NBA DFS Plays, Totals, Injury News for January 10, 2017
NBA DFS is fast-paced, high-scoring, and the right work and research, an incredibly fun variant of daily fantasy that can be quite profitable.
Each day that there’s a good slate of games, we’ll give you the lay of the land in the NBA as well as some players that we’re considering for our lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. Be sure and monitor any of the injury news that comes out throughout the day, as value plays can arise in a moments notice.
Players ruled out
Avery Bradley (Achilles), Tyler Zeller (illness)
Dwyane Wade (rest), Jimmy Butler (illness)
Nicolas Batum (knee)
Jeremy Lin (hamstring)
Josh Richardson (ankle), Justise Winslow (shoulder)
Larry Nance Jr. (knee)
J.R. Smith (knee)
Clint Capela (leg)
Injury news to monitor
Trevor Booker (hip)
Eric Gordon (toe)
Jon Leuer (knee)
Denzel Valentine (ankle)
Game totals, spread & start times
Bulls @ Wizards -10 (7:00p): 202.5
Celtics @ Raptors -4.5 (7:30p): 218
Hawks -7 @ Nets (7:30p): 213
Hornets @ Rockets -9 (8:00p): 225.5
Bucks @ Spurs -9.5 (8:30p): 203.5
Cavs -2 @ Jazz (9:00p): 202
Blazers -1.5 @ Lakers (10:30p): 223
Heat @ Warriors -15.5 (10:30p): 219.5
Pistons @ Kings -2 (10:30p): 206
Top tier plays
James Harden ($12.1k DraftKings, $11.7k FanDuel)
With triple doubles in 4 of his last 6 appearances and a record 103.5 DK points sprinkled into that run, Harden is clearly on fire. He’s averaging 31 PPG, 10.7 RPG and 11.7 APG during that span and draws a great matchup at home tonight. The Hornets defense is falling apart and they’re now coughing up the most FPPG (43.66) to opposing SGs over the last month, while they should also be without their best wing defender in Nicolas Batum. Charlotte can score with just about anyone and this game has been assigned an enticing 224-point Over/Under, so Harden is clearly worth paying up for as a play with elite upside and a very high floor as well.
Paul Millsap ($7.8k DraftKings, $8.1k FanDuel)
The Nets are always a great team to target, as they cough up the most PPG (114) while also playing at the fastest pace in the NBA. At least one of Atlanta’s starters should have a huge game against the league’s 27th-ranked defense, and Millsap is obviously a great candidate as the Hawks most versatile player. He’s continued to battle despite rumors swirling about where he might get traded and he’s averaging 21.6 PPG, 8.8 RPG and 4.4 APG over his last 5 appearances. Brooklyn coughs up the fourth-most FPPG (44.62) to opposing PFs this season and Millsap’s individual matchup could improve dramatically if Nets starting forward Trevor Booker (hip) is unable to go tonight.
Reggie Jackson ($7.2k DraftKings, $7.1k FanDuel)
He’s no longer a no-brainer play at a rapidly rising price tag, but Jackson is still a very good option against a poor Kings defense. RJax just led the Pistons to a double overtime win at Portland with 31 points on 13-of-26 FG shooting and he took just about every shot down the stretch when he wasn’t finding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for clutch threes. Jackson is sporting a 27.9% Usage Rate and averaging 24 PPG over his last 5 appearances while he continues to ramp back to full speed after missing the first two months of the season. Sacramento ranks 23rd in defensive rating and coughs up the tenth-most APG (23.3) this season, so Jackson is a good bet to post a double double as the Pistons floor general.
Mid tier plays
Michael Carter-Williams ($4.8k DraftKings, $4.8k FanDuel)
The Bulls could easily get run out of the building in Washington with both D-Wade and Jimmy Butler expected to sit, but they’ll have to go through the motions at least and try to compete with the players they have left out there. With Rajon Rondo still in the doghouse, MCW should draw the start at PG and see increased opportunities in a plus matchup against Washington’s 20th-ranked defense. He boasts a 29.3% Usage Rate with both Wade and Butler off the floor this season and is coming off one of his better efforts with 15 points in 24 minutes against the Thunder before Chicago pulled the plug on their starters last night.
Nikola Mirotic ($4.9k DraftKings, $4.5k FanDuel)
Right along with MCW in terms of upside due to Chicago’s hapless situation, Mirotic actually boasts a team-high 38.5% Usage Rate with Wade and Butler off the floor this season. He’s a versatile offensive player who can score in a variety of ways and should give Washington trouble, as the Wizards allow the second-most PPG (22) to opposing PFs this season. He should bounce back along with the rest of the Bulls fill-in scorers on the second half of their B2B set.
Jeremy Lamb ($5.1k DraftKings, $4k FanDuel)
Lamb is definitely a bargain on FanDuel, yet he’s also worth a look at a mid-tier price on DraftKings. The lanky SF is going to see consistent playing time with Nicolas Batum (knee) on the shelf and he just produced 3x value returns with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in a tough matchup at San Antonio on Saturday. He should start again tonight against a Rockets squad that coughs up the third-most PPG (21.38) to opposing SFs this season and frequently gets into shootouts with Harden leading their offense to new heights.
Bargain tier
Doug McDermott ($4.4k DraftKings, $4k FanDuel)
He fizzled out along with the rest of the Bulls wing players last night against Oklahoma City’s top-ranked defense, but Dougie McBuckets will get an immediate shot at redemption with both Wade and Butler out tonight. He’s likely to start at SF against a Wizards team that coughs up the fifth-most PPG (22.15) to opposing SFs over the last month. McDermott is averaging 1.14 FPs per minute with Wade and Butler off the floor this year and he could see 30-35 minutes of run tonight, giving him a chance to produce 6x value or even more.
Brandon Ingram ($4.1k DraftKings, $3.8k FanDuel)
Even with Luol Deng (biceps) back in the lineup, Ingram put up a career-high 17 points in consecutive performances. The skinny rookie is carving out a role in the NBA and taking advantage of his unique skill set, so he’s definitely worth a look at home tonight against a Blazers team that’s ranked dead last in defensive rating. Portland coughs up the third-most FPPG (40.32) to opposing SFs this season and should get into yet another shootout tonight as they visit the Staples Center.
Spencer Dinwiddie ($3.5k DraftKings, $3.9k FanDuel)
It was only a matter of time before someone stepped up for the Nets with Jeremy Lin (hamstring) habitually injured, and Dinwiddie appears to be taking the role of fill-in PG away from former starter Isaiah Whitehead. The athletic Colorado product moved back to the bench after starting against the Cavs last Friday, but still out-produced Whitehead with 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals over 25 minutes off the bench. He’s facing a Hawks team that coughs up the fourth-most FPPG (46.24) to opposing PGs tonight and should meet value at the very least.
If, then player
If Eric Gordon (toe) is unable to play tonight, we should see Sam Dekker emerge as a more valuable member of the Rockets second unit. The rookie has been knocking on the door in terms of a breakout performance and the increased opportunity provided by Gordon’s injury could allow him to exceed value.
If Trevor Booker (hip) sits, Justin Hamilton should see a boost as a starter for the Nets. If Jon Leuer (knee) is out, consider Marcus Morris and Tobias Harris as more appealing mid-tier options.
