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Welcome to another Saturday of the NBA, RotoBallers. We have a modest six-game slate on tap tonight, featuring three games with implied totals of at least 241 points and a great real-life matchup between the Clippers and Celtics. The Timberwolves-Spurs matchup has the lowest total on the slate at 227 points, but San Antonio is among the most exploitable teams in the league, so there are bound to be some plays that pop out in that game. We've seen a handful of explosive scoring outputs across the league over the last four days, and it feels fair to wonder who is going to be the player who goes nuclear on this slate.
As always, injuries are a key factor here and we will need to monitor for news and make adjustments as we learn more. The notable players with questionable tags are Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, Kristaps Porzingis (doubtful), Gordon Hayward, Derrick Jones Jr., Dwight Powell, and Maxi Kleber
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/27/24. 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.
Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 10% off using code BALLER! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!I start my process with a "K-Grade" model shown below, which I've been fine-tuning for about three years. This model takes real metrics like the implied total, fantasy points per game allowed, defensive ratings, offensive ratings, and projected pace, and applies them to a model with weights. It should be used as a directional guide for the slate and I've had plenty of success with it, but stick to your process and DFS best practices. For example, a player on a team with a "D" K-Grade could easily be the top value on the slate due to a significant uptick in minutes and usage rate.
Today's DraftKings, FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Luka Doncic, DAL vs. SAC - PG ($11,600 DK; $12,200 FD)
All Luka Doncic, all day and night. He and the Mavericks popped as the best plays in my K-Rate model on last night's slate, and all Doncic did was go out and put up 73/10/7/1 for an unbelievable 101.5 DK point line. You can say "But they were without Kyrie Irving!" all you want, but he averaged 74 DK points per game in the three games before that explosion. The man seems set to remind everyone that he's still among the most dangerous and versatile players in the NBA lately, and I'm not about to hop off that train. Even if Irving returns tonight, Doncic is too cheap on DraftKings for the type of production he's showing. This is the top game environment on the slate, and the Kings allow the 11th-most fantasy points per game to PGs this season.
Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. SAS - PG ($8,400 DK; $9,200 FD)
I also love Mike Conley in this same spot, so if you can't make Doncic work with the value (or lack thereof) we have available, get to Minnesota Mike. That being said, Anthony Edwards is a high-priority play on this slate. The implied total is the lowest on the slate and the Wolves are favored by 10.5 points, but they've been unable to put away bad teams lately and I see this game staying competitive throughout. That's what we need because the Spurs are extremely exposable defensively. They're allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game overall and the third-most fantasy points per game to SGs to go along with their 25th rank in defensive rating. Edwards hasn't hit a ceiling game in a while and has shot poorly over the last three games - that changes tonight. Calling my shot: 40-burger with 60+ DK points in a five-point Wolves win.
Others to consider: Kevin Huerter (DK), Mike Conley, D'Angelo Russell, Derrick White, Austin Reaves, Jordan Clarkson, CJ McCollum, Malik Monk
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Today's DraftKings, FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Draymond Green, GSW vs. LAL - PF/C ($5,500 DK) DraftKings only
The amateur WWE fighter has returned to the basketball floor. All jokes aside, Draymond Green is shaping up to be one of the better mid-range values on tonight's slate. The defensive-minded big man played 31 minutes in his most recent outing, scoring 33.5 DK points despite going 0-for-3 from the field. That's what we're looking for out of Green, and he'll have plenty of chances to rack up fantasy points in what projects as a high-scoring, fast-paced, competitive game against the Lakers. The Lakers have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing teams over their last 15 games, and Green's defensive presence will be needed against James, Davis, and company.
John Collins, UTA vs. CHA - PF/C ($5,400 DK, $6,400 FD)
John Collins is one of those players whose ownership will always be lowered because he has burned so many people in the past. We have to do our best to put bias aside in DFS, and that's what I'm forcing myself to do here. Collins is cheaper than he should be with his recent production and uptick in minutes. He's not going to play the 33 minutes he saw last game, but he's playing well enough that 22-24+ minutes should be the expectation as that's what he has been averaging over the last handful of games. He has outputs of 46.5, 33.75, and 29 DK points in that span, all of which worked out well against his salary. The Hornets are among the most exploitable teams in the league when it comes to their frontcourt, ranking in the top five for most fantasy points per game allowed to both PFs and Cs this season.
Others to consider: LeBron James, Miles Bridges, Kawhi Leonard, Lauri Markkanen, Jonathan Kuminga
Today's DraftKings, FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Rudy Gobert, MIN vs. SAS - C ($7,400 DK, $8,400 FD)
Rudy Gobert is too cheap on DraftKings, and you best believe he'll have a little extra motivation in this matchup against rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama. He put up 16/20/2/2 for 49 DK points the last time these teams met, and while he's not in incredible form, he does have two games with at least 47.5 DK points over his last five outings. It may shock you to hear this with the way the media reports on Wemby, but the Spurs haven't been great at limiting fantasy points to opposing teams as they're allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing Cs this season. Fire up Gobert as an overlooked option on tonight's slate.
Others to consider: Domantas Sabonis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Victor Wembanyama, Naz Reid, Karl-Anthony Towns
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