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Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Kyle Ringstad's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on January 12th, 2025.
It’s great to be back in the swing of things in the NBA, RotoBallers. In these articles, I focus on the top plays, traditionally geared toward cash games. However, with over a decade of NBA DFS experience under my belt—and as someone who rarely dives into cash formats—I'm selecting picks that also typically come with high upside. That means they offer the steady floor needed for cash games while packing the high ceiling we need for tournaments.
The Pacers-Cavaliers matchup stands out as one to target on tonight's six-game slate. It features a high implied total, a fast projected pace, and perhaps most importantly, a less than ten-point spread. Boston and OKC are on this slate, but they're facing two of the worst teams in the league and are favored to win by 14.5 and 16 points, respectively. We'll want to be careful with those, and we may see star players rest up in these cake matchups.
NBA DFS success hinges on in-day adjustments to injury news, but having a game plan and top targets early is essential. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and access our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
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Today's NBA DFS Core Picks
Here is a look at some of the higher-priced players we can use as building blocks for cash and GPP contests.
LaMelo Ball isn't in one of the premier game environments on this slate, but he's the guy I want to prioritize in lineups tonight. Ball had a rough first game back from his injury absence, but he put up a monster 66.5 DK point performance on Tuesday against the squad he'll be squaring off with tonight. The Suns allow the 12th-most fantasy points per game to PGs this season, and they've allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to PGs over their last seven games. He also possesses one of the highest ceilings on the slate, which is always a point of interest for GPPs.
It's risky, but I'm willing to gamble on Paolo Banchero at his sub-$10,000 price tag. He put up 54.25 DK points over 27 minutes in his return to action on Friday, and it's safe to assume the star forward will see his minutes continue to increase as he works his way back. Orlando is still without Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Mo Wagner, meaning Banchero receives all the usage he can handle against the 76ers tonight. Philadelphia allows the 10th-most fantasy points per game to PFs this season, though I'd like Banchero more if Joel Embiid were to sit out another game.
Finally, Jarrett Allen is far too cheap. The big man is averaging 45.2 DK PPG over his last five games, and he only needs 33 DK points to hit 5x value at his current DraftKings salary. He has spiked for at least 55 DK points in two of his last five games, and he'll be enjoying the best game environment on the slate tonight in a matchup against the Pacers at home. Indiana ranks well against centers, but it's worth noting that they allow the 10th-most rebounds per game to the position. Allen has been a rebound machine lately, bringing down 15, 11, 11, 9, and 14 boards in his most recent stretch of games.
- LaMelo Ball, CHA @ PHX - PG ($9,700 DK; $9,900 FD)
- Paolo Banchero, ORL vs. PHX - PF ($9,500 DK; $9,800 FD)
- Jarrett Allen, CLE vs. IND - C ($6,600 DK; $7,600 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Value Picks
This is where we talk about saving salary. Whether it's a severely underpriced backup or even as simple as a guy playing like someone who should be priced higher, this is where you'll find guys who make lineups work.
Sorting the best value picks of the day by fantasy points per dollar:
Oklahoma City will be our place to look for value on tonight's slate. Cason Wallace is the most intriguing since he plays around 30 minutes per game, but his median projection and potential ceiling are limited due to his 0.8 FPTS/min rate. We could see some extra minutes in garbage time action out of him, which is also why guys like Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, and Kenrich Williams are popping out in the optimizers.
As long as John Collins remains out, I will take some shots on the cheap Kyle Filipowski from the Jazz. He hasn't done much of anything lately, but if he's going to see 28 minutes against a vulnerable Brooklyn frontcourt, I'm down to roll the dice. The Nets allow the ninth-most fantasy points per game to Cs overall and the fifth-most fantasy points to Cs over their last seven games.
Cole Anthony feels like a safe bet to continue his success. The third-string PG has been thrust into the starting role with all the injuries in Orlando, and he has done well with games of 31.5, 41.25, and 36.25 DK points over his last five games. Given his current role with the depleted team, he's still in the mid-range price tier, which makes him an appealing target.
Top Value Plays:
- Cason Wallace, OKC @ WAS - PG/SG ($3,700 DK; $4,800 FD)
- Kyle Filopowski, UTA vs. BKN - PF/C ($3,700 DK; $4,200 FD)
- Cole Anthony, ORL vs. PHI - PG/SG ($5,700 DK; $6,700 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Ball, Wallace, and Anthony stand out as the top options at PG, but a few others can be safely mixed in. Isaiah Collier, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J. McConnell are the value options to consider, though Collier would be my preference of the three as long as we get the key guys ruled out in Utah (John Collins, Keyonte Goerge, Brice Sensabaugh). Collier isn't flashy, but he'll almost certainly provide 5x value at his current salary if he plays around 30 minutes.
Darius Garland is the other player to highlight here. He scored 60.5 DK points last game, though Donovan Mitchell sitting out significantly impacted his explosive performance. He's only $7,500 and in the top game environment, and while the Pacers defend PGs well, they rank 21st in defensive rating and seventh in pace. Garland is a sneaky pick that could break the slate if all goes right.
Top PG Options:
- LaMelo Ball, CHA @ PHX ($9,700 DK; $9,900 FD)
- Cole Anthony, ORL vs. PHI ($5,700 DK; $6,700 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Cason Wallace, OKC @ WAS ($3,700 DK; $4,800 FD)
- Darius Garland, CLE vs. IND ($7,500 DK; $7,700 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
We can get to Wallace, Joe, Anthony, Collier, and Nembhard at SG, but there are other options in play, too. Tyrese Martin and Keon Johnson are both intriguing guards on the Nets, who get the privilege of facing a Jazz team that allows the third-most fantasy points per game on the season. They're also allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to SGs, and they rank 29th in defensive rating.
Martin is cheaper and will be more popular, and I'm okay with getting to him as he is playing at least 30 minutes per game and has scored 30 and 34 DK points over his last two games. I'd instead get to Johnson, though, as he takes more shots and has shown a higher ceiling with games of 38 and 39 DK points over his last four outings.
Lastly, Grayson Allen is too cheap for his recent production levels. He has scored at least 28 DK points in three of his last five games, and he only needs 23 DK points to hit 5x value tonight.
Top SG Options:
- Cole Anthony, ORL vs. PHI ($5,700 DK; $6,700 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Keon Johnson, BKN @ UTA ($5,600 DK; $5,900 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Tyrese Martin, BKN @ UTA ($5,000 DK; $5,200 FD)
- Grayson Allen, PHX vs. CHA ($4,600 DK; $4,400 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
We can get to a smattering of OKC value at small forward, with Aaron Wiggins, Joe, and Luguentz Dort being the top options in the optimizer. I'll swerve away from the low-ceiling Dort, but Wiggins and Joe are appealing because they'd see extra run in garbage time. Martin can (and should) also be played at SF, as he has multi-positional eligibility. Dean Wade and Max Strus are low-cost options, with Strus being the priority as he has been beating value lately and has an upside if he sees a few extra minutes in a key matchup.
Top SF Options:
- Tyrese Martin, BKN @ UTA ($5,000 DK; $5,200 FD)
- Aaron Wiggins, OKC @ WAS ($3,200 DK) DraftKings Only
- Max Strus, CLE vs. IND ($3,900 DK) DraftKings Only
- Grayson Allen, PHX vs. CHA ($4,400 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
Wiggins, Kenrich Williams, and Filipowski will be my targets here. Wiggins and Williams are a bet on blowout run, but Filipowski should see heavy minutes regardless of the situation (as long as Collins remains out). Brice Sensabaugh would be a top play for me if he suits up, but that's still a significant question mark. As things stand, there's not much to love at this position, so I plan on punting and paying up at other positions.
Top PF Options:
- Aaron Wiggins, OKC @ WAS ($3,200 DK) DraftKings Only
- Kyle Filopowski, UTA vs. BKN ($3,700 DK; $4,200 FD)
- Brice Sensabaugh, UTA vs. BKN ($4,100 DK; $4,700 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
Williams and Filipowski qualify at center, but my eyes are on Jarrett Allen and his too-cheap mid-range salary. As stated in the "Core Plays" section, Allen has been demolishing value lately and pulling down rebounds with the best of them, both of which line up well in a pace-up spot against a defense with some vulnerabilities. He's more likely to produce another 45-55 DK point game than the fail to hit 5x value in this spot, so he's my favorite center on the slate tonight.
Top C Options:
- Jarrett Allen, CLE vs. IND ($6,600 DK; $7,600 FD)
- Kyle Filopowski, UTA vs. BKN ($3,700 DK; $4,200 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Pacers @ Cavaliers (o/u 240; 103.2 projected pace)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, and Joel Embiid. SGA hit a ceiling game in a competitive contest against Boston on 1/5, but he has otherwise been at (or below) 5x value in his recent stretch of games. You could argue that if tonight's game against the Wizards will be uncompetitive, SGA is a primary reason for that occurring. I'm not willing to take that bet, though, and I'm not getting to SGA with the other options on the board.
It's a similar story with Tatum. His price is way up despite exceeding 50 DK points once in his last seven games. He also risks seeing less playing time in a blowout situation, as the Celtics are massive 14.5-point favorites at home against one of the league's worst teams.
Embiid is too much of an enigma for my tastes. He has put up at least 5x value over his last four starts, but he's questionable to play tonight, and the Magic allow the fewest fantasy points per game to Cs this season. Save your salary and get a similar upside by getting to Jarrett Allen instead.
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: Jarrett Allen
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Cole Anthony
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Brice Sensabaugh
- My favorite value play: Cason Wallace
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