NBA DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups, Injuries & More Today: Sunday Playbook

Published: Jan 12, 2025
We have a six-game NBA DFS main slate on Sunday, January 12th on both DraftKings and FanDuel. It's a solid slate with plenty of stars ranging from LaMelo Ball to Kevin Durant to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and multiple teams on back-to-backs. We have news looming over the slate as Joel Embiid is once again listed as questionable as he works through a foot injury. Lets dive into my top picks, plays, fades, and much more in the NBA DFS Playbook here at Fantasy Alarm!
Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.
- News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
- Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
- Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
- NBA DFS Projections
- Lineup Generator
- NBA Ownership
NBA DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, January 12th
Pre-Lock Update
This section will be used for anything that changes from the morning until right up to roster lock.
Injury updates, players we’re higher on than we were in the morning and so much more.
4:15 pm ET
- With Walker Kessler OUT, the field is turning to Drew Eubanks and I'd prefer if Kyle Filipowski plays so we can go that direction. We have no idea who's available in Utah today. Collin Sexton and friends!
- I like the upgrade to conditioning on the injury report for Brice Sensabaugh. Looks like he has a shot to play. Would like him a lot.
5:40 pm ET
- Joel Embiid & Caleb Martin have been ruled OUT.
- Don't be afraid to go back to the Guerschon Yabusele well. Big bumps to Tyrese Maxey, Paul George & Kelly Oubre Tough spot, however.
6:45 pm ET
- Lauri Markkanen is OUT, Brice Sensabaugh & Kyle Filipowski is IN. I really like the Jazz value options in Sensabaugh & Filipowski. Collin Sexton is very appealing too. We'll have to wait and see what the rest of their starting lineup looks like.
NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 1/12
- Joel Embiid - OUT
- Brandon Ingram - OUT
- Dejounte Murray - IN
- Trey Murphy - IN
- Jalen Suggs - OUT
- Cameron Johnson - OUT
- John Collins - OUT
- Malcolm Brogdon - OUT
- Keyonte George - OUT
- D'Angelo Russell - OUT
- Andre Drummond - OUT
- Royce O'Neale - PROB
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - OUT
- Brice Sensabaugh - IN
- Kyle Filipowski - IN
- Johnny Juzang - OUT
- Ty Jerome - OUT
- Caleb Martin - OUT
- Jusuf Nurkic - OUT
- Walker Kessler - OUT
- Lauri Markkanen - OUT
NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews
With the NBA season just kicking off we don't have data yet for teams regarding pace of play and defensive matchups. In the section below, I’m listing the most notable things we need to look at in Las Vegas, including notable O/U and spreads.
Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
- Total: 240
- Spread: CLE -9
- Pacers are 7th in pace, Cavaliers are 6th in pace
- Pacers are 21st in DRtg, Cavaliers are 11th in DRtg
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Washington Wizards
- Total: 231
- Spread: OKC -16
- Thunder are 9th in pace, Wizards are 4th in pace
- Thunder are 1st in DRtg, Wizards are 30th in DRtg
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Boston Celtics
- Total: 229.5
- Spread: BOS -14.5
- Pelicans are 17th in pace, Celtics are 24th in pace
- Pelicans are 27th in DRtg, Celtics are 6th in DRtg
Charlotte Hornets vs. Phoenix Suns
- Total: 224
- Spread: PHX -7
- Hornets are 22nd in pace, Suns are 23rd in pace
- Hornets are 18th in DRtg, Suns are 22nd in DRtg
- Total: 215.5
- Spread: UTA -4.5
- Nets are 29th in pace, Jazz are 13th in pace
- Nets are 25th in DRtg, Jazz are 29th in DRtg
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic
- Total: 206
- Spread: ORL -1.5
- 76ers are 28th in pace, Magic are 30th in pace
- 76ers are 16th in DRtg, Magic are 2nd in DRtg
NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks
Here are the core players I’m looking at for my NBA DFS picks tonight. You can see the full analysis of tonight’s NBA DFS projections and player pool below or skip ahead to building the best lineups possible by locking these into the aforementioned lineup generator now.
High
Mid
- Tyrese Haliburton (GPPs), Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Pascal Siakam, Collin Sexton, Bennedict Mathurin, Cole Anthony, Kelly Oubre, Paul George
Value
- Keon Johnson, Brice Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski, Isaiah Collier, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Max Strus
Stacks
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