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Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Max's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on January 2nd, 2026.
Welcome back, and Happy New Year, RotoBallers! Tonight, we have a 10-game slate, highlighted by the doubleheader on Prime Video of the shorthanded Nuggets at Cavaliers, followed by the Thunder at Warriors. Note that DraftKings is not including the Kings-Suns, Thunder-Warriors, and Grizzlies-Lakers games on the main slate, while FanDuel will. For this article, I will only feature players in games on both sites. Whichever site you're playing on, there are plenty of good DFS fantasy basketball options to consider. These articles focus on the best overall plays, which are typically more suited to cash games. However, some exceptions may apply, depending on the size of the slate.
As always, watching the injury report updates will be critical to finalizing your strategy. This is a relatively clean slate, but some big names such as Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Josh Giddey, and Josh Hart are already confirmed out. There are many more players out, and there will undoubtedly be players who pop up on the injury report tomorrow, or even get ruled out, so keep a close eye on the NBA injury news and make adjustments as needed.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/2/26. 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 and DraftKings. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and also gain access to our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where our experts are talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
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NBA DFS Core Picks
Jalen Johnson, ATL - PF (DK $9.9K, FD $10.8K)
Johnson has been continuing on his torrid pace this season, currently averaging 24/10.4/8.4 and 54 fantasy PPG. Obviously, Johnson was taking another major step forward as an NBA player, but there was some chatter about whether or not he would produce at the same elite level once Trae Young returned to action.
Johnson quieted those concerns, posting fantasy scores of 55.75, 52.25, and 54.25 when Young was back in the lineup for three games. Young is questionable tonight, and his absence would send Johnson's projections to the moon. Regardless of Young's health, Johnson has proven that pricing him under $10k is mispricing him.
Jalen Johnson in December:
25.8 PPG | 11.2 RPG | 10.1 APG
He's the FIRST in @ATLHawks history and the 7th EVER to average a 25-PT triple-double in a month, joining:
Oscar Robertson (7x)
Russell Westbrook (6x)
Nikola Jokić (6x)
Luka Dončić (3x)
Wilt Chamberlain
LeBron James https://t.co/f9v3vEo88v pic.twitter.com/SlbOvV3iTj— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2025
Jalen Brunson, PG - NYK ($7.9K DK, $7.7K FD)
Brunson has been one of the most consistent players in the league from a fantasy perspective this year. He hasn't scored less than 41.5 fantasy points in 13 consecutive games, and that streak has a pretty good chance to continue tonight in the game with the highest implied total on the slate (245.5). Brunson currently ranks 5th in the NBA in usage rate (31.6%), and with Josh Hart sidelined once again, the Knicks will continue to miss one of their secondary ball handlers.
The Knicks and Hawks played last Saturday, and Brunson scored his exact seasonal average of 45.75 fantasy points in a game in which the Knicks scored 128 points. A high-floor ceiling combo makes Brunson an excellent starting point for all cash games tonight.
NBA DFS GPP Pivots
Deni Avdija, PG - POR ($9.6K DK, $9.6K FD)
Avdija isn't a sexy click at his price tag, especially when seeing some of the other PG options on this slate. However, this game between the Pelicans and Blazers boasts the second-highest implied total on the slate (243.5), and Vegas expects it to be a close game - the Blazers are currently -1.
The Blazers got demolished by the Thunder on New Year's Eve, and teams typically lean on their star players on the road. Avdija ranks 17th in the NBA in usage rate and has clearly established himself as the Blazers' top dog. He's in a great bounce-back spot tonight, and if he ever completes a triple-double, he could break the slate.
De'Aaron Fox, PG - SA ($7K DK, $8.3K FD)
Fox looks like he could be the odd man out in terms of ownership tonight amongst the PGs on the slate, even with the Spurs missing two of their four top scorers in Wemby and Devin Vassell. Wemby wasn't ruled out until after the sites released pricing for this slate, so the Spurs' mispricings stick out like a sore thumb.
Fox is in a bit of a dead zone of pricing compared to the other, more popular PG plays. Also, he will provide leverage of teammate Stephon Castle, who is projected to have similar ownership numbers.
NBA DFS Value Picks
Luke Kornet, SA - C (DK $4K, FD $5.4K)
Kornet was excellent during Wemby's last injury stint, and with Wemby (and a few other Spurs) sitting tonight, he looks like a prime option yet again. Like De'Aaron Fox, Kornet's price was also not adjusted for him being in line to start, so he's almost a lock to be widely owned, and could end up as the most owned player on the slate.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are dealing with a swath of injuries, and could be trotting out a starting five with none of their typical starters - depending on Jamal Murray's status (Murray is probable as of the time of writing). The Nuggets' rotation should be pretty tight, and with Murray playing through pain, he could get pulled early, opening up more minutes for the cheaper options. There are viable, cheap options at every position, so when looking to save salary, be sure to check what Nuggets are available at the spot you're looking to fill.
Tre Jones, CHI - PG/SG (DK $5.1K, FD $6.2K)
With the Bulls down both of their usual backcourt starters, Jones was called on to start at PG in place of Josh Giddey. In turn, Jones posted his best fantasy outing of the season, highlighted by a 20-point, 12-assist triple-double. Tonight, he has an advantageous matchup against the Magic and should be in line for even more minutes tonight after the Bulls' blowout win on NYE.
20 PTS 🔥 12 AST 🔥 7/7 FG
ANOTHER double-double from Tre Jones on perfect shooting led the @chicagobulls past the Pelicans on New Year’s Eve! #GLeagueAlum pic.twitter.com/cEXOTXp18N
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 1, 2026
Today's Top Game Stacks
Hawks at Knicks (245.5 O/U)
This game has the highest implied total on the slate, and each team is highlighted by one of the premier cash plays of the night. The tertiary pieces are priced fairly enough that they shouldn't carry too much ownership. A great game to target in either cash or GPPs.
Blazers at Pelicans (243.5 O/U)
Between the injuries both sides are dealing with and the plethora of midrange options, this game is incredibly easy to stack. The collective projected ownership for both teams is relatively low to the implied spread and total of this game. If this game is a shootout, there's a very high chance this is the game that ultimately determines the slate.
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: Jalen Johnson
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Jalen Johnson
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Deni Avdija
- My favorite VALUE play: Luke Kornet
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