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Welcome to another Saturday of the NBA, RotoBallers. We have a solid seven-game slate on tap tonight, starting with the Rockets-Celtics matchup and finishing off with a pair of games in the Pelicans-Mavericks and Bulls-Spurs. The Wizards-Hawks game rates out the best in my model due to the high total, fast projected pace, and overall lack of defense being played by both teams. The Warriors-Bucks matchup also profiles as a top-tier game environment as well, while the Knicks-Grizzlies affair is one I'll be looking to shy away from.
As always, injuries are a key factor here and we will need to monitor for news and make adjustments as we learn more. Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, Franz Wagner, Marcus Smart, and Chris Paul have already been ruled out. Desmond Bane, Jalen Brunson, Draymond Green, Dereck Lively II, Dillon Brooks, Santi Aldama, and Derrick Rose currently hold questionable tags.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/13/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 pm EST.
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Today's DraftKings, FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Kyrie Irving, DAL vs. NOP - PG/SG ($9,700 DK; $10,300 FD)
You can try to get cute in NFL, MLB, and NHL DFS, but that's not the right strategy for success in the NBA daily fantasy streets. If it's obvious that a player is underpriced and in a smash spot, two things should be true: 1) You should be getting heavy exposure to that player 2) That player is going to be one of the most popular picks on the slate. We can "eat the chalk" in these instances, and get different elsewhere. That's what we have with Kyrie Irving without Luka Doncic tonight. Irving is underpriced, and he has shown a high level of consistency and a juicy ceiling over the last five games. The enigmatic guard is averaging 64 DK points per game over his last three - get to him and move on with the rest of your lineup.
Tyus Jones, WSH vs. ATL - PG ($6,100 DK; $6,500 FD)
Tyus Jones isn't the most exciting name to click on, but he's profiling as a solid mid-range value option on tonight's slate. He put up 38 DK points against the Thunder on 1/8 and hasn't played less than 28 minutes over his last three contests. The Hawks, meanwhile, allow the third-most fantasy points per game overall and the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing PGs over their last seven games. This game projects as a high-scoring, fast-paced affair, and I want to get to as many pieces as I can feel comfortable with in this spot.
Others to consider: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luke Kennard, Jordan Poole, Damian Lillard, Jalen Brunson
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Today's DraftKings, FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Dario Saric, GSW vs. MIL - PF/C ($4,700 DK) DraftKings Only
As long as Dario Saric is starting, he needs to be in consideration as a value play on DraftKings. The veteran big man scored 34.75 DK points and put up a great all-around stat line of 12/7/6/2 over 28 minutes against the Bulls last night. We don't have a ton of value options to choose from on this slate, so getting production out of a player like Saric will allow you to comfortably fit one (or both) of Irving and Giannis in your lineup. The game environment is elite, and the Bucks have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing PFs over their last seven games.
Tim Hardaway Jr., DAL vs. NOP - SG/SF ($5,800 DK, $6,000 FD)
Tim Hardaway Jr. blew up the slate his last time out, dropping 51.5 DK points over 39 minutes at just $5,300 salary on DraftKings. His salary moved up since then, but it didn't move up enough for his role with Doncic (and others) off the floor. He sees the largest usage rate boost (+6%) with Doncic and Dante Exum off the floor this season. While the Pelicans represent a difficult matchup defensively, the game has a decent total and should stay competitive enough for THJ to play all the minutes he can handle.
Others to consider: Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMar DeRozan, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jalen Johnson, Paolo Banchero, Kyle Kuzma
Today's DraftKings, FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Daniel Gafford, WSH vs. ATL - C ($5,700 DK) DraftKings Only
While I prefer other options (Xavier Tillman, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Alperen Sengun, Moritz Wagner) on FanDuel, Daniel Gafford is far too cheap on DraftKings. It can be very frustrating trying to nail down the right plays on the Wizards as their rotations have been volatile all season, but Gafford is very clearly the top (only) option they have at the center position. Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala have seen minimal minutes when Gafford is healthy, and that's the way it should be. Gafford put up 39.5 DK points over 37 minutes in his last game, and while we can't expect him to see that kind of minutes again, we can expect another big game. This is the best game environment on the slate, and the Hawks allow the fifth-most fantasy points per game to centers this season.
Others to consider: Xavier Tillman, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Alperen Sengun, Moritz Wagner, Nikola Vucevic, Isaiah Hartenstein
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