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Zach's top DraftKings NBA DFS picks for today, Wednesday, 1/15/25. His favorite daily fantasy basketball lineup sleepers and value picks for DraftKings DFS.
On Wednesday night, the NBA has a monster 11-game schedule set up, and the first nine of those games make on the main slate on DraftKings. With such a huge selection of games to pick from, there will be plenty of top plays and values to consider. The schedule is further complicated by the fact that the Hawks, Bulls, Mavs, Nuggets, Pelicans, Bucks, and 76ers are all playing for the second night in a row, which could impact their rotations. With teams battling injuries and trying to get their players rested for the stretch run, be sure to keep a close eye on availability updates leading up to tip-off.
Wednesday's main slate features some strong fantasy options to consider, so let's look at the best of these matchups from a DFS perspective on DraftKings. If you're looking for FanDuel-specific advantage, check out Thunder Dan's FanDuel picks!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 1/15/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EST on DraftKings.
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DraftKings NBA DFS Core Picks
LaMelo Ball, CHA - PG ($10,000)
The Hornets have a good matchup in Utah against the Jazz, and they should be at full strength with Ball back from his latest injury. The team also had two games postponed in Los Angeles over the weekend, so they have played only four games in the last two weeks. Ball played in three of those contests and continued to turn in elite production when available. On the season, he's averaging 51.8 DraftKings points per game and 1.54 DraftKings points per minute while leading the NBA with a 36.8% usage rate.
On Sunday, he had 25 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, and 59.5 DraftKings points against the Suns, giving him over 55 DraftKings points in seven of his last 11 contests.
Deep 3 for @MELOD1P @Lowes | 🎥 @FDSN_Hornets pic.twitter.com/Du7abK7llD
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) January 13, 2025
The Jazz will be without multiple starters on Wednesday, and since they'll be short-handed it should be a great place to attack with Ball, whose volume gives him both a very high ceiling and a very high floor.
Trey Murphy III, NO – SG/SF ($7,400)
With such a huge slate, there is no shortage of elite options or strong values, but most of the elite plays come with big price tags. Murphy is one player with a midrange salary who has been putting up elite numbers and should be in a spot to stay hot as the Pelicans host the Mavericks.
Murphy missed three games with an ankle injury but returned on Sunday and played 39 minutes against the Celtics. He had 30 points and 44.5 DraftKings points in the Pelicans' close loss to the Celtics, and he followed that up with 32 points and 54.5 DraftKings points against the Bulls on Tuesday.
Mama Murphy will be happy with Trey at the stripe#Pelicans | @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/xIADc7V9Cg
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 15, 2025
The Pelicans and Mavs are both playing for the second night in a row, so be sure to check the injury report for more clarity on who is available for both teams. in almost any scenario, though, Murphy will be a strong play based on his recent form. In his last seven games, he led the team with 36.4 minutes per game and was third with a 27.0% usage rate. He averaged produced 44.9 DraftKings points per game and 1.23 DraftKings points per minute over that stretch, and he'll look to keep cooking as the Pelicans come home to host Dallas.
Mark Williams, CHA – C ($6,100)
Utah is resting multiple players which should allow Ball to post a big game and also opens up a great opportunity for Williams to dominate down low. Williams has been very good while ramping up after missing almost an entire year, and lately, he has been reminding everyone of his high ceiling.
On Sunday in Phoenix, he had 24 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and 52 DraftKings points in 30 minutes.
Mark Williams is a mean machine. Throw it down on his former teammate, Mason Plumlee pic.twitter.com/7aISSurgb8
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) January 13, 2025
He has averaged 44.0 DraftKings points per game and 1.33 DraftKings points per minute over his last seven games. He doesn't need a ton of usage to pile up good rebounding and defensive numbers, and the Hornets offense should find plenty of success against the Jazz. Williams has great upside for a play just over $6,000 and can make sense to pair with whatever superstar or two you decide to build around.
Others Under Consideration: Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF/C ($11,600), Trae Young - PG ($9,900), Jayson Tatum - SF/PF ($10,200), Jalen Brunson - PG ($8,400), Ja Morant - PG ($8,500), Josh Hart - SF/PF ($7,700), Cole Anthony - PG/SG ($6,200)
DraftKings NBA DFS Tournament Pivots
Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK - C ($10,100)
It's hard to know what to expect from the Sixers after they ran out a rag-tag lineup in Tuesday's game. Even if Tyrese Maxey ($9,400; hand) or Paul George ($8,100; ankle) are able to return, the Sixers could remain without big men Joel Embiid ($9,500; foot) and Andre Drummond ($5,000; toe), who have each missed multiple games, leaving Philly under-sized in the frontcourt. Even if everyone comes back, the rust should be enough to give Towns a smash spot against the Sixers. The bigger risk for him and Jalen Brunson ($8,400) might actually be that they all rest and the game turns into a blowout.
KAT has been excellent and fairly durable in his first season with the Knicks, averaging 52.5 DraftKings points in his 38 games. He has over 52 DraftKings points in seven of his last nine games and has nine straight double-doubles.
He sprained his thumb on Monday and is questionable, but if he plays, he has brought a very reliably high ceiling and floor so far this season.
Jalen Green, HOU - SG ($7,100)
The Rockets have been flying high coming into 2025 fueled by a huge boost from Jalen Green, who has averaged 31.6 points per game while leading the team to a 5-1 record. On Monday, Green had 42 points and 54.75 DraftKings points against Memphis.
Jalen Green scores 42 points on 72.2 FG% in the @HoustonRockets W!
He joins Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in Rockets history to total 40+ PTS on at least 70 FG% in a game before turning 23 🤯 pic.twitter.com/F8PwLys5Sg
— NBA (@NBA) January 14, 2025
Green has averaged 44.1 DraftKings points per game in his last six games with a 29.9% usage rate and 1.24 DraftKings points per minute. He and the Rockets have a favorable matchup on Wednesday in Denver in what should be a great Western Conference contest, as long as the Nuggets are at full strength as they finish a back-to-back.
Devin Vassell, SA - SG/SF ($6,000)
While he hasn't been quite as productive as Green, Devin Vassell has also been stepped up for the Spurs lately. He will face the Grizzlies in a favorable matchup on Wednesday night as the Spurs come home after a three-game road trip that finished with Monday's 24-point rout of the Lakers.
Vassell had 23 points, six rebounds, four assists, and 42 DraftKings points in that game and has at least 32 DraftKings points in six of his last eight contests.
NASTY POSTER BY DEVIN VASSELL 😈 pic.twitter.com/ffW5cav2Ob
— NBA (@NBA) January 14, 2025
Isaiah Collier, UTA - PG ($5,000)
As mentioned above, the Jazz will be without multiple players on Wednesday night. They ruled out Collin Sexton (rest), John Collins (hip), Lauri Markkanen (back), and Jordan Clarkson (foot) while Keyonte George ($5,500; hip) is questionable after missing the last five games. With so few offensive options, Collier should again be in a position to run the show as he did on Sunday.
While the rookie point guard had been turning in solid non-scoring numbers, Sunday he got a chance to shine as a scorer as well when the Jazz were also without multiple starters. He finished with 23 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, a block, and 44.75 DraftKings points. O yeah--he also hit the game-winning shot.
ISAIAH COLLIER WINS IT FOR THE JAZZ 🧊🧊 pic.twitter.com/BhYPvoJ9ZK
— NBA (@NBA) January 13, 2025
Especially if Goerge is out, Collier will be a great play with a high ceiling against the Hornets on Wednesday as he continues to prove he can be a part of Utah's core moving forward.
Others Under Consideration: Victor Wembanyama - C ($11,200), CJ McCollum - PG/SG ($7.200), Coby White - PG/SG ($6,500), Julius Randle - PF/C ($7,300), Zach LaVine - SG/SF ($8,600), Dyson Daniels - PG/SG ($7,100), Amen Thompson - SG/SF ($7,800), Andrew Wiggins - SF/PF ($6,100), Goga Bitadze - C ($6,000)
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DraftKings NBA DFS Value Picks
Stephon Castle, SA – PG/SG ($4,000)
There's sure to be plenty of value that opens up as players are ruled out throughout the day, but there are a few smash spots already apparent. Rookie Stephon Castle has regularly been out-producing his low salary in his growing role for the Spurs, and he is a great play at only $4,000, especially with Jeremy Sochan (back). sidelined.
Castle played 36 minutes against the Lakers on Monday with one of the best stat lines of his rookie season. He finished with 23 points, four rebounds, two steals, and 33 DraftKings points. He has double-digit points in three of his last four games and has shown a good floor with at least 16 DraftKings points in five of his last six.
Stephon Castle 23 PTS on 10/16 FG pic.twitter.com/Z2Lq45OG6b
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) January 14, 2025
His upside next to Wemby and Vassell surely has Spurs' fans rightfully fired up for the future.
Brice Sensabaugh, UTA – SF/PF ($4,500)
While there are a lot of Jazz players who will need to step up and help Collier carry the load, Sensabaugh is especially notable since he has shown so much upside when available over the last few weeks. He had 34 points against the Heat and 27 points against the Magic in back-to-back games before missing a week due to illness. He returned on Sunday with 16 points and 22.25 DraftKings points in 27 minutes.
Sensabaugh continues to do a nice job of using the threat of his three to get to the basket pic.twitter.com/57LYkfFvgb
— Eric Spyropoulos (@EricSpyroNBA) January 13, 2025
The Jazz should give the second-year player plenty of room to develop, and he'll have all the usage he can handle on Wednesday.
Justin Edwards, PHI – SF ($3,000)
There's really no way to know what to expect from the Sixers tonight, but one things for certain--Justin Edwards made the most of his chance on Tuesday.
Justin Edwards tonight:
25 PTS
6 REB
4 AST
4 3P
56% FGVery impressing showing from the undrafted rookie 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wxp69zlFDz
— Sixerdaily on IG (@Sixerdaily) January 15, 2025
At the minimum salary of $3,000, he finished with 41 DraftKings points and showed his potential to fit in on the wing. The 21-year-old's role is still murky depending on the status of George, Maxey and Caleb Martin ($5,100; groin), but if playing time is available, he offers a lot of upside for a player whose salary still sits at only $3,000.
Onyeka Okongwu, ATL – C ($4,800)
With Jalen Johnson ($8,800; shoulder) and De'Andre Hunter ($6,400; foot) out on Tuesday, Okongwu stepped up wand had 22 points and 21 rebounds on his way to a massive 52.75 DraftKings points.
MASSIVE game for Onyeka Okongwu 💪
22 PTS
21 REB (career high)His best fantasy game of the season ➡ 50.7 FPTspic.twitter.com/nG4wJfdpg5
— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) January 15, 2025
If Johnson and Hunter are out again, Okongwu will be a great play as the Hawks finish their back-to-back with a trip to Chicago. Even before his monster game, Okongwu was chipping in strong value numbers off the Hawks' bench, producing over 24 DraftKings points in five of his six games since returning from injury. With his salary still under $5,000, he's a good value play at center without totally punting the position.
Others Under Consideration: Keldon Johnson - SF/PF ($4,300), Drew Eubanks - C ($4,100), Kyle Filipowski - PF/C ($4,300), Jordan Hawkins - SG ($3,000), Peyton Watson - PF ($4,100), Zach Edey - C ($4,600)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
Hawks at Bulls (244 total)
This should be a high-scoring matchup since these teams rank No. 2 and No. 3 in the NBA in pace. The two teams played three times this season with totals of 274, 258, and 238. Trae Young ($9,900) is a great place to start your stack on the Atlanta side, but there is also plenty of value in Onyeka Okoongwu ($4,800), Bogdan Bogdanovic ($4,600), Vit Krejci ($4,000), and even Garrison Mathews ($3,300) depending on who is available for Atlanta.
For the Bulls, Zach LaVine ($8,600) and Nikola Vucevic ($8,300) continue to post strong stats while Coby White ($6,500) looked good on Monday in his return. Ayo Dosunmu ($6,300) is expected to return from his extended absence, which could crowd things in the backcourt, but Jalen Smith ($3,500) and Patrick Williams ($4,700) should continue to be solid value options.
Grizzlies at Spurs (236.5 total)
The Grizzlies should be mostly healthy for this trip to San Antonio, and since they lead the NBA in Pace, it should be a high-scoring contest. Ja Morant ($8,500) seems back to full strength for Memphis while Jaren Jackson Jr. ($9,000) is another great piece with a high ceiling as he tries to take on Wemby. Zach Edey ($4,600), Santi Aldama ($4,300), and Brandon Clarke ($3,500) are value plays that should benefit from the game environment and post strong returns on affordable salaries.
The Spurs will look to build on their big win in L.A. when they showcased the kind of upside the young gore brings. Victor Wembanyama ($11,200) is the centerpiece of everything in San Antonio, but the supporting cast including Devin Vassell ($6,000), Stephon Castle ($4,000), Keldon Johnson ($4,300), and Julian Champagnie ($3,500) are all poised to be good values if they unit can build on its recent success.
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite OVERALL play on the slate: LaMelo Ball
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Trey Murphy III
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Jalen Green
- My favorite VALUE play: Stephon Castle
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