This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Staying ahead on a busy NBA slate requires more than just box-score watching. Today's NBA DFS breakdown blends the latest NBA news, injury reports, and projected NBA lineups to help you optimize decisions on DraftKings. From updated NBA injury news and starting lineups to player projections, stats, and matchup trends, this article highlights key fantasy basketball sleepers, value plays, and chalk options.
Try our DraftKings NBA Lineup Optimizer to discover more expert recommendations, customize the player pool, set exposure percentage and mass-enter DFS lineups.
DraftKings Main Slate NBA Games Today
MIL at WAS: Bucks on three-game slide, 9-15 on road; Wizards 7-15 at home
SAC at PHI: Kings on six-game slide, 3-20 on road; 76ers 13-13 at home
HOU at ATL: Rockets 12-13 on road; Hawks on four-game winning streak, 9-13 at home
MIA at CHI: Heat 10-15 on road; Bulls 15-10 at home
CHA at DAL: Hornets on four-game winning streak, 11-15 on road; Mavericks 14-13 at home
BKN at DEN: Nets on six-game slide, 6-16 on road; Nuggets 12-9 at home
DET at PHX: Pistons 15-6 on road; Suns 15-6 at home
OKC at MIN: Thunder 17-5 on road; Timberwolves 16-8 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 Injury Report Today
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
MIL - Cole Anthony (illness): Questionable; Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), Kevin Porter (oblique), Gary Harris (hamstring), Taurean Prince (neck): OUT
WAS - Alex Sarr (illness): Questionable; Marvin Bagley (hip), Tristan Vukcevic (hamstring), Trae Young (knee): OUT
SAC - Malik Monk (ankle): Questionable; Russell Westbrook (foot), Keegan Murray (ankle): OUT
PHI - Joel Embiid (knee), Paul George (knee): Probable; Quentin Grimes (ankle): Questionable
HOU - Alperen Sengun (ankle): Questionable; Tari Eason (ankle), Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle): OUT
ATL - Jalen Johnson (calf): Questionable; Zaccharie Risacher (knee), Onyeka Okongwu (mouth), Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles): OUT
MIA - Norman Powell (back), Kel'el Ware (hamstring): Probable; Tyler Herro (ribs), Davion Mitchell (shoulder): OUT
CHI - Jalen Smith (calf): Probable; Josh Giddey (hamstring): Questionable; Tre Jones (hamstring), Zach Collins (toe): OUT
CHA - Brandon Miller (ankle): Probable; Grant Williams (knee), Mason Plumlee (groin), KJ Simpson (hip): OUT
DAL - Klay Thompson (knee): Probable; Brandon Williams (ankle): Questionable; Naji Marshall (rest), Kyrie Irving (knee), Anthony Davis (finger): OUT
BKN - Cam Thomas (hamstring), Ziaire Williams (calf), Noah Clowney (back), Egor Demin (foot), Haywood Highsmith (knee): OUT
DEN - Jonas Valanciunas (calf), Jamal Murray (hamstring/hip): Probable; Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Christian Braun (ankle), Nikola Jokic (knee), Cameron Johnson (knee): OUT
DET - Caris LeVert (illness): OUT
PHX - Collin Gillespie (hand): Questionable; Jalen Green (hamstring), Devin Booker (ankle): OUT
OKC - Cason Wallace (hip): Questionable; Alex Caruso (adductor), Ajay Mitchell (abdomen), Jalen Williams (hamstring), Nikola Topic (groin): OUT
MIN - Rudy Gobert (ankle): Questionable; Mike Conley (back), Terrence Shannon (foot): OUT
Elite NBA DFS Players
Guards
Tyrese Maxey, 76ers 
($9,900) vs. Kings
Although Maxey's scoring numbers have taken a hit compared to the early stages of the season, he has been productive as a playmaker and continues to provide solid all-around numbers. The star point guard has posted at least 39.8 DK points in six of his last seven outings, averaging 22.4 points, 8.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals across 37.7 minutes per game during that span.
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves 
($9,200) vs. Thunder
It's no secret that the Thunder are a difficult matchup, though Edwards hasn't struggled against the defending champions thus far. The superstar guard has tallied 49.5 and 57.0 DK points against Oklahoma City this season, averaging 28.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 combined steals-plus-blocks per game in those two outings. He has also supplied 41.3-plus DK points in nine of his 11 appearances this month.
Forwards/Centers
Jalen Johnson, Hawks 
($10,000) vs. Rockets
Johnson is dealing with left calf tightness and is questionable to play in the second leg of this back-to-back set, so his status will be worth monitoring ahead of tipoff. The rising star has been in a shooting slump of late, but that hasn't stopped him from stuffing the stat sheet. Johnson has notched 41.3 or more DK points in five straight games, averaging 23.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.0 steals across 37.2 minutes per tilt over that span.
Joel Embiid, 76ers ($9,400) vs. Kings
Embiid is likely to suit up Thursday and will look to stay hot in a favorable matchup against Sacramento. The star big man has logged 46.3 or more DK points in each of his last five appearances, during which he has averaged 32.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 35.4 minutes per tilt.
Michael Porter, Nets 
($8,200) at Nuggets
After scoring 36 points in 37 minutes during Tuesday's loss to Phoenix, Porter will look to remain on fire against his former team. The sharpshooting forward has struggled a bit with consistency of late, though he has still racked up at least 39.3 DK points in eight of his 11 January appearances. In a win over Denver on Jan. 4, Porter had a double-double and 50.8 DK points.
Expected NBA DFS Chalk
Kevin Durant, Rockets 
($8,900) at Hawks
The veteran forward has been a consistent source of production this season and may be asked to take on an increased workload Thursday if Alperen Sengun (ankle) is ultimately ruled out. Durant has recorded 36.5-plus DK points in 18 straight outings, and he has averaged 28.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.0 blocks in 39.4 minutes per game over his last five appearances.
Mid-Range NBA DFS Picks
Andrew Wiggins, Heat 
($6,200) at Bulls
Wiggins has been solid recently and will have a strong chance to produce against a Chicago squad that ranks in the bottom third of the league in defensive rating. The veteran forward has contributed 28.5-plus DK points in seven of his last eight games, averaging 15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists across 29.8 minutes per contest during that span.
Jalen Smith, Bulls 
($6,200) vs. Heat
Smith is listed as probable for the second leg of this back-to-back set, and if he suits up, he'll look to extend his streak of double-digit scoring totals to 10 games. The big man has seen a significant uptick in playing time recently and has made the most of his opportunities. Smith has chipped in 24.8 or more DK points in nine straight games, during which he has averaged 13.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.5 combined steals-plus-blocks and 1.4 assists in 29.1 minutes per game.
NBA DFS Value Picks
Tre Johnson, Wizards 
($5,600) vs. Bucks
The rookie first-rounder continues to impress, particularly on the offensive end. Johnson has scored 15-plus points in four straight games, shooting 44.1 percent from beyond the arc on 8.5 attempts per game during that span. He has generated 25.3 or more DK points in each of those four outings, during which he has averaged 19.5 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per tilt.
Aaron Wiggins, Thunder 
($5,100) at Timberwolves
Wiggins isn't guaranteed a spot in the starting five with Isaiah Hartenstein set to return to action, though the former should continue to see significant minutes for the injury-riddled Thunder. Wiggins has averaged 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 combined steals-plus-blocks and 2.3 assists per game over his last four outings (two starts), recording at least 24.3 DK points in all of them.
Dylan Cardwell, Kings 
($4,300) at 76ers
Despite Domantas Sabonis stepping back into a sizable workload, Cardwell continues to see significant burn. The undrafted rookie out of Auburn has finished with at least 19.0 DK points in eight straight games, averaging 5.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.9 combined steals-plus-blocks and 1.8 assists in 23.0 minutes per game over that span.
