NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (5/20/25)

May 20, 2025

Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Max's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on May 20, 2025.

Welcome back, RotoBallers! Tonight, the conference finals begin with the Timberwolves heading to Oklahoma City to take on the top-seeded Thunder, who are two days removed from a blowout Game 7 win against the Nuggets. The difference in rest is a big storyline going into this game; the Thunder just finished up a grueling seven-game series with Denver on Sunday, while the Timberwolves haven't played in six days after dispatching the Stephen Curry-less Warriors in five games.

I will help you dive into the slate and hopefully bring in some more cash for the rest of the playoffs! This article will focus on the top guys to play at MVP, some flex guys to put in your utility spots, and a couple of value options to make the rest of the lineup work! 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 5/20/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 8:30 p.m. EDT on DraftKings. 

Today's NBA DFS MVP Picks

These are the guys you want headlining your lineups at the MVP position. FanDuel has now adopted the same pricing dynamic as DraftKings, where the MVP is priced at 1.5x their salary.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC - PG ($18K DK, $23.4K FD)

SGA was fantastic over the last three games in the Nuggets series, scoring 30+ points and shooting higher than 50% in each game. In four matchups with the Timberwolves this season, SGA averaged 35.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, with the Thunder going 3-1 in those games. The lack of rest for the Thunder could favor a scorer like SGA.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to close series vs. Nuggets:

Game 7: 35 PTS, 63.2% FG
Game 6: 32 PTS, 68.8% FG
Game 5: 31 PTS, 52.2% FG

Thunder advance to Western Conference Finals for first time since 2016.pic.twitter.com/cEgcE5FM6k

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 18, 2025

Anthony Edwards, MIN - PG/SG ($17.4K DK, $22.2K FD)

Edwards averaged 51 fantasy PPG during the Timberwolves' comfortable 4-1 series win over the Warriors. Edwards has consistently played 40+ minutes in these playoffs, and after some much-needed extra rest, should be fully recharged coming into this game.

Historically, road games are where superstars step up for their team, which could help give Edwards' already high usage rate the nudge it needs to truly dominate the fantasy slate.

Others To Consider: Julius Randle

Today's NBA DFS Utility

These players are ones you may want to add to your Utility spots!

Jalen Williams, OKC - SF/PF ($9.4K DK, $4K FD)

It's hard to find a true weakness on this Thunder team, but one of the most common criticisms about them is that Williams isn't a championship-level second option. Williams had a rough time shooting last series, but played his best when it mattered in Game 7, making the same number of shots in that game as he did in his previous three games combined (10).

Williams always stuffs the stat sheet, and when he's scoring at least 16-18 points, that's when he finds his ceiling games.

Isaiah Hartenstein, OKC - C ($7.8K DK, $7.8K FD)

Hartenstein should continue to see a sizeable role each night, due to Minnesota's preference to play two big men. Hartenstein was signed by the Thunder specifically because they were too small on the interior last year, so this series feels like the exact scenario he was signed. Hartenstein offers less in the ceiling department compared to teammate Chet Holmgren, but comes with an $800 discount, which will probably give him the edge in ownership.

Others To Consider: Chet Holmgren, Rudy Gobert

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

Alex Caruso, OKC - PG/SG ($4.8K DK, $5.4K FD)

Caruso has been a Swiss Army knife for the Thunder these playoffs. He scored 10+ points in 5/7 games, hitting multiple 3s in each one, and he guarded everyone on the Nuggets, including Nikola Jokic. Caruso would be a solid value play at this price on a non-showdown slate and is underpriced when evaluating his role and the other options priced $5k or under.

Cason Wallace, OKC - PG/SG ($3.2K DK only)

Wallace typically sees around 18-20 minutes of action as a reserve, and he can sometimes play near-starter-level minutes like he did in Games 6 and 7 against Denver. He has a solid role, especially for his price, and he also has the benefit of playing out games for the Thunder when the benches are empty.

Others to Consider: Luguentz Dort, Nickeil Alexander-Walker

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 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, a smart NBA DFS strategy can make all the difference. Good luck tonight, and may your lineups crush!

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis