Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. numberFire's projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news. numberFire also has player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

In addition to daily projections, numberFire also offers a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

NBA DFS Picks

Guards

Top Plays

Jamal Murray ($8,600) -- Jamal Murray eclipsed 40 FanDuel points (FPs) in three of his last four, and he continues to show up against top competition. With Nikola Jokic questionable tonight, Murray could see even more usage against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Per RotoGrinders' CourtIQ, Murray has posted a 32% usage rate with Jokic off the floor this season. That would come in handy against a Thunder defense that's league-average against PGs and ranks eighth in pace.

Josh Giddey ($6,600) -- The Thunder have a lengthy injury report tonight, but Josh Giddey is healthy and in a good spot to produce against the Denver Nuggets. Denver has dipped to 17th in defensive rating over their last 15 games, and they've given up the sixth-most FPs per game (FPPG) to SGs over that span, per FantasyPros. As of Wednesday afternoon, Giddey's 33.4-FP numberFire projection is the highest among sub-$7,000 players.

Markelle Fultz ($5,600) -- The San Antonio Spurs are 25th in defensive rating and give up the second-most FPPG to opposing PGs. That puts Markelle Fultz in consideration as a salary saver coming off his second-best fantasy outing (37.4 FPs) of the season. Fultz's defensive activity (10 steals in the last five games) gives him a sneaky-high ceiling against a Spurs team that sports the ninth-highest turnover rate in the NBA.

Others to Consider

James Harden ($8,400) -- The Los Angeles Clippers have the highest implied total (124.25) of the slate, and the Washington Wizards are the third-best fantasy matchup for PGs. Consequently, we can turn to James Harden if Jokic plays and you want to fade Murray. Harden's scoring has been inconsistent in LA, but he continues to fill up the box score in heavy minutes. In 14 January contests, Harden averaged 34.3 minutes and 38.5 FPPG.

Darius Garland ($7,700) -- Darius Garland is expected to return from a 19-game absence to face the Detroit Pistons; he's an interesting flyer in larger tournaments. Prior to his injury, Garland averaged 34.5 FPPG and hovered around the high-$7,000 salary range. I'm not especially concerned about the injury impacting his game, so there's upside against a Detroit defense that's 29th in defensive rating and gives up the most FPPG to opposing PGs.

Cason Wallace ($4,900) -- If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (questionable) is ruled out, Cason Wallace would step into a larger role and serve as a nice salary saver. Wallace's playing time fluctuates, but he's proven productive even in a smaller role, notching 25 FPs in two of their last four games.

Terance Mann ($4,700) -- A lopsided spread (Clippers -12) suggests blowout potential in Washington tonight, paving the way for Terance Mann to get an extended run. Mann has totaled at least 20 FPs in 12 of 16 games that LA won by double digits, averaging 19.9 FPPG. It helps that the Wizards give up the third-most FPPG to SGs.

Wings

Top Plays

Kevin Durant ($9,600) -- Kevin Durant makes his return to Brooklyn tonight, and I'm all in on a revenge game. KD has taken a secondary role over Phoenix's last four games, but he flashed that slate-winning upside in two games prior, going for 60.8 and 70.2 FPs. The Nets, meanwhile, are a middle-of-the-pack defense overall and have given up the fifth-most FPs to opposing SFs. A favorable over/under (232) and tight spread (Suns -3) suggest a quality game environment, too.

Brandon Miller ($7,000) -- With LaMelo Ball doubtful, Brandon Miller profiles as a quality mid-range option at forward. Miller is coming off his best fantasy performance of the season, notching 43.9 FPs against a stout New York Knicks defense. Tonight's matchup isn't a cakewalk (the Chicago Bulls are 14th in defensive rating), but the usage uptick is too hard to pass up. Miller's played well of late, exceeding 35 FPs in four of his last six games.

Max Strus ($5,600) -- Max Strus has provided consistent production of late, averaging 25.9 FPPG over his last six. While some may be scared off now that Cleveland is fully health, Strus was a reliable asset with a fully healthy lineup earlier in the season. In 11 games with their core four intact, Strus averaged 34 minutes and 30.3 FPPG. Detroit has one of the worst defenses in the NBA, and they're bottom-10 in FPs allowed to both SGs and SFs. There's a nice floor here.

Others to Consider

Paolo Banchero ($8,700) -- Paolo Banchero will look to cap off his best month of the season (44.3 FPPG) in a mouth-watering matchup with San Antonio. The Spurs have struggled across the board defensively, and they've given up the eighth-most FPPG to opposing PFs. It's also a pace-up spot for the Orlando Magic, and a 116 implied total is about as high as you'll see from them.

Tim Hardaway Jr. ($6,400) -- The Dallas Mavericks will be without both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving tonight, so there are plenty of shots to go around even in a tough matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. I don't want too much exposure here, but I can get behind rostering one of Tim Hardaway Jr., Jaden Hardy ($5,100), or Josh Green ($4,700). Luka and Kyrie have missed the same game twice this season. In those games, Hardaway (32.6 FPs; 33% usage) led the way, followed by Hardy (21.7 FPs; 25% usage), and then Green (8.5 FPs; 13% usage). Hardy and Green are two of numberFire's four best values from a point-per-dollar perspective.

Luguentz Dort ($4,700) -- Jalen Williams has already been ruled out, while SGA, Chet Holmgren, and Luguentz Dort are all questionable. Dort's designation (ankle soreness) leaves me optimistic he suits up tonight, and he'd be a real value if others sit. Despite some quiet nights of late, Dort's 26.9-FP numberFire projection makes him the second-best point-per-dollar value on the slate.

Bigs

Top Plays

Alperen Sengun ($9,500) -- This is Alperen Sengun's second-highest salary this season, but don't let that turn you away from him. Sengun has been on fire this month, averaging 23.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 45.3 FPs per game through 16 January contests. Although the New Orleans Pelicans have been stingy against bigs this year, Sengun already torched them for 63.2 and 43.1 FPs in two previous matchups. A tight spread (Pelicans -2) and solid over/under (231.5) make this a game environment worth targeting.

PJ Washington ($6,200) -- PJ Washington stands to benefit from LaMelo Ball's absence. It's a small sample, but in two games without Ball since the Terry Rozier trade, Washington went for 53.9 and 23.4 FPs. He's unlikely to score 43 points as he did in that 53.9-FP outing, but there's room for more periphery stats after he grabbed just four rebounds total in those two. Washington's individual matchup is good, too -- Chicago gives up the 10th-most FPPG to PFs.

Jonathan Isaac ($4,000) -- There's a degree of risk involved with Jonathan Isaac after he exited last contest after just seven minutes of action, but he's off the injury report tonight and has a lovely matchup with San Antonio. Prior to Monday's dud, Isaac had played 22 minutes in consecutive games, totaling 16 and 22.1 FPs. numberFire pegs Isaac for 23.8 FPs tonight, making him the top point-per-dollar value on the board, regardless of position.

Others to Consider

Nikola Vucevic ($7,900) -- Nikola Vucevic has a tantalizing matchup with a Hornets defense that's given up the second-most points and rebounds to opposing centers. Vucevic has fared well in the second leg of back-to-backs, too, averaging 45.1 FPPG on zero days' rest. numberFire projects him for 41.3 FPs tonight, making him the top value among centers.

Aaron Gordon ($6,200) -- Feel confident turning to Aaron Gordon if Jokic is ruled out tonight; in seven games without the MVP frontrunner last season, Gordon averaged 38.9 FPPG. It doesn't hurt that OKC gives up the fourth-most rebounds to PFs.

Grant Williams ($4,800) -- Grant Williams won't drop 53.1 FPs like he did over the weekend, but he should see an uptick with Luka and Kyrie out tonight. The matchup is brutal -- Minnesota gives up the third-fewest FPPG to PFs -- but a heavy dose of minutes makes Williams a fine salary saver. He's numberFire's second-best value among PFs.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.