RADIO
There are four games on the DraftKings main slate tonight, but FanDuel did its own thing (what's new) and has included the earlier Knicks-Raptors game in their main slate schedule. That game should be competitive, but its 222-point implied total is the lowest on the slate by a wide margin, and I'm not loving targeting that matchup. The Thunder-Nuggets affair looks mighty appealing, but we'll need to consider all teams in action tonight as a four-game slate limits our options quite a bit. Let's get to it.
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 1/22/23. 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.
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Damian Lillard, vs. LAL (FD: $10,000, DK: $10,100)
This is the perfect game environment for a classic "Dame Time" moment. I'm not talking about another one of his clutch end-of-game buckets to win it; I'm talking about one of his classic 50+ (real-life) point outbursts going up against the biggest name in the sport. He lives for these moments, and his recent form gives confidence in him as a great pay-up option in DFS tonight.
Lillard has averaged 59.25 DK points per game over his last five games, hitting at least 60 DK points three times during that stretch and never falling below 56.25 DK points. He will keep chucking up at least 20 shots per game and holds a massive 32.5% usage rate, so there's no question who's controlling the offense when he's on the floor. That will work against this version of the Lakers, who allow the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing teams and the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards this season. This will be a high-scoring, fast-paced game as it holds a lofty 239-point implied total, and the Lakers play at the second-fastest pace in the NBA. Check your watch - it's Dame Time.
Kyrie Irving, vs. GSW (FD: $9,600, DK: $10,000)
Kyrie went ballistic in his last game, putting up 83.75 DK points with a nutty 48/11/6 line that included four steals. He scored 61.75 DK points the day before, as it looks like he's starting to resemble the player the Nets need him to be with Kevin Durant out of the lineup. He'll have a golden opportunity to continue his hot streak tonight against the Warriors, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards on the year and the eighth-most fantasy points per game (overall) over their last 15 games.
Suns Value (TBD)
Devin Booker is out, while Deandre Ayton, Chris Paul, Cameron Johnson, Cameron Payne, and Landry Shamet are all questionable. Depending on who gets ruled out, we could see some cheap players pop up as incredible value plays on tonight's slate. Keep an eye on the injury updates for this game to determine the viability of players like Mikal Bridges, Damion Lee, Torrey Craig, Dario Saric, Saben Lee, and Bismack Biyombo.
Also consider: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Josh Giddey, Anfernee Simons, Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Saben Lee
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Aaron Gordon, vs. OKC (FD: $6,800, DK: $6,400) If Jokic sits
Gordon is a smash play if Nikola Jokic sits tonight, and he's about as close to "lock button" status as he can get if both Jokic and Jamal Murray are out. As you can see with the rates shown below, Gordon's value significantly rises if any or all of Jokic, Murray, and Hyland miss the game tonight. He put up 42.25 DK points on Friday with Jokic inactive, and I'd expect a similar performance tonight if that were to be the case again. The Thunder allow the ninth-most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards and hold the worst defensive rebounding rate (68.8%) in the league, which are bonuses because this game is the top game environment on the slate for fantasy production.
Jokic off the floor: 24% usage rate, 1.15 FPTS/min
Jokic, Murray off the floor: 29% usage rate, 1.58 FPTS/min (low sample size)
Jokic, Murray, Hyland off the floor: 35% usage rate, 1.78 FPTS/min (low sample size)
Josh Hart, vs. LAL (FD: $5,900, DK: $5,100) DraftKings Preferred
I want as many pieces of the Blazers as I can feel comfortable with against this porous Lakers defense, but Nurkic, Grant, and Simons are all at tough price points, considering their recent stretch of letdown performances. Hart has put up two straight games with less than 20 DK points coming into tonight, but he's seeing his typical 29-36 minute workload, and his form will come back sooner or later. He didn't forget how to play ball - he averaged 36 DK points per game over a three-game stretch at the start of January. That said, this is too cheap for the elite matchup and game environment he'll enjoy tonight.
Also consider: Damion Lee, T.J. Warren, Bruce Brown, Mikal Bridges, Jerami Grant
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Bismack Biyombo, vs. MEM (FD: $4,300, DK: $3,300) If Ayton is out
The matchup couldn't get much worse, as the Grizzlies allow the ninth-least fantasy points per game to opposing centers, but we can't pass up on value that's smacking us right in the face. Biyombo drew the start last game with Ayton out, and he didn't disappoint, posting a 12/16/2 line with three blocks and 42 DK points over 30 minutes. It feels likely that he'd draw another start if Ayton were to sit out again, which vaults Biyombo straight to the top of the value board at his near-minimum salary on both sites.
Also consider: Jock Landale (if Ayton sits), Jusuf Nurkic, Nikola Jokic, Jaren Jackson Jr.
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