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 |
| GS | TOR | 224 | 5.5 | 109.25 | Thompson, Green probable / Curry OUT |
| DET | BKN | 229 | 8.5 | 110.25 | Livers, Cunningham OUT |
| CHA | DEN | 235.5 | 8.5 | 113.5 | Washington not listed |
| MIN | CHI | 231 | 1.5 | 114.75 | Towns OUT / Russell, Gobert questionable |
| TOR | GS | 224 | -5.5 | 114.75 | Anunoby, Trent Jr. OUT |
| WSH | LAL | 234.5 | 4.5 | 115 | Beal questionable |
| CHI | MIN | 231 | -1.5 | 116.25 | Green questionable |
| BKN | DET | 229 | -8.5 | 118.75 | |
| LAL | WSH | 234.5 | -4.5 | 119.5 | Davis OUT, James probable, Beverley doubtful |
| DEN | CHA | 235.5 | -8.5 | 122 | Porter Jr. OUT / Jokic, Murray probable |
Guards
Fred VanVleet ($9,400): After producing consecutive games with 39 real-life points, VanVleet's FanDuel salary has moved up to his highest point this season. The 28-year old has a sneaky spot versus a Golden State Warriors allowing point guards to score 24.2 real-life points and 49.6 fantasy points.
Kyrie Irving ($8,700): At his highest salary in December, Irving ranks first among guards with 42.2 expected FanDuel points against a Detroit Pistons' team ranked 26th (50.3) in FanDuel points allowed per game to his position and 29th in defensive rating. In 224.3 minutes this month, Brooklyn's guard is recording 1.23 FanDuel points, 0.17 rebounds, and 014 assists per minute.
DeMar DeRozan ($8,300): In a matchup versus a Minnesota Timberwolves' team ranked 13th in opposing true shooting percentage and defensive rating, DeRozan is an underrated play with a 4.85 value rating and a 40.3 fantasy point expectation at his second lowest salary this month.
LaMelo Ball ($8,000): Since his return on December 14th, Ball is averaging 1.16 FanDuel points, 0.21 assists, and 0.54 shot attempts per minute. At his lowest salary in December, Ball is ranked first among guards in value with a 5.24 rating and 41.9 expected FanDuel points versus a Denver Nuggets' unit allowing 27.2 real-life points and 52.3 fantasy points per game to his position.
Jordan Poole ($7,700): In a 327.9 minutes sample size, Poole's fantasy production sees a 0.10 increase to 1.07 FanDuel points per minute with a 34.5% usage rate. Even at his highest salary point, Golden State's guard is fifth in value at his positions with a 4.98 rating and 38.4 expected FanDuel points.
Klay Thompson ($7,300): The Warriors' long-range savant is averaging 0.88 FanDuel points, 0.11 rebounds, and 0.48 shot attempts in 122.1 minutes with today's expected rotation.
Jamal Murray ($7,200): Murray's FanDuel salary has only moved up 1.4% this month while averaging 0.96 FanDuel points, 0.12 rebounds, 0.18 assists, and 0.44 shot attempts in 233.8 minutes in December.
Ben Simmons ($6,900): At his lowest salary point this month, Simmons is fifth in value at his position with a 4.97 rating and a 34.3 fantasy point projection. In three appearances since his return, the 26-year old is recording 1.06 FanDuel points, 0..25 rebounds, and 0.22 assists per minute.
Donte DiVincenzo ($6,400): Golden State's guard sees a 0.09 boost to 0.98 FanDuel points per minute in 229.2 minutes with Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins off the floor this season.
Bruce Brown Jr. ($5,400): Since the start of this month, Brown's FanDuel salary has decreased by 11.4% to his lowest point in December while accounting for 0.73 FanDuel points, 0.14 rebounds, and 0.10 assists per minute.
Nah'Shon Hyland ($5,200): Despite playing in a bench unit role, Hyland ranks second in value with a 5.01 rating and 26.0 expected FanDuel points versus a Hornets' unit ranked 26th in opposing true shooting percentage and 27th in defensive rating.
Forwards
LeBron James ($11,000): With Anthony Davis ruled out with a foot ailment, James's fantasy output jumps by 0.11 to 1.46 FanDuel points per minute. The Lakers' superstar stands second overall with 53.7 expected fantasy points versus a Washington Wizards' team ranked 29th (44.9) in fantasy points allowed per game to his position.
Kevin Durant ($10,500): Despite a recent increase to his highest salary in December, Durant rates an elite high salary option, ranking third overall with 48.1 expected FanDuel points against a Pistons' team giving up the second most points in the paint.
Pascal Siakam ($9,600): After three straight games scoring under 20 real-life points, the Raptors' forward has seen a 9.4% salary decrease in the past week. In 81.2 minutes this season with today's inactives, Siakam is averaging 1.00 FanDuel point, 0.16 rebounds, 0.18 assists, and 0.41 shot attempts.
Kristaps Porzingis ($9,400) / Kyle Kuzma ($8,000): If Bradley Beal is unable to suit up on Sunday night, Porzingis is producing 1.34 FanDuel points with a 31.0% usage rate while Kuzma averages 1.02 FanDuel points and a 30.2$ usage percentage.
Zach LaVine ($7,200): In a revenge opportunity versus his former team, LaVine ranks sixth overall in value at his lowest salary in December. Chicago's explosive scorer is having his best offensive month this season, recording 23.7 real-life points per game on 18.1 attempts.
Aaron Gordon ($6,500): Despite scoring at least 14 real-life points in every game this month, Gordon's FanDuel salary has only increased by 1.6%. The 27-year old is averaging 0.94 FanDuel points, 0.17 rebounds, and 0.39 shot attempts in 223.9 minutes during December.
Draymond Green ($5,900): After producing 1.9 FanDuel points in his last appearance, Green's salary has dropped to his lowest point this month. Despite a tough matchup versus a Toronto Raptors' team ranked fourth (40.4) in FanDuel points allowed per game to power forward, Golden State's versatile big man is second overall in value with a 5.71 rating and a 33.7 FanDuel point projection.
Kyle Anderson ($5,500): In a favorable matchup against a Bulls' unit allowing 46.3 fantasy points per game to his position, "Slow Mo" is numberFire's top value option with a 6.2 rating and 34.1 expected FanDuel points.
Patrick Williams ($4,500): Even at his highest salary this month, Chicago's young forward ranks fifth at his position in value with a 5.04 rating and 22.7 expected FanDuel points versus a Minnesota Timberwolves team ranked 28th in FanDuel points allowed to the four spot.
Centers
Nikola Jokic ($12,200): Denver's superstar has seen a 8.9% salary jump since the beginning of the month, while recording an efficient 1.77 FanDuel points, 0.33 rebounds, and 0.28 assists per minute in December. Jokic is numberFire's top option with a 59.0 fantasy point expectation against a Hornets unit allowing centers to score 60.4 FanDuel points and 25.4 real-life points per game.
Thomas Bryant ($5,800): In an increased role versus his former team, Bryant is second in value among centers with a 5.37 rating and 31.2 FanDuel points despite a recent 23.4% salary increase. The 25-year old is averaging 1.20 FanDuel points, 0.27 rebounds, and 0.34 shot attempts in 198.7 minutes with Anthony Davis off the floor.