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Max Kulish's top DraftKings NBA DFS picks for today, Tuesday, 1/21/25. His favorite daily fantasy basketball lineup sleepers and value picks for DraftKings DFS.
Welcome back, Rotoballers! Tonight, we have a five-game main slate. These articles focus on the best plays, typically more suited for cash games. However, some exceptions may apply, depending on the size of the slate.
The key to succeeding in NBA DFS is making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. But it's always essential to have a game plan and zero in on the best players and spots before making those adjustments. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and access our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 1/21/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EST on DraftKings. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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DraftKings NBA DFS Core Picks
Anthony Davis, LAL - C ($10,300)
Davis has a smash matchup against the league-worst Wizards. They allow the second-most fantasy points to Centers, highlighted by their inefficiencies on the defensive glass. They rank dead last in 2nd chance points per game (17.0) and defensive rating (118.8). Davis averages nearly three offensive rebounds per game, and he's in a great spot to dominate the boards tonight.
Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK - C ($9,700)
Tonight looks primed to be a bounce-back spot for KAT, who just had a nine-game double-double streak come to an end. In his only matchup with the Nets, back in November, he posted nearly 60 fantasy points while leading both teams in scoring and rebounding. Towns is averaging 52 fantasy PPG this year on DraftKings, so even an average game would get him to that 5x value minimum we look for.
Karl-Anthony Towns has 15 more rebounds than he did in his ENTIRE 2023-24 with Minnesota and it’s only HALFWAY through the season 😳 pic.twitter.com/n0NrSdZ8ag
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) January 20, 2025
Others Under Consideration: Tyrese Maxey, PHI - PG ($9,900), LeBron James, LAL - PF ($9,800)
DraftKings NBA DFS Tournament Pivots
Nikola Jokic, DEN - C ($12,000)
This is a classic tournament play. Two other expensive centers project a little better than Jokic, and with the risk of the Nuggets blowing out the shorthanded Sixers looming, his ownership should stay in check. Jokic always possesses a slate-breaking ceiling and should always be in your player pool for tournaments.
Paolo Banchero, ORL - PF ($8,600)
Banchero hasn't exactly lit it up since returning from injury last weekend. However, he has maintained a massive role on offense since returning and is a legit triple-double threat on his best nights.
Others Under Consideration: Jalen Brunson, NYK - PG ($9,000), RJ Barrett, TOR - SF ($7,700)
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DraftKings NBA DFS Value Picks
Kel'el Ware, MIA - PF/C ($4,200)
Coming off the best game of his career, where he outdueled Victor Wembanyama, Ware continues to see his role increase. After being talked up by Erik Spoelstra recently, Ware is averaging almost 34 fantasy PPG over his last four games. His efficiency per minute has been above average all season, and now with a larger role, he looks to ingrain himself into the Heat rotation.
One of the best games of @KelelWare's young career.
Here's what happened ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/lvYWDmwIPM
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 19, 2025
Eric Gordon, PHI - SG ($3,800)
With the 76ers dealing with injuries, Gordon has a sizeable role for his price. Priced under $4,000 Gordon is averaging 27 minutes per game over his last five appearances, averaging 20.8 fantasy PPG during that stretch. Gordon provides cheap exposure to one of the better game environments on the slate, and with limited expensive options at SG paying down makes a lot of sense when building lineups.
Others Under Consideration: Tyrese Martin, BKN - SG/SF ($5,200), Davion Mitchell, PHX - PG/SG ($3,700)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
Wizards at Lakers (229.5 O/U)
Tied for the highest implied total on the night, any game featuring the worst defense in the NBA is worth prioritizing. The Lakers offer plenty of star power, while the Wizards have numerous mid-range and cheaper options for easy game stacks.
76ers at Nuggets (229 O/U)
The Nuggets are one of three teams averaging 120+ PPG at home this year, and there's no reason to think they can't or won't do so again tonight. If you want to play into the blowout angle, the Sixers have multiple cheap, young guys that would see extra run in the event of a non-competitive game.
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite OVERALL play on the slate: Anthony Davis
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Eric Gordon
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Paolo Banchero
- My favorite VALUE play: Kel'el Ware
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