NBA DFS Plays, Totals, Injury News for January 11, 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 game totals, spreads, and pertinent injury news for NBA daily fantasy, 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
Blake Griffin (knee)
Clint Capela (leg)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Avery Bradley (Achilles)
Zach LaVine (hip)
Eric Gordon (toe)
Serge Ibaka (shoulder)
Elfrid Payton (quad)
GAME TOTALS, SPREAD & START TIME
Knicks -2.5 @ 76ers (7:00p): 211
Grizzlies @ Thunder -5.5 (8:00p): 204
Rockets -4 @ Timberwolves (8:00p): 219
Wizards @ Celtics -5.5 (8:00p): 217
Magic @ Clippers -10 (10:30p): 209
Cavs -3.5 @ Blazers (10:30p): 221
Top Tier Plays
Russell Westbrook ($11.8k DraftKings, $12.1k FanDuel)
Westbrook’s production dipped in his last game because of a blowout win, and he posted relatively weak numbers in a blowout loss to Memphis a couple of weeks ago, so hopefully his ownership rate will be low tonight. His price tag is significantly lower than usual on DK because of a perceived tough matchup, but Westbrook is capable of torching the Grizzlies stout defense, as he did last year to the tune of 24.3 PPG and 12.3 APG over 3 meetings with Memphis. He’s averaging 67.6 DK PPG and shooting 44.1% from the field at home this season and should be able to meet value in what is projected to be a close game tonight.
LeBron James ($9.7k DraftKings, $10.1k FanDuel)
The Cavs move continue their road trip by moving from a matchup against Utah’s elite defense to a Portland team that ranks dead last in defensive rating this season. LeBron put up a 31-point triple double to exceed value by a wide margin in his only meeting with the Blazers this year and Cleveland is probably going to wind up in another close game, as the Cavs are averaging a margin of +1.7 PPG on the road compared to a +10.2 margin at home this season. Portland coughs up the third-most FPPG (40.32) to opposing SFs and struggles to defend the three-point line, so King James should find new teammate Kyle Korver and other shooters in a high-scoring affair.
John Wall ($9.2k DraftKings, $9.5k FanDuel)
Wall appears to be cheaper on both main DFS sites because he’s on the second half of a B2B set and began the year with serious limitations on 0 days rest. Yet he’s played in that situation 5 times this season and is actually posting his highest averages in PPG (28.4) while shooting his best from the field (.516%) under those circumstances. Tonight he’ll face a Celtics team that is shorthanded with Avery Bradley (Achilles) expected to miss another few games and Marcus Smart should be busy guarding Bradley Beal. Boston is allowing the sixth-most FPPG (39.42) to opposing PGs over the last month and playing with increasing efficiency on the offensive end, so Wall should be asked to lead the Wizards in a shootout on the road.
Mid Tier Plays
Marcus Smart ($6.3k DraftKings, $5.2k FanDuel)
He exceeded expectations as well as the value of his price tag in a tough matchup at Toronto last night and Smart is certainly worth a look as a mid-tier option against a much weaker Wizards defense tonight. Washington is allowing the fourth-most PPG (24.38) to opposing SGs over the last month and ranks 26th in opponents FG shooting (.469%), so Smart should have little trouble finding good look as a main cog in Boston’s ninth-ranked offense. With Avery Bradley (Achilles) close to doubtful, he remains a worthwhile cash game play and has the ability to provide returns of 3x value on FanDuel.
Ricky Rubio ($5.6k DraftKings, $6k FanDuel)
Rubio finally broke out of a slump of mediocre performances with 13 points, 15 assists and 51.75 DK points (48.5 FD points) on Monday night against the Mavericks. He’s in position to exceed value again with a matchup against the high-scoring Rockets on tap and he should be able to find teammates in spite of pesky coverage from Patrick Beverley. The Rockets allow the third-most made FGs per game (39.7) and play at the fourth fastest-pace in the NBA, and while they’ve scored over 100 points in 26 consecutive contests, they’ve coughed up over 100 points in 12 of their last 14. Rubio and other Wolves guards could also benefit if Zach LaVine (hip) is unable to go tonight.
Enes Kanter ($5.1k DraftKings, $5.7k FanDuel)
The Thunder will need to beef up tonight In a matchup with a tough Memphis frontcourt and that means Kanter’s playing time should rise at the expense of skinny PFs Domantas Sabonis and Jerami Grant. While starting center Steven Adams contends with former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol, Kanter could work against the Grizzlies backup bigs or play alongside Adams at the 4. He’s averaging 16 PPG and 8.5 RPG despite playing just 22.6 MPG over his last 6 appearances and managed to produce 19 points on 7-of-11 FG shooting in a trip to Memphis earlier this season, so Kanter is definitely worth a look as a mid-tier play at center on DK tonight.
Bargain Tier
Austin Rivers ($4.9k DraftKings, $4.4k FanDuel)
Rivers is fully expected to suit up after missing one game due to an illness and he’ll be worth a look as a tournament play at home against the Magic. Orlando is giving up the sixth-most FPPG (44.96) to opposing PGs this season and will have its hands full with CP3, while Rivers plays off the ball and gets plenty of high percentage looks. He torched the Magic for 25 points on 9-of-12 FG shooting earlier this season and has earned a much more consistent role since then, as he’s sporting a 23.8% Usage Rate and averaging 0.78 FPs per minute with Blake Griffin off the floor this year.
Kelly Olynyk ($3.6k DraftKings, $3.7k FanDuel)
It’s always difficult to trust the Celtics rotations, but Olynyk has now managed to meet value in five consecutive appearances and he’s worth a look as a punt play in a good matchup tonight. The Wizards struggle to defend versatile big men that can put the ball on the floor or shoot from deep and Kelly-O can do both. He went 1-for-6 from the field to score just 2 points in a meeting with Washington earlier this season but still logged 26 minutes in that contest and he’s much more comfortable at home, where he could provide HC Brad Stevens and DFS owners with quality minutes tonight.
Corey Brewer ($3k DraftKings, $3.5k FanDuel)
If Eric Gordon (toe) is able to return to action tonight, Brewer would become something of an afterthought, but it’s quite possible that Gordon won’t be able to suit up on the second half of a B2B set. With Gordon out on Tuesday, Brewer exceeded value with 15 points and 5 rebounds over 26 minutes of playing time and he would likely see heavy usage as the leader of Houston’s second unit if Gordon is out again tonight. At the minimum price tag on both main DFS sites, The Drunken Dribbler could meet value rather easily in a plus matchup at Minnesota.
If, Then Player
If Zach LaVine (hip) is out tonight, Andrew Wiggins and Ricky Rubio would stand to benefit, but Shabazz Muhammad might emerge as the best value play in a Wolves uniform. There’s also a chance that Serge Ibaka (shoulder) misses tonight’s game and that would make Aaron Gordon much safer while raising the upside of Nikola Vucevic.
