If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.
With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.
Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.
We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.
Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.
| Team | Opp | O/U | Spread | Implied Total | Injuries |
| NO | DAL | 225.5 | 7 | 109.25 | Williamson, Ingram OUT |
| ORL | GS | 232 | 6 | 113 | Bol Bol OUT |
| DAL | NO | 225.5 | -7 | 116.25 | Doncic probable / Green, Kleber, Finney-Smith OUT |
| LAL | SAC | 243 | 8.5 | 117.25 | |
| CHI | UTAH | 237 | 1.5 | 117.75 | |
| GS | ORL | 232 | -6 | 119 | Wiggins, Iguodala probable |
| UTAH | CHI | 237 | -1.5 | 119.25 | Sexton OUT |
| SAC | LAL | 243 | -8.5 | 125.75 | Monk questionable |
Guards
Luka Doncic ($12,500): After a lackluster 34.3 fantasy point performance, Doncic's FanDuel salary has dropped 2.3% to his median salary this month against a New Orleans Pelicans' team allowing 47.4 FanDuel points per game to his position. In their previous meeting this season, the Mavericks' superstar accounted for a monster performance with 37 real-life points and 66.7 FanDuel points.
C.J. McCollum ($8,700): With two of New Orleans' main starters sidelined, McCollum's fantasy production sees a noticeable 0.12 boost to 1.19 FanDuel points per minute. Despite a tough spot versus a Dallas Mavericks ranked third (43.3) in fantasy production allowed per game to point guards, the 31-year old is ranked third among his position with 41.2 expected fantasy points.
De'Aaron Fox ($8,600): In a great matchup against a Los Angeles Lakers allowing point guards to score 25.8 real-life points and 50.6 FanDuel points, Fox is rated fifth overall with a 42.3 fantasy expectation. Sacramento's leading scorer is averaging 47.6 FanDuel points in two encounters versus Los Angeles.
Jordan Poole ($8,400): At his highest salary point since December, Poole is ranked second among guards with 27.4 real-life points against an Orlando Magic standing 20th in opposing true shooting percentage and 25th in defensive rating. In 398.7 minutes this season with today's inactives, Poole produces 0.97 FanDuel points and a 37.4% usage rate.
Russell Westbrook ($8,200): Even in a bench role, the Lakers' veteran sees an eye-popping 0.22 increase in his fantasy production to 1.48 FanDuel points per minute with today's expected rotation. In a matchup versus a Sacramento Kings' unit ranked 20th in fantasy points allowed to his position, Westbrook has averaged 43.5 FanDuel points against his intrastate rivals.
Klay Thompson ($7,900): Since December 25th, Golden State's Splash Brother has been on fire, accounting for 1.17 FanDuel points and 0.86 real-life points per minute while his salary has jumped 8.2% to his highest point during this time period.
Zach LaVine ($7,600): Even at his highest salary this season, LaVine ranks fifth among guards in value with a 5.05 rating and a 38.4 fantasy expectation against a Jazz squad ranked 19th in opposing true shooting percentage and 27th in defensive rating.
Jordan Clarkson ($6,900): In the past two weeks, Utah's guard has been provided steady production, recording 0.98 FanDuel points, 0.13 rebounds, and 0.12 assists per minute while his FanDuel salary has dropped 8%.
Spencer Dinwiddie ($6,100): Despite a tough matchup against a New Orleans team ranked fifth (39.1) in FanDuel points allowed to his position, Dinwiddie is third overall in value with a 5.24 rating and a 31.5 fantasy projection at his lowest salary in the past two months.
Dennis Schroder ($5,900): The Lakers' veteran has recorded at least 12 real-life points in his last five starts while producing 0.84 FanDuel points, 0.11 assists, and 0.35 shot attempts per minute.
Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5,500): In 356.8 minutes with today's inactives, Hardaway Jr. is averaging 0.64 FanDuel points, 0.11 rebounds, and 0.35 shot attempts.
Forwards
LeBron James ($11,400): At his second highest salary this season, "King James" is numberFire's second overall option with a 51.5 fantasy projection against a Kings' team allowing the most fantasy production per game to his position.
Domantas Sabonis ($10,300): In a favorable spot versus a Lakers' unit ranked 24th in points allowed in the paint and 17th in defensive rating, the Kings' big man is projected for 47.9 FanDuel points. Sabonis has accounted for 49.1 FanDuel points in his two previous encounters against Los Angeles including his second triple-double this season.
Lauri Markkanen ($9,000): After scoring a season-high 49 real-life points, Markkanen's FanDuel salary has bumped up 4.6% to his highest point this season against a Chicago Bulls' team ranked 25th in opposing true shooting percentage and 20th in defensive rating.
DeMar DeRozan ($8,800): Chicago's leading scorer has seen his FanDuel salary drop by 7.3% while recording 1.13 fantasy points, 0.12 rebounds, and 0.10 assists per minute during this time period.
Christian Wood ($8,100): In his past ten starts, the Mavericks' veteran has accounted for 1.28 FanDuel points, 0.27 rebounds, and 0.42 shot attempts per minute as his FanDuel salary increased by 24.6%.
Paolo Banchero ($8,000): Orlando's first round pick is ranked eighth among forwards with 36.6 expected fantasy points against a Golden State Warriors squad allowing power forwards to record 23.1 real-life points per game.
Wendell Carter Jr. ($6,600): With Bol Bol ruled out for health protocol reasons, Carter Jr. is averaging 0.99 FanDuel points, 0.28 rebounds, and 0.09 assists in a 350.8 minute sample size.
Draymond Green ($6,400): Since his return on December 18th, Green is producing 0.96 fantasy points, 0.28 rebounds, and 0.21 assists despite a low 11.0% usage rate. The 32-year old rates sixth among forwards in value with a 5.0 rating and 32.0 expected FanDuel points versus a Magic team ranked 21st in fantasy production allowed to his position.
Harrison Barnes ($5,500): At his lowest salary in the past month, Barnes rates as an optimal value option in the mid-range with a 5.23 rating and a 28.8 fantasy projection.
Naji Marshall ($5,200): In 447.8 minutes with Saturday's current rotation, Marshall sees a 0.10 boost in his fantasy output to 0.91 FanDuel points while accounting for 0.50 real-life points, 0.17 rebounds, and 0.10 assists per minute.
Trey Murphy III ($4,700): New Orleans' second-year forward is numberFire's top value option with a 5.47 rating and a 25.7 FanDuel point expectation versus a Mavericks' team ranked 19th in fantasy production allowed to the four spot.
Centers
Nikola Vucevic ($8,200): At his highest salary point since December, Chicago's veteran center is projected for 41.3 FanDuel points versus a Jazz team allowing the second most fantasy points to his position.
Thomas Bryant ($6,300): The 25-year old sees a 0.21 increase to a robust 1.41 FanDuel points per minute with a 22.0% usage rate with today's current injuries.