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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on January 3rd, 2024. Juan Carlos Blanco provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
The first Wednesday of the new calendar year brings us a massive mid-week slate that gives us no shortage of options when building lineups for either tournaments or cash games. And with this many games, the good news is that there are plenty of smaller slates throughout the night on both DraftKings and FanDuel for those who don't want to deal with the overabundance of decisions the full array of games presents.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/3/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7 p.m. ET.
Good luck, RotoBallers!
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Tyrese Haliburton, IND vs. MIL – PG ($10,200 DK; $11,200 FD)
Haliburton's upside is among the highest of any player on the slate, and his matchup Wednesday could certainly coax one of his highest-percentile performances out of him. Haliburton has shot 54.1 percent against the Bucks in four prior games this season and has averaged well over 50 fantasy points per contest on either site against Milwaukee in that sample Additionally, the Bucks are allowing an Eastern Conference-high 31.5 offensive efficiency rating to point guards, along with at least 55 fantasy points per game on either site to the position in the last 15 games.
Tyrese Haliburton pulls up for the HUGE three for the lead 😱
He's got 33 points with 7 threes 🔥pic.twitter.com/I14onnVtD1
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 27, 2023
Cade Cunningham, DET at UTA – PG/SG ($8,500 DK; $9,200 FD)
Cunningham shot just 3-for-16 in a tough matchup against the Rockets on New Year's Day, but that dud was preceded by a stretch where the star guard had shot 55.0 percent, including 50.0 percent from distance, while averaging 32.5 points, 8.2 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals across a six-game sample. Cunningham already lit up the Jazz for 56 DK/53.2 FD points in the first meeting this season, and Utah comes in allowing 55.9 DK/53.4 FD points to point guards in the last 15 games.
Jordan Clarkson, UTA vs. DET – PG/SG ($6,000 DK; $7,200 FD)
The Pistons-Jazz clash could keep the scoreboard humming, so having multiple pieces from the game in your lineup may be a recipe for success. Clarkson could turn out to be one of the better fantasy-point-per-dollar plays on the slate, considering he just went off for 54 DK/47.5 FD points on Monday against the Mavericks for the Jazz's first triple-double since 2008. Clarkson has eclipsed 40 fantasy points on either site in three of the past five games overall, and the Pistons are surrendering the ninth-highest offensive efficiency rating to point guards (28.7), along with the third-most DK (53.7) and most FD (53.3) points per game to the position.
ALSO CONSIDER: Trae Young, ATL vs. OKC, ($10,300 DK; $10,300 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at IND– PF/C ($11,900 DK; $12,500 FD)
There's not much that needs to be said about Giannis' case for a spot in your lineup, but the scenario he's in Wednesday makes him even more appealing than usual. The big man faces a Pacers team he's averaging a jaw-dropping 75.4 DK points against in four games this season, a staggering number he's managed on averages of 46.3 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Indy clearly has no answer for the Greek Freak, but it's also worth mentioning the Pacers allow an NBA-high 33.1 offensive efficiency rating to PFs, furthering his case.
Giannis Antetokounmpo with the reverse SLAM 😤pic.twitter.com/oSKXu3Mkpg
— Bucks Nation (@BucksNationCP) December 28, 2023
Pascal Siakam, TOR at MEM – PF/C ($8,200 DK; $9,000 FD)
Siakam is arguably carrying lower salaries than his recent play warrants, as the big man is averaging 46 DK/44.6 FD points over his last five games. Siakam has been at 50 DK points or more on five occasions this season and 49.6 FD points or more in the same number of contests, giving him an excellent ceiling for the investment required to roster him. The Grizzlies are also allowing the fifth-highest offensive efficiency rating to power forwards (30.6), along with 47.5 percent shooting, including 43.2 percent from behind the arc. Memphis is also yielding 49.7 DK/47.2 FD points per game to fours in the last 15 contests, boosting Siakam's case further.
Tim Hardaway Jr., DAL vs. POR – SG/SF ($6,100 DK; $6,400 FD)
Hardaway can certainly be a streaky shooter, but he's been more consistent this season and has certainly proven capable of blowing past his current salaries on multiple occasions. The veteran wing has been over 30 DK points on 12 occasions and over 30 FD in 10 games this season, and five of those instances have come within the last eight contests. Hardaway is back to a bench role now that Kyrie Irving has returned from his heel injury, but Portland is allowing a Western Conference-high 26.2 offensive efficiency rating to two-guards and over 44 fantasy points per game on either site to the position on the season.
ALSO CONSIDER: Scottie Barnes, TOR at MEM - PG/SF/PF ($9,000 DK; $9,600 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Chet Holmgren, OKC at ATL – C ($8,000 DK; $8,400 FD)
Holmgren has had the opportunity to prove his immense talent by finally steering clear of the injury bug in his delayed rookie campaign, and the big man should be in a good position to continue thriving on Wednesday. Holmgren faces a Hawks team that's allowed the third-highest offensive efficiency rating to centers (36.2), along with the fifth-most DK (59.4) and seventh-most FD (59.2) points per game to the position in the last 15 contests. What's more, Atlanta is also conceding the sixth-most blocks per game (5.6), while Holmgren is averaging an impressive 2.7 rejections per game.
Chet Holmgren (-230) remains the favorite for rookie of the year over Victor Wembanyamapic.twitter.com/AqOunN6KPV
— BetRivers Sportsbook (@BetRivers) January 3, 2024
Rudy Gobert, MIN vs. NOP – C ($7,200 DK; $8,100 FD)
The Stifle Tower's DK salary particularly stands out, but his FD figure is reasonable as well given his upside and the matchup. Gobert will get a crack at a Pelicans team on the second night of a back-to-back set, one that's already ranked in the bottom half of the league in offensive efficiency rating allowed to centers (32.7), as well as over 55 fantasy points per game to the position in the last 15 games. New Orleans is also right behind the Hawks in blocks per game allowed, surrendering the seventh most (5.4). Meanwhile, Gobert is averaging over 35 fantasy points per game against the Pelicans in three prior games, shooting 65.0 percent along the way.
Walker Kessler, UTA vs. DET – C ($5,400 DK; $6,600 FD)
Kessler offered a reminder of his upside in Monday's game against the Mavs, posting 34.5 DK/37 FD points across just 26 minutes. Kessler has been trending in the right direction for the better part of a month, averaging over 30 fantasy points per game on either site while putting up a well-rounded 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 3.3 blocks per contest in the last 12 games overall. The big man already posted 25.5 DK/28.5 FD points in only 20 minutes in the first meeting with the Pistons this season, and Detroit comes in allowing 58.3 DK/59.4 FD points per contest to centers in the last 15 games along with the fourth-most blocks per game overall (6.0).
ALSO CONSIDER: Jarrett Allen, CLE vs. WAS - C ($7,800 DK; $8,700 FD)
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