X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

RotoBaller NBA Recap: Victor Oladipo Banks In Game-Winning Three

FanDuel DraftKings daily fantasy basketball

Spencer Aguiar highlights three fantasy basketball takeaways from the NBA's January 4th slate. This recap focuses on Kyle Anderson, Larry Nance Jr., and Tyus Jones.

Friday's 10-game slate featured a game-winner out in Chicago, a PG-13 performance that very well could have been given an X rating, and a letdown in Hollywood. Since we are on the topic, let's start there. The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the New York Knicks at home by a score of 119-112. With the loss, the Lakers have now lost four of the past five games during LeBron James' absence. Brandon Ingram led the way for the Lakers, scoring 21 points to go along with nine rebounds, three assists and one steal but only converted on 8-for-21 shots from the field. The recent slide has dropped the Lakers to the eighth seed out West, and the downswing could continue with James out at least one more week.

The Oklahoma City Thunder escaped the Portland Trail Blazers 111-109. Paul George scored a game-high 37 points, adding eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and five three-pointers on 10-for-23 shooting. George has now scored 37 points in back-to-back games and has scored at least 36 points in three of the last four contests. The 28-year-old is quietly having the best season of his career, which is remarkable given the gruesome injury he suffered in 2014 during an intra-squad Team USA scrimmage at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. While it remains unlikely he would win, George is a dark horse to capture the MVP award this year.

And in the game of the night, the Indiana Pacers needed overtime to advance past the Bulls, capturing the victory 119-116. Victor Oladipo scored nine of the teams final 12 points in overtime, which includes the game-winning three-point basket with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. Oladipo has become one of the most clutch players in the NBA with the game on the line and has transformed the Pacers into must-see television. Our three main fantasy takeaways of the night are still to come, so without further ado, let's take a deeper dive into January 4th.

Upgrade To VIP: Win more with our NBA and DFS Premium Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! Jamie Calandro and Dan Palyo lead the RotoBaller team in 2024-25 with exclusive DFS picks, Prop picks and more. Gain VIP access to our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, DFS Cheat Sheets and VIP Chat Rooms. Go Premium, Win More!

 

Kyle Anderson Posts First Triple-Double

I touched on Kyle Anderson's fantasy worth during last Saturday's article, but the market still hasn't quite caught up to his production. At the time of writing this recap, Anderson is still available in 30 percent of Yahoo leagues and 60 percent of ESPN groups. The majority of his availability most likely comes from points leagues, where the 25-year-old doesn't carry the same value, but he has become roster worthy in just about all settings, especially if you are in a category based league.

On Friday, Anderson posted the first triple-double of his career, scoring 11 points to go along with 11 rebounds, 10 assists and one block in 38 minutes of action. And while the stat-stuffing is impressive, the UCLA product has now provided double-digit scoring in eight of the last nine games, including his last five in a row. Scoring has always been what has held Anderson back from reaching that next level of fantasy return, but the recent stretch does appear to bode well for his long-term prospects.

To be clear, I don't think Anderson has become a guy that should be counted on to score in double-figures nightly, but the increased usage as of late has helped him immensely. If I owned him in a category league, I'd be thrilled with his borderline top-50 production over the past 30 days and would view him as a hold. I always like trying to sell mid-tier players off high, but he isn't going to yield what proper return should be in a trade. As far as points leagues are concerned, he has become a usable commodity and would be adding him if he is still lurking on a waiver wire. However, I don't think he is much more than a fringe top-100 player and would prefer to sell him for a steadier top-100 option if possible. This would include players such as Jeremy Lamb, T.J. Warren, Jeff Teague, Ricky Rubio, Gary Harris and Dennis Schroder. I realize some of these names are more likely than others, but fantasy owners will do strange things after a couple of impressive fantasy performances.

 

Larry Nance Jr. Has Dwindling Fantasy Value

Fantasy basketball is all about perception and perceived value. A player can still be useful to a fantasy roster, even if they are going through a stage of dwindling production. Larry Nance Jr. fits into that mold perfectly as of right now. He remains roster worthy in all standard leagues, but Tristan Thompson's return on Wednesday mixed with the eventual arrival of Kevin Love back to the lineup from his foot injury has the 26-year-old waning in value by the second.

On Friday, Nance Jr. got the start at power forward alongside Thompson, scoring 10 points while adding nine rebounds, one assist and two steals in 31 minutes of action. The on-court time was a nice bounce back after his 22-minute disappointment during Thompson's return on Wednesday, but Nance Jr. is in a precarious position going forward. He contributes too well across the board to warrant a drop, but once Love can find his way back onto the court, it provides an uncertain rest of the season outlook for the former Wyoming product.

Nance Jr. has produced top-15 value during the last 30 days in nine-category leagues, but his sell-high window does appear to be closed if you haven't already moved him. For that reason, I think including him as a secondary piece in a two-for-one trade is an intriguing option that many might not be considering. He still has enough perceived value to justify acquiring in a lot of fantasy owners minds, even if those same owners wouldn't be as willing to trade for him in a one-for-one trade situation.

 

Tyus Jones' Run Is Done

With Jeff Teague making his return to the lineup against the Orlando Magic, Tyus Jones was demoted to backup duty on the night. The 22-year-old had played at least 36 minutes during his previous three games, averaging 13.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 3.3 steals in those contests, but his value is all but gone with Teague healthy. Unfortunately for Jones, things are about to get even worse. Derrick Rose is also nearing a return from an ankle injury and will cut into the Duke products time even more.

Jones has a lot of upside to his game, but he isn't on the right team to showcase his talent right now. The run was fun while it lasted, but Jones can be dropped in pretty much all league types. He will be a player worth monitoring if something does happen to Teague or Rose throughout the season, but it is going to be frustrating from a fantasy perspective to watch him widdle away on the Minnesota bench this year.

 

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
Max Scherzer

Cleared to Start on Saturday
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Kodai Senga

Could be "in Play" to Return Before All-Star Break
Ha-Seong Kim

Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim From Injured List
Christian Moore

Placed on Injured List With Thumb Sprain
Luis L. Ortiz

the Subject of Gambling Investigation
Jordan Lawlar

to Miss Multiple Weeks With Hamstring Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Receives Encouraging News on his Hand
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Jacob Monk

Sees Plenty of Work With Starters
Avonte Maddox

has Impressed Dan Campbell
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Chicago Bears

Ruben Hyppolite Shows Notable Improvement
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Daron Payne

Commanders Coaches Impressed With Daron Payne
Danny Gray

Makes Impression During Offseason Workouts
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dane Belton

Should Have a Role in 2025
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF