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 |
| BKN | MIA | 222 | 5.5 | 108.25 | Curry, Simmons OUT |
| NO | LAC | 224.5 | 5 | 109.75 | Alvarado, Williamson OUT / Murphy questionable |
| PHX | PHI | 228 | 1 | 113.5 | Durant, Ayton OUT |
| MIA | BKN | 222 | -5.5 | 113.75 | Lowry, Martin questionable |
| PHI | PHX | 228 | -1 | 114.5 | Harden uncertain |
| LAC | NO | 224.5 | -5 | 114.75 | George, Powell OUT |
| MIL | DEN | 235 | 2.5 | 116.25 | Ingles not expected to play |
| UTAH | SAC | 241.5 | 8 | 116.75 | Markkanen, Clarkson uncertain |
| DEN | MIL | 235 | -2.5 | 118.75 | |
| SAC | UTAH | 241.5 | -8 | 124.75 | Fox uncertain |
Guards
Devin Booker ($10,100): At his median salary this month, Booker is ranked fifth overall with a 48.1 fantasy projection versus a Philadelphia 76ers' defense allowing 41.7 FanDuel points per game to his position. The 26-year old is having his best offensive month this season, averaging 33.8 real-life points per game and 1.31 FanDuel points per minute.
C.J. McCollum ($8,300): After a 4.6% salary decrease, McCollum offers underrated production with 36.1 expected FanDuel points against a Los Angeles Clippers' team ranked 27th (50.7) in fantasy production allowed to points guards. In 1207.7 minutes with today's current inactives, the veteran is averaging 1.09 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.3% usage rate.
Spencer Dinwiddie ($8,000): Since March 16th despite producing 1.07 FanDuel points per minute, Dinwiddie's FanDuel salary has declined 8.0% to his second lowest point this month. Brooklyn's point guard has struggled versus the Miami Heat in two previous matchups this season, recording 22.4 FanDuel points per game on 8.0 average shot attempts.
Russell Westbrook ($7,900): Even at his second highest salary during March, Westbrook is eighth among guards in value with 4.65 rating and a 36.7 fantasy expectation against a New Orleans Pelicans' unit allowing point guards to score 24.1 real-life points and 46.4 FanDuel points per game. In 65.0 minutes this season with Paul George and Norman Powell off the floor this season, the 34-year old is recording 1.02 FanDuel points per minute and a 30.6% usage rate.
Chris Paul ($7,800): After a 3.7% drop in his FanDuel salary, CP3 is third at his position in value with a 4.85 rating and a 37.8 fantasy projection in a tough matchup versus a Philadelphia 76ers' defense ranked second in fantasy production allowed (42.1) to point guards per game. Paul's fantasy average is boosted by 0.19 to 1.34 FanDuel points per minute with a 22.2% usage rate in 207.8 minutes this season with Saturday's projected rotation.
Jamal Murray ($7,700): At his lowest salary during March, Murray is 12th overall with 38.3 expected FanDuel points against a Milwaukee Bucks' team ranked first in defensive rating and eighth in pace. Denver's seventh year guard is averaging 19.7 real-life points per game and 1.01 FanDuel points per minute this month.
Tyrese Maxey ($7,400): If James Harden is unable to suit up on Saturday, Maxey's fantasy output would increase by 0.22 to 1.12 FanDuel points per minute with a 29.9% usage rate. Since the start of March, the 22-year old ranks second among Philadelphia's starters in offensive production (0.61 real-life points) and third in usage (21.6%).
De'Anthony Melton ($6,500): In the past week, the 24-year old's salary has skyrocketed 30% to his highest point in 2023 due to his ability to accumulate peripheral statistics, producing 0.15 rebounds, 0.08 assists, and 0.11 steals per minute.
Kevin Huerter ($6,200): After De'Aaron Fox was forced to leave on Friday with a right hamstring ailment, Huerter's fantasy average could increase by 0.05 to 0.94 FanDuel points per minute if Fox is inactive versus a Jazz defense ranked 19th in opposing three point percentage.
Talen Horton-Tucker ($6,000) / Kris Dunn ($6,000): Both Utah guards would be optimal mid-salary options if Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson are ruled out for the second part of their back-to-back situation. In a favorable spot against a Sacramento Kings' team ranked 26th in defensive rating, Horton-Tucker is currently third among guards with a 4.89 rating ad a 29.3 fantasy projection while Dunn is averaging 1.37 FanDuel poitns per minute if Markkanen and Clarkson were to sit.
Malik Monk ($5,500) / Davion Mitchell ($4,500): Even in a second unit role, Monk's production jumps by 0.08 to 1.12 FanDuel points per minute if Fox were to sit while Mitchell is numberFire's top value option with a 5.75 rating and a 25.9 fantasy projection as his potential starting replacement.
Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,700): At his second lowest salary point this month, Milwaukee's two-time MVP winner is third overall with 55.6 expected FanDuel points versus a Denver Nuggets' team ranked 16th in defensive rating and 25th in points allowed in the paint. In their previous encounter this season, "The Greek Alphabet" produced 33.0 real-life points and 55.8 FanDuel points at a salary 2.5% lower than today's.
Domantas Sabonis ($10,500): In 963.9 minutes with Fox off the floor, Sacramento's big man is averaging 1.34 FanDuel points per minute and a 23.0% usage rate. Sabonis is currently fourth overall with a 51.9 fantasy projection versus a Jazz defense allowing 55.3 per game to his position.
Kawhi Leonard ($10,300): The Clippers' leading scorer sees a 0.12 boost to 1.36 FanDuel points per minute with a 32.7% usage rate with Saturday's current inactives. "The Claw" has been in the zone during March with his best offensive month, averaging 28.0 real-life points per game and 1.27 FanDuel points per minute.
Jimmy Butler ($9,800): After producing a vintage 64.3 fantasy point performance in his last outing, Butler's salary has moved up 3.1% to his second highest point this month. Since their last matchup on February 15th, the 33-year old has produced 1.38 FanDuel points per minute and a 27.0% usage rate.
Brandon Ingram ($8,700): In his last five starts, "B.I." has been in idea form, ranking first among his team in usage (32.6%) and second in fantasy production (1.29 FanDuel points per minute) while his salary has increased by 6.1% to his highest point this season.
Mikal Bridges ($7,800): At his lowest salary point during March, Brooklyn's emerging star is fourth among forwards in value with a 4.85 rating and a 37.9 fantasy projection. During his time with the Nets, Bridges has produced 1.08 FanDuel points per minute and a team-high 28.6% usage rate.
Khris Middleton ($7,600): Since Middleton was moved into Milwaukee's starting lineup on March 7th, the 31-year old ranks third among his team's starters in fantasy output (1.17 FanDuel points per minute) and second in usage (25.5%).
Tobias Harris ($6,800): In 739.1 minutes with Harden off the floor this season, Harris sees a noticeable 0.19 addition in his production to 1.07 FanDuel points per minute with a 22.9% usage rate.
Kelly Olynyk ($6,700): Utah's veteran is having his best month during March, accounting for 13.2 real-life points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while his fantasy average stands at 1.07 FanDuel points per minute.
Keegan Murray ($5,600) / Harrison Barnes ($5,100): The Kings' rookie records 0.85 FanDuel points per minute after his production increases by 0.11 if Fox were to sit while Barnes is currently third among forwards in value with a 4.89 rating and a 25.0 fantasy projection at his lowest salary point in March.
Centers
Joel Embiid ($12,000): Despite scoring 74.8 FanDuel points on Friday, Embiid's salary has not changed against a Suns' unit ranked tenth in fantasy production (51.4) allowed per game to centers this season. "The Process" is second overall with 56.0 expected FanDuel points in a matchup he recorded 52.5 in their last meeting.
Nikola Jokic ($11,900): At his third lowest salary this month, "The Joker" is numberFire's top option with 58.6 expected FanDuel points in an underrated opportunity versus a Milwaukee defense allowing centers to score 22.3 real-life points and 53.0 fantasy points per game.
Bam Adebayo ($8,100): Miami's defensive anchor is second overall in value with a 5.42 rating and a 43.9 fantasy projection after his salary did not move in his last three appearances. In two prior encounters against Brooklyn. Adebayo is averaging 39.1 FanDuel points in 33.0 minutes.