are able to keep this game close or win it, then we are probably going to see a solid game from Murray, similar to what he did in game one of this series (21-6-6).

Murray and Jokic stack well together, and I'd run it back with an OKC piece.

Andrew Nembhard, IND - PG/SG ($5.6K, $5.8K)

Nembhard's play through the first two games has been key to the Pacers getting two wins in Cleveland. His defense doesn't always show up in the box score, but he's been making key plays on both ends of the floor.

Andrew Nembhard when the playoffs start pic.twitter.com/Jxp74sMXOQ

— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) May 5, 2025

In game 1, he dropped 23 points and gave Indiana some much-needed scoring, while it was his passing (13 assists) that was on display in game 2. He's going to log heavy minutes, and he's going to end up getting there in terms of achieving 5 to 6x value on his price by the time the game is over.

Others To Consider: Donovan Mitchell (if Garland and/or Mobley sit) - PG/SG

Today's NBA DFS Pivots

Chet Holmgren, OKC – PF/C ($7K DK, $7.3K FD)

The most popular players on OKC tonight will be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. And I get it, both guys are the top scorers and passers on the team and will probably play significantly more minutes than the third amigo, Chet.

However, Holmgren is a lot cheaper and falls firmly into my GPP-pivot price range, where he should also carry the lowest rostership of the OKC big three.

Chet had 43 FD points in Game 2 and now has six blocks through the first two games of this series. His defensive stats give him a ceiling that not many other players have.

Chet Holmgren is 23 years and 7 days old. He has the 5th most blocked shots in NBA playoff history of anyone that age.

1) Serge Ibaka 123 Blocks
2) Kobe Bryant 64
3) Andrew Bynum 59
4) Darryl Dawkins 48
5) Chet Holmgren 42 pic.twitter.com/QAwu0vU3Zb

— OKC Thunder Stats (@ThunderNumbers) May 9, 2025

If we see Chet up his scoring or rebounding tonight in addition to maintaining those elite blocks numbers, he could be a guy who goes for 7x on his price tag and win you a tournament. He has fared well against Denver in his career. Let's hope for a close game so Chet can get the minutes he needs to hit his ceiling.

Jarrett Allen, CLE – PF/C ($6.8K DK, $7.5K FD)

Allen won't be a "pivot" if Evan Mobley sits out again tonight. But I am going to do everything I can to get him into some lineups along with Nikola Jokic. You can do so by playing two centers on DraftKings and utilizing Allen's PF eligibility on FanDuel.

Allen had a mediocre showing in Game 1, but was dominant with a 22-12-3 line and three blocks against Indiana in Game 2. He can handle Myles Turner on the interior and is a plus defender. If Mobley does play, then Allen's rostership will be very suppressed, and he will make for a very lightly-rostered large field tourney play. And if Mobley plays, just get as much exposure to Allen as you can.

Others To Consider: Tyrese Haliburton - PG/SG

Want more NBA DFS tools and exclusive content? Check out our premium daily content from proven winner Jamie Calandro! Grab an NBA season pass and get access to our daily projections, optimizer, Jamie's personal picks, props, advice, and VIP chat rooms. Use promo code THUNDERDAN at checkout to save 10 percent.

Today's NBA DFS Value Picks

Max Strus, CLE - SG/SF ($5K DK, $5K FD)

Strus stepped up in a big way for the Cavs in Game 2, dropping 23 points with eight boards and four assists. He played 39 minutes with the Cavs missing two starters and their sixth man, DeAndre Hunter.

MAX STRUS WITH THE THROWDOWN 😱 pic.twitter.com/uoHldT3sZ4

— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 7, 2025

Some of those players might be back tonight, but Strus will still have a big part in this rotation. He played 31 minutes in Game 1, and the Cavs love his combination of three-point shooting, rebounding, and gutsy defense.

Aaron Nesmith, IND – SG/SF ($5.3K DK, $5.5K FD)

Nesmith was solid in Game 1 with 17 points and eight boards, but he was terrific in Game 2 and one of the main catalysts in their comeback win. Nesmith went for 24 points while adding four blocks/steals and finished with 41 FD points.

At his price tag, expect Nesmith to be one of the most popular plays in this price range, but for good reason. He's going to play a lot and is a crucial part of this Indiana rotation.

Others to Consider: Bennedict Mathurin - SG/SF, Russell Westbrook - PG, Sam Merrill - SG

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis