DraftKings and FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (1/1/23): NBA DFS Lineups

It's time to turn the calendar over and start fresh, as it is officially 2023. Of course, we have a giant slate of NFL games to enjoy on New Year's Day, but there's also a small, yet premiere, slate of NBA games starting at 8:00 pm ET tonight. The Celtics-Nuggets and Kings-Grizzlies games rate out favorably in my model (shown below), with the Celtics and Grizzlies leading the way going up against two defenses currently ranking in the bottom eight in defensive efficiency for the season. We have a sizeable list of players with questionable injury designations heading into today, including Bradley Beal, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Bruce Brown, Malik Monk, George Hill, Taj Gibson, and Santi Aldama. The Bucks will continue rolling without stars Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, so Giannis and the ancillary pieces will have full reign again tonight. Let's get to it.

Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 1/1/23. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s NBA injury news and also our full NBA injury report today to stay up to date before lineups are locked.

DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Ja Morant, vs. SAC (FD: $10,500, DK: $9,900)

Morant's salary is a little too spicy for my tastes on FanDuel, but it's in the right spot on DraftKings, and Morant projects as a top spend-up option on tonight's slate. Bane, Clarke, Zaire Williams, and Aldama are all ruled out or doubtful, and Morant sees a usage bump (to 36.2%) and a FPTS/min boost (to 1.56) when all four are off the floor this season. This game will play fast as both teams rank in the top eight in pace, and it projects to be a shootout as Vegas has it tracking for a slate-high 239.5-point implied total. The Kings' 22nd-rated defense is ripe for a classic Morant blow-up game at a sub-$10,000 price tag.

Kevin Huerter, vs. MEM (FD: $5,500, DK: $5,300) Tournaments Only

Huerter, or "Red Velvet," has had an up-and-down season in his first year with the Kings. However, his price is still cheap enough that we can have confidence in getting to him tonight, especially in this fantastic game environment. He needs 26.5 DK points to hit 5x value tonight, and he's averaging 27.3 DK points per game this season while spiking for 40, 31.5, and 40.25 DK points over his most recent five-game stretch. Huerter's usage and production would see an uptick if Malik Monk (Q) were to be ruled out, but we'd also want to get to Terence Davis in that scenario as he'd likely get the start in Monk's absence.

This game has the highest implied total on the slate at 239.5 points, and the Grizzlies have struggled to defend opposing shooting guards and small forwards. They're allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards and the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing small forwards. They've also allowed the seventh-most three-pointers made per game to opposing shooting guards, where Huerter makes his noise as he attempts 5-10 threes per game and shoots them at a decent 42.2% clip.

Also consider: Dillon Brooks, Davion Mitchell, Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick White, Marcus Smart, Monte Morris

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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Jaren Jackson Jr., vs. SAC (FD: $7,200, DK: $6,400)

JJJ put up 44 DK points on a crazy 17/6/2/6/3 slash line against the Pelicans in his last game, and his price stayed the same heading into tonight's tilt against the Kings. The Grizzlies ruled Desmond Bane out while Clarke, Williams, and Aldama are all listed as doubtful. Jackson Jr. spikes to a 1.32 FPTS/min rate with those four off the floor, making him a core play as long as he receives the 30-ish minutes he typically sees in competitive contests.

Robert Williams, vs. DEN (FD: $5,400, DK: $4,400) 

I love that Time Lord has re-entered the conversation for our NBA DFS lineups, and I'm not missing a chance to play him at a cheap salary on both sites. The Celtics are still being cautious with his playing time as he's hovering right around 20 minutes per game and has yet to receive a start, but he can be efficient with his minutes, as he just showed on 12/27 when we put up 36.25 DK points over just 21 minutes against the Rockets. It feels safe to assume that Boston will continue limiting his minute ceiling as he works his way back from off-season knee surgery. Still, his ability to impact the game defensively will be needed with a matchup against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets tonight. I'm more than willing to take a shot on Williams and his 1.2 FPTS/min average at just $4,400 on DraftKings. Al Horford is the direct pivot if Williams (illness) is ruled out.

Also consider: Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Terence Davis, Rui Hachimura, Bruce Brown, Harrison Barnes, Grant Williams, Keegan Murray, 

DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Steven Adams, vs. SAC (FD: $6,400, DK: $5,200)

Trying to pick the right spots to get to Adams is always tricky, but a general rule of thumb is that he's much more likely to see an uptick in playing time and production when the Grizzlies square off against more sizeable/traditional frontcourts. His last two games were shining examples of that concept as he put up a monster 50.25 DK point game over 27 minutes against the Pelicans (Valanciunas) and 42.25 DK points over 32 minutes against the Raptors. His price barely budged on DraftKings and tonight he'll square off with another big, traditional (ish) center in Domantas Sabonis. The Kings rank in the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to centers this season, but Adams' recent form combined with his cheap price tag make him a great value play on a slate currently lacking low-salary options.

Also consider: Nikola Jokic, Kristaps Porzingis, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez

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