Thursday’s slate offers an afternoon game and five night games. The afternoon contest is filled with some enticing options, as both Denver and Indiana rank in the bottom eight in points allowed. Gary Harris, Danilo Gallinari and Kenneth Faried are all listed as questionable, so Denver could be a good place to look for value plays. As for the later games, Jimmy Butler is out and Anthony Davis is currently questionable. The potential absence of both guys certainly dilutes the player pool, but there is still plenty of value to be found elsewhere.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 1/12/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @hayudi18.

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DraftKings DFS Guards

Dwyane Wade - SG, @ NY ($6,800)

Wade’s 18.7 points per game are the second fewest of his career (16.2 as a rookie in 2003-’04), but he is still more than capable of putting up points in a hurry. Over his last two games played, Wade has averaged 21.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.5 boards in 33.5 minutes. Now, he will get to play without Jimmy Butler, and the Bulls’ offense should run through the Chicago native against the Knicks. New York has yielded 111.6 points per game over it’s current 1-9 slide, and Wade should lead the way to another high-scoring affair. He can be used in both cash games and tournament play on Thursday.

Derrick Rose - PG, vs. CHI ($6,100)

After mysteriously missing Monday’s game against the Pelicans, Rose hung 25 points on 11-for-16 shooting in Wednesday night’s loss to the Sixers. He has been putting up at least 20 Draftkings points every night over the last few weeks, but has hit the 40-point threshold in three of his last 11 contests. On Thursday, the Knicks will host the Jimmy Butler-less Bulls. Chicago has allowed, on average, 24.7 points and 13.3 assists over the last three games to opposing point guards with Michael Carter-Williams in the starting lineup. Rose posted 15 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists against his former team back in November, and could produce an even better stat line on Thursday.

Buddy Hield - SG, @ BKN ($4,700)

Hield has scored in double-figures in 10 of his last 13 games, shooting 53.1% from beyond the arc over that span. It’s no secret that the former John Wooden Award winner can light it up from deep, and even though his price has ticked up to $4,700, he is still worth a look while he’s shooting this well. If Davis were to sit out, there would be a ton of touches up for grabs, but Hield should be able to produce regardless against a Nets team that allows a league-high 114.1 points per game on 46.1% shooting, the seventh highest in basketball. He has more upside at this point than Tyreke Evans, Tim Frazier, E’Twaun Moore or Langston Galloway.

 

DraftKings DFS Forwards

Kevin Durant - SF, vs. DET ($9,700)

Durant had a bit of a down game against the Heat on Tuesday (28 points on 10-for-21 shooting with eight rebounds and no assists), but has still posted at least 50 Draftkings points in six of his last eight games. The Pistons have one of the tougher defensive units in the league, allowing the fourth-fewest points per game, but forwards have had decent success against them in recent weeks. Most notably, Durant himself put up 32 points on 13-for-18 shooting with eight boards in Detroit back in December. If Anthony Davis sits out, Durant would be the only big-money player on the board, and therefore worth paying up for in cash games. Additionally, while Wade and Rose offer better values at their current prices than Stephen Curry, a Curry-Durant stack is certainly appealing.

Harrison Barnes - SF/PF, @ PHO ($6,700)

Barnes has managed over 30 Draftkings points in each of his last six games, including 33.5 against the Suns last Thursday. The 24-year-old is now up to 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals per game in his first season with Dallas. The Mavericks will take on the Suns again Thursday night, this time on the road. Barnes can be a useful option in all formats, with a solid, 30-point floor and a ton of upside against a Suns team that ranks 29th in opponents’ points per game (111.9).

Taj Gibson - PF/C, @ NY ($5,200)

Gibson has managed over 30 fantasy points in two of his last four games, collecting his first double-double of 2017 on Tuesday against the Wizards with Butler and Nikola Mirotic both sidelined. Neither forward will suit up on Thursday, meaning Gibson has the chance for another big night against the Knicks. Even forgetting Anthony Davis’ 40-point, 18-rebound showing (in just 29 minutes), New York has allowed big performances to Nikola Vucevic, Serge Ibaka, Jabari Parker, Greg Monroe, Myles Turner and Joel Embiid over the last week and a half. Gibson is decently cost-effective and could be in line for another double-double.

 

DraftKings DFS Centers

Brook Lopez - C, vs. NO ($6,400)

Lopez has just five total rebounds in his last three games, but scored 63 points over that stretch. He will have a good chance to maintain that scoring rate while adding some boards against New Orleans on Thursday. Of course, Davis sitting out of Thursday’s game would be a gift, but the Pelicans already rank 29th in rebound percentage and allow the seventh-most points per game to the center position. With at least 30 Draftkings points in five of his last 10 games, Lopez is a decent tournament play regardless of Davis’ status, but he becomes a must-start in all formats if the Pelicans’ star big man doesn’t play.

Tyson Chandler - C, vs. DAL ($4,900)

Another week, another Chandler endorsement. He draws yet another matchup with the Mavericks, his former team and the 30th-ranked rebounding squad. Last week, the 7-footer scored just three points against Dallas, but was able to pull down a whopping 18 rebounds. While his offensive contributions are inconsistent, he has posted more than 20 Draftkings points in six consecutive games, including at least 30 in his last three. Once again, those looking to save some money at the center position — especially in cash games — should look to Chandler.

Also consider Donatas Motiejunas ($4,300) here if Davis does not play.

 

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