Friday has a two-game NBA slate with a 7:30 p.m. ET start on FanDuel and DraftKings. Let’s get into the top NBA DFS picks and building blocks: Nikola Jokic needs to work his magic tonight, or it will be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder making short work of this series. Similarly, Donovan Mitchell may be asked to carry the load, ideally with help, but either way he will be the driving force behind any Cavaliers comeback on the road.
These picks are based on the latest available data. For real-time lineup updates, check out our NBA DFS Starting Lineups Page.
NBA DFS Picks Today – Building Blocks: Friday, May 9
NBA DFS Picks Today: Building Blocks
Nikola Jokic: Nuggets vs. Thunder
NBA DFS Projections
DraftKings: 64.57 | FanDuel: 61.38
NBA DFS Ownership Projections
DraftKings: 53.4% | FanDuel: 32.2%
DFS Salary
DraftKings: $11,000 | FanDuel: $11,600
Nikola Jokic is in the “optimal” lineup for DraftKings based on the current median fantasy projections, which assume Cleveland will have the questionable players back tonight.
The best lineup with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is about 4 points below that, and the best lineup containing both of the MVP frontrunners is a bucket lower. FanDuel is different with neither superstar in the optimal lineup, while the top Gilgeous-Alexander lineup is a basket below the highwater mark. Jokic’s top lineup is a full 6 points lower than the optimal, and the best with the duo is nearly a dozen points below the highest blue site lineup. Again, this is all tentative, with the availability of Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter up in the air. Per head coach Kenny Atkinson, the trio participated in a light shootaround on Thursday, though he was clear none did anything more than what would be considered a walkthrough.
Be sure to tune into Stokastic’s NBA Live Before Lock at 6:30 p.m. ET tonight for all of the up-to-date analysis and breaking news.
The Nuggets were trailing by 31 points at the half, and the average lead for the Thunder was a whopping 30.1 points for the game. Coach David Adelman pulled his starters towards the end of the third quarter when it was clear they were not going to have any of the Knickerbockers’ magic for an improbable comeback.
Michael Porter Jr. is still troubled by his left shoulder, which continues to ebb and flow, impacting his consistency. He is the starter with the most risk of seeing sub-30 minutes, mostly at the expense of Russell Westbrook.
Peyton Watson will see a rotation in each of the first two periods, though anything more than 8 to 11 minutes will need to occur in mop-up duty. DeAndre Jordan may come in for Jokic to start the second quarter, or he may not leave the bench. Finally, there is Julian Strawther, but he will need a lopsided affair to get more than a couple minutes.
Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon will push for 40-plus minutes, but remember that this is a tough matchup for Murray, who will be dealing with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Alex Caruso and Luguentz Dort. This has the under on his 31.5 points + rebounds + assists on the pick’em sites very much in play. Most sites had him closer to 33 PRA for the first two games of the series, so the value is evaporating a little.
SGA got to flash his MVP credibility, pouring in 34 points in 30 minutes with a ridiculous 11-for-13 (85%) from the field, sinking all 11 of his attempts from the free-throw line. Chet Holmgren popped with a double-double and four “stocks” (combined steals and blocks) in just 26 minutes, and the versatile Jalen Williams had 17 points, four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in his 26 ticks.
Caruso is not quite the value he was for the first two games of this series, though his appeal could change, depending on the status of the Cleveland starters. Isaiah Hartenstein is a neutral option, with his focus being on battling Jokic and working the glass. Dort is a fun wild card, especially for the single-game primetime format.
Stokastic’s NBA DFS Single Lineup Simulator is a groundbreaking tool that revolutionizes lineup building by providing data-driven simulations, making it a must-have for serious players. Check out how the Simulator evaluates this single lineup for this sample slate:
NBA DFS Picks Today: Building Blocks
Bennedict Mathurin: Pacers vs. Cavaliers
NBA DFS Projections
DraftKings: 19.65 | FanDuel: 18.94
NBA DFS Ownership Projections
DraftKings: 32.4% | FanDuel: 33.5%
DFS Salary
DraftKings: $3,900 | FanDuel: $4,200
In a twist, Bennedict Mathurin is a strong value play, who could turn into a differentiation option if the Cavaliers are missing more than one of Mobley, Garland and Hunter.
During the first two games, he averaged 15 points, 3.5 rebounds and an assist, which may not seem like a lot, but it is a major upgrade over his final month of the season.
Tyrese Haliburton needs to keep attacking on offense, which he has for the first two games, though there is room for more. He can be complacent with serving as a facilitator who is content to stay behind the 3-point line. If he backslides into this mode, it will be a major benefit for Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell has been stellar, and it would be great to see him get at least one of his fellow starters back tonight. Either way, he is an excellent source of fantasy production, plus a perfect countermove against the SGA supporters.
The pricing for the rest of the Pacers is adequate, which makes them all look pretty neutral. This includes the rest of the first five, with Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner being the preferred order of priority. Obi Toppin and TJ McConnell are in play, though similar to Caruso, the more Cavs that are out, the further they fall in the rankings.
Ty Jerome was a major disappointment, but do not give up on him yet. Max Strus and Sam Merrill will benefit if Garland remains out; however, they are less appealing if he returns since their salaries account for their increased roles.
Today’s Top Sports Betting Picks
If you’re serious about winning in NBA DFS, you know the edge comes from having the right tools. The same principle applies to sports betting — and that’s where Portfolio EV steps in.
Take Jarrett Allen under 11.5 rebounds tonight, for example. It’s a +EV bet, meaning it has positive expected value when compared to the best odds available across the market. But the real strength of Portfolio EV isn’t about finding just one good bet — it’s about consistently finding dozens. With the Mass Entry tool, you can scale up, place a high volume of +EV bets, and let the math do the heavy lifting.
Just like you wouldn’t count on one DFS lineup to ship a GPP, you don’t count on one bet to carry your night.
Portfolio EV is built for long-term profitability. It helps you spot market inefficiencies, compare lines across books and generate a steady stream of +EV bets. It doesn’t chase heaters, but rather trusts the numbers, follows a process and builds sustainable profit over time.
Even with Mobley out in Game 2, Allen corralled only a dozen errant caroms in 38 minutes. If his fellow frontcourt player is available, the projection comes in for just over 10 rebounds. There are not many great values floating around today, so be sure to follow appropriate bet sizing strategies since there are endless available wagers in the future.
