This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The first Friday of 2026 brings us 10 games on the DFS docket. There's a sizable injury report with multiple notable absences, though the player pool is deep enough to withstand it and still afford us plenty of options for both cash games and tournaments.
Slate Overview
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.
Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Friday, Jan. 2 @ 2:00 a.m. EST:
San Antonio Spurs (-6) at Indiana Pacers (O/U: 236.5)
Brooklyn Nets (-1.5) at Washington Wizards (O/U: 225.5)
Denver Nuggets at Cleveland Cavaliers (-13.5) (O/U: 236.5)
Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks (-7.5) (O/U: 245.5)
Orlando Magic (-4.5) at Chicago Bulls (O/U: 235.5)
Charlotte Hornets at Milwaukee Bucks (-6) (O/U: 232.5)
Portland Trail Blazers (-1) at New Orleans Pelicans (O/U: 243.5)
Sacramento Kings at Phoenix Suns (-12) (O/U: 227.5)
Oklahoma City Thunder (-9) at Golden State Warriors (O/U: 228.5)
Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers (-4.5) (O/U: 238.5)
The betting landscape is fairly encouraging on Friday despite the pair of double-digit favorites. There are still plenty of competitive matchups, with many of those accompanied by elevated totals that should lead to high DFS scores. By the numbers, Trail Blazers-Pelicans and Grizzlies-Lakers could be the night's top game environments.
Injury Situations to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
Victor Wembanyama, SAN (knee): OUT
In Wembanyama's absence, Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk should handle the majority of center minutes while De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle should be among those to see the biggest usage boosts.
Trae Young, ATL (quadriceps): QUESTIONABLE
If Young sits, Nickeil Alexander-Walker will start at point guard while Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels will benefit from more work.
Michael Porter, BKN (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Should Porter continue to be sidelined, there will be plenty of usage available for the rest of the starting five with Drake Powell and Ziaire Williams set to handle most of the small forward minutes.
Other notable injuries:
Nikola Jokic, DEN (knee): OUT
Josh Giddey, CHI (hamstring): OUT
Austin Reaves, LAL (calf): OUT
Franz Wagner, ORL (ankle): OUT
Aaron Gordon, DEN (hamstring): OUT
Coby White, CHI (calf): OUT
Jerami Grant, POR (Achilles): OUT
Kyshawn George, WAS (hip): OUT
Isaiah Hartenstein, OKC (calf): OUT
Josh Hart, NYK (ankle): OUT
Zach LaVine, SAC (ankle): OUT
Derik Queen, NOP (quadriceps): QUESTIONABLE
Grayson Allen, PHO (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Saddiq Bey, NOP (hip): QUESTIONABLE
Jamal Murray, DEN (ankle): PROBABLE
Miles Bridges, CHA (ankle): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have four players with five-figure salaries who have a chance to play on Friday's slate – Luka Doncic ($12,100), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,900), Jalen Johnson ($10,800) and Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,700).
Doncic has scored between 44.5 and 57.5 FD points in each of his last three games with at least 30 actual points from two of those while being an integral part of what should be a high-scoring affair.
SGA has eclipsed 53 FD during each of his last two. And while the Thunder come in as solid home favorites, Friday's matchup against Golden State isn't projected to be a blowout.
Johnson could be taking the court without Trae Young and has posted over 52 FD from four of the last five outings.
Antetokounmpo has eclipsed 40 FD in each of his first three back from a calf injury and carries a safe floor in a solid matchup against the Hornets.
Go to RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups and NBA News for up-to-the-minute information!
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Paolo Banchero, ORL ($9,700)
Banchero has dropped 58 and 54 FD during his last two games, which should help lock in his popularity at a four-figure salary.
Deni Avdija, POR ($9,600)
Avdija only logged 31 minutes in the lopsided loss to the Thunder on Wednesday, yet remains appealing for Friday against the Pelicans while also having registered at least 46 FD points from each of his previous four appearances.
Donovan Mitchell, CLE ($9,400)
Mitchell racked up 61.5 FD against the Suns on Wednesday - his second of 60-plus over the last four - which should ensure a high roster rate for Friday.
Jalen Brunson, NYK ($9,300)
Brunson boasted a fantasy-point floor in the low 40s for all of December, which should lock him into plenty of lineups.
Jamal Murray, DEN ($9,100)
Murray will continue working without Nikola Jokic on Friday and already checks in with more than 42 FD in five of the last six matchups.
Key Values
Mark Williams, PHO vs. SAC ($6,300)
Williams returned from a one-game absence against the Cavs on Wednesday, but didn't hit any of his three shots from the field leading to a quiet 17.8 FD. The big man has still shown plenty of upside this season averaging 29.7 and even eclipsing 40 six times. And Williams' best outing just happened to come against the Kings back in November lighting them up for 55.2 FD points across 29 minutes. Sacramento continues to be highly targetable versus centers by allowing an NBA-high 61.9 FD per game to the position, including 62.8 from the last 15. They're also conceding the second-most points in the paint per on the road (56.7), where Williams has produced 75.6 percent of his scoring.
Tre Jones, CHI vs. ORL ($6,200)
Chicago will once again take the floor without Josh Giddey (hamstring) and Coby White (calf), opening up another starting opportunity and plenty of minutes for Jones. The veteran guard already took advantage on Wednesday with 39.4 FD points based on a 20-point, 12-assist effort across 27 minutes. The fact Jones only took seven shot attempts is somewhat concerning, though he's a proven commodity considering his average of 32.1 while shooting 52.9 percent across 12 total starts this season. The Magic are also giving up the second-most points to point guards during the last 15 (28.5).
Donovan Clingan, POR at NOP ($6,000)
Clingan continues to enjoy a breakout second season averaging 30.7 FD on the strength of 10.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 blocks. He only saw 17 minutes in a tough matchup against the Thunder on Wednesday, but has averaged 35.2 FD over 27.9 minutes during the 17 previous matchups while shooting 58.0 percent - including 45.2 from distance. Clingan recorded 27 FD through 27 minutes the last time he faced the Pelicans, who check in allowing the fourth-most points (25.9) and fifth-most rebounds (16.6) and 56.5 FD to centers across the last seven outings. They're also yielding the most points in the paint per home matchup (55.3) and Clingan gets 60 percent of his offense from that part of the floor.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jaylon Tyson, CLE vs. DEN ($5,900); Ajay Mitchell, OKC at GSW ($5,800)
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