This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
This NBA DFS breakdown covers everything you need to build competitive lineups for tonight's DraftKings slate, from projected game environments to key injury-driven opportunities. Below, you'll find a full rundown of NBA games today, updated NBA injury reports, and how absences are shaping starting lineups and rotations. We highlight elite DFS targets, expected chalk, mid-range options and value plays using matchup data, recent NBA player stats and usage trends. Whether you're referencing projections for NBA lineups or scanning the latest fantasy basketball news, this guide is designed to help you optimize your DraftKings NBA DFS builds with confidence.
Try our DraftKings NBA Lineup Optimizer to discover more expert recommendations, customize the player pool, set exposure percentage and mass-enter DFS lineups.
NBA Games Today
SAS at IND: Spurs 8-2 in last 10 games; Pacers on 10-game slide
BKN at WAS: Nets 5-5 in last 10 games; Wizards 4-11 at home
DEN at CLE: Nuggets 13-5 on road; Cavs on two-game win streak
ATL at NYK: Hawks 2-8 in last 10 games; Knicks 7-3 in last 10 games, 15-2 at home
POR at NOP: Trail Blazers 5-5 in last 10 games; Pelicans on five-game slide
ORL at CHI: Magic 8-9 on road; Bulls 7-3 in last 10 games
CHA at MIL: Hornets on two-game slide; Bucks 8-9 at home
For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
NBA Injuries Today
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
SAS - Devin Vassell (thigh), Victor Wembanyama (knee): OUT
BKN - Cam Thomas (rest), Nic Claxton (personal), Michael Porter (illness): OUT
WAS - Kyshawn George (hip), Corey Kispert (hamstring), Cam Whitmore (shoulder): OUT
DEN - Nikola Jokic (knee), Jonas Valanciunas (calf): OUT
CLE - Sam Merrill (ankle): Questionable; Dean Wade (knee): OUT
ATL - Trae Young (quadriceps): OUT
NYK - Mitchell Robinson (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns (illness): Questionable; Josh Hart (ankle): OUT
POR - Jerami Grant (achilles), Jrue Holiday (calf): OUT
NOP - Trey Murphy (back): Questionable; Herbert Jones (ankle), Saddiq Bey (hip), Derik Queen (quadriceps): OUT
ORL - Jonathan Isaac (knee): Questionable; Franz Wagner (ankle): OUT
CHI - Josh Giddey (hamstring), Coby White (calf): OUT
CHA - Moussa Diabate (wrist): Questionable; Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow): OUT
Elite NBA DFS Picks
Guards
LaMelo Ball, Hornets 
($8,100) at Bucks
Ball did not take long to find his rhythm after returning from a three-game absence, as he is averaging 22.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.3 steals over the last seven games. He topped 40 DK points in five of those outings, including a high of 57.0. He should keep up the production with a good chance to pad his stats against the Bucks, who give up the league's seventh-most free throws and seventh-most assists per game to opposing point guards.
Shaedon Sharpe, Trail Blazers 
($7,500) at Pelicans
Sharpe is averaging 23.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals over the last 10 games, reaching a high of 53.8 DK points in that span. He has a great opportunity to keep rolling against the Pelicans, who are giving up the league's most points per game to opposing shooting guards and are also missing a key wing defender in Herbert Jones.
Forwards/Centers
Paolo Banchero, Magic 
($8,600) at Bulls
Banchero has two triple-doubles and two double-doubles within the last eight games and is averaging 19.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 0.9 blocks over that span. He is up for a great opportunity to stuff the stat sheet against the Bulls, who are giving up the league's most points and seventh-most rebounds per game to opposing power forwards.
Zion Williamson, Pelicans 
($7,500) vs. Trail Blazers
Williamson averaged 21.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists over seven games off the bench while easing his way back from a six-game absence. However, he is now looking at his third straight start, after topping the 30-point mark in each of the last two games and will need to handle a significant role while his squad is shorthanded. He should also do well against the Trail Blazers, who give up the league's seventh-most points and fifth-most offensive rebounds per game.
Jalen Johnson, Hawks 
($9,900) at Knicks
Johnson averaged 25.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 10.1 assists and 1.1 steals through 12 appearances in the month of December, going over 70 DK points three times in that span. He also finished with 54.3 DK points in his previous encounter with the Knicks, just last week. He could be up for a very favorable matchup if Mitchell Robinson, and Karl-Anthony Towns are both sidelined, but he should thrive regardless, as the Knicks give up the league's seventh-most points per game to opposing power forwards.
Expected NBA DFS Chalk
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks 
($10,900) vs. Hornets
Antetokounmpo is listed as probable for action after averaging 28.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists over three games since returning from a three-week absence. One of the previous three games was also against the Hornets, where he finished with 40.5 DK points in just 25 minutes of action. He will likely be ready to handle a few more minutes after some time to rest after his previous outing on December 31. Additionally, the Hornets give up the league's eighth-most points and second-highest shooting percentage to opposing power forwards.
Mid-Range NBA DFS Picks
De'Aaron Fox, Spurs 
($7,000) at Pacers
Fox has been up-and-down lately, finishing with less than 10 points and more than 25 points three times each within the last seven games, averaging 16.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.3 steals over that stretch. He has a good chance to deliver solid production against the Pacers, who are giving up the league's eighth-most points, sixth-highest field-goal percentage and second-most free throws per game.
Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers 
($6,000) vs. Nuggets
Allen is up for a favorable matchup against a significantly shorthanded Nuggets frontcourt. He is coming off back-to-back double-doubles and is averaging 13.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.9 steals over nine games since returning from a two-week absence.
NBA DFS Value Picks
Tre Johnson, Wizards 
($4,400) vs. Nets
Johnson has scored in double digits in seven consecutive games, including a season-high 24 points in the game before last and is averaging 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists over that span. He is also looking at a fourth straight start, with a great chance to shine against the Nets, who are giving up the league's second-highest field-goal percentage to opposing shooting guards.
Caleb Love, Trail Blazers ($4,600) at Pelicans
Love is averaging 16.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals in 30.4 minutes per game over the last five games. He must continue to handle an increased role while his squad is shorthanded, and he is likely to pad his stats against the Pelicans, who give up the league's most turnovers per game and the sixth-most free throws per game to opposing point guards.
Spencer Jones, Nuggets 
($4,900) at Cavaliers
Jones is averaging 8.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals over 18 consecutive starts, going over 30 DK points four times in that period. He is especially contributing well from long range, averaging 1.3 made threes per game on 40.0 percent shooting from deep. He must continue to handle a significant role for his shorthanded squad, and he faces a good chance to thrive against the Cavaliers, who are giving up the league's third-highest three-point shooting percentage.
