FanDuel NBA DFS Picks for Today (Friday, 1/10/25): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

Only seven games on a Friday night? I'm here for it as these "medium-sized slates" are some of my favorites for DFS contests!

I recommend some higher-priced players for cash games and GPPs in today's edition while highlighting some of my favorite value plays and game stacks. If you want DraftKings picks, see who Zach Thompson likes by reading his piece here.

This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 1/10/25. 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 FanDuel. 

Today's FanDuel NBA DFS Core Picks

Domantas Sabonis, SAC - PF/C ($9,700) 

I love using Sabonis on FanDuel where he has PF eligibility (you can only play him at C on DK). Sabo is having a tremendous season for the Kings and he could be asked to carry this team tonight if De'Aaron Fox ends up missing another game (he's currently questionable and missed the last two games).

But even if Fox returns, I like this matchup for Sabonis. The Celtics will have a hard time matching Sabonis' size on the interior. Porzingis is a solid shot-blocker, but not a great post defender and Al Horford can handle the physicality of Sabonis but is 4-5 inches shorter than the Kings big man.

Sabo is fresh off a triple-double against the Heat and does a little of everything in terms of scoring, rebounding, and passing. If the Kings hang with Boston tonight, it's likely because Sabonis is having a big game.

Guerschon Yabusele, PHI - PF ($5,900)

Joel Embiid is going to sit out again tonight and his primary backup at the center position, Andre Drummond, has been ruled out, too.

That leaves Yabusele as the main big man for the Sixers tonight against the Pelicans and he's been excellent in that role this season when asked to man the paint.

I'm ready to say it: Guerschon Yabusele has easily been the best role player of the “Joel Embiid Era” pic.twitter.com/hX9CvM8mKk

— Sixerdaily on IG (@Sixerdaily) January 9, 2025

Yabusele dropped 43 FD points in a start on Wednesday against Washington. And he gets another tasty matchup tonight against a Pelicans team that allows the fourth-most FD points to opposing big men.

Zach LaVine, CHI - SG/SF ($8,200)

This Bulls-Wizards game tonight has easily the highest total on the slate at 243.5. And while the Bulls are 9.5-point favorites tonight, I don't trust them to cover, and I want to stack this thing up once we figure out who's playing for Washington.

LaVine continues to lead Chicago in scoring lately as he dropped 31 points against Indiana in a losing effort on Monday for his fourth straight game with 30+ points.

He scored 32 against Washington just last week and this matchup is one that we love to target with scorers. He makes for a great building block tonight and the SF eligibility is clutch as there are some nice value plays at SG.

Others Under Consideration: Jayson Tatum - SF/PF ($10,200), Russell Westbrook - PG ($7,500)

Today's FanDuel NBA DFS Tournament Pivots

Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK - C ($10,300)

Towns is currently questionable for tonight's matchup with the Thunder, but I expect him to play against one of the best teams in the league. The Knicks big man pulled down 22 rebounds against the Thunder a week ago and we saw the Cavs' twin towers give OKC some major problems in the paint on Wednesday night.

Karl-Anthony Towns over his last 6 games:

27 PTS - 13 REB - 3 STL
44 PTS - 16 REB - 5 AST
17 PTS - 22 REB - 4 AST
31 PTS - 21 REB - 4 AST
32 PTS - 13 REB - 68% FG
30 PTS - 14 REB - 68% FG

(Via @realapp_ ) pic.twitter.com/eorBCfzmoa

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 9, 2025

Towns is finally priced over 10K but is well worth the investment for tournaments, as he has had a consistent floor over 50 and has flashed a ceiling as high as 70 just as recently as last week.

Kelly Oubre Jr., PHI – SG/SF ($6,500)

Paul George should return to the lineup tonight, but Oubre should continue to function as one of the top-scoring options for the Sixers with Joel Embiid still out. Oubre was able to post 35 FD points on Wednesday even while only scoring 15 actual points on the strength of his defense (two blocks and two steals).

We've seen him log heavy minutes, as it's clear that Nick Nurse loves him and wants his length and shooting on the court as much as possible.

Kristaps Porzingis, BOS - PF/C ($7,700)

Porzo is slowly getting his minutes increased after missing a stretch of four games over the holidays. He played 34 minutes against Denver on Tuesday and went for 25 points and 11 boards, which was good for 50 FD points.

The Celtics could use his size tonight against Sabonis, and if he's been cleared for 30+ minutes, he's far too cheap for his skill set and for this matchup, as Sacto has not been a very good defensive team this season, either.

Others Under Consideration: Josh Hart - SF/PF ($8,100), Jamal Murray - PG/SG ($8,300)

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Today's FanDuel NBA DFS Value Picks

Bub Carrington, WAS – PG ($4,800), Jared Butler, WAS - SG ($4,200)

We already know that Malcolm Brogdon is out, we just need to know if Jordan Poole is going to play. If Poole is out, then Carrington should start again at the point for Washington with Butler functioning as the high-usage combo guard off the bench.

It was Butler who had the big game against Philadelphia on Wednesday, but Carrington brings some upside of his own with his rebounding and defensive stats, too. Washington is a team we have to consider for value tonight, as the matchup against the Bulls is fantastic for fantasy.

Andrew Nembhard, IND - PG/SG ($5,200)

Nembhard is kind of boring but he's been very consistent in the box score lately. If Tyrese Haliburton were to miss tonight, then Nembhard would become the primary ball-handler for the Pacers.

Buddy Hield, GSW - PG/SG ($4,300)

Buddy Hield has been solid lately since entering the starting lineup for the Warriors. In his last two games, he's scored 31 and 32 FD points and he should continue to see increased minutes, as the Warriors will be without Andrew Wiggins, Brandin Podziemski, and Jonathan Kuminga tonight.

Buddy Hield this season:

44.3% 3PT — Catch & Shoot
28.6% 3PT — Off the dribble pic.twitter.com/HDrBnNHBDb

— StatMamba (@StatMamba) January 7, 2025

Noah Clowney, BKN – PF/C ($4,900)

We finally saw the breakout game we have been waiting for from Clowney on Wednesday, as he went for 29 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals against the Pistons in 37 minutes. With the Nets short on healthy bodies and playing for the future, Clowney should continue to get a lot of minutes and he's far too cheap for how talented he is.

Thomas Bryant, IND – C ($4,600)

This is 100% dependent on Myles Turner's status. Turner missed Wednesday's game against Chicago and Bryant stepped in and scored 39 FD points in 27 minutes as the starter. He's a very solid point-per-minute contributor who is a near-lock anytime he's going to play big minutes.

Others Under Consideration: Day'Ron Sharpe - C ($4,600), Obi Toppin - PF ($4,300), Tyrese Martin - SG/SF ($5,000), Brandon Boston Jr. - SG ($4,400)

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: Zach LaVine
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Guerschon Yabusele
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Karl-Anthony Towns
• My favorite VALUE play: Buddy Hield

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis