DFS NBA Lineups for January 24, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
Each day that there’s a good slate of DFS NBA 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.
We have six games on the main NBA slate tonight with only one player costing you five figures. Big guarantees and qualifiers at both DraftKings and FanDuel highlight the 1/24/17 tournaments. Be sure and monitor any of the injury news that breaks throughout the day, as value plays can arise in a moments notice.
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Joel Embiid (knee)
Chris Paul (thumb)
DeMar DeRozan (ankle)
Pau Gasol (finger)
Tony Parker (foot)
Avery Bradley (Achilles)
Rodney Hood (knee)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Kawhi Leonard (hand)
Evan Fournier (foot)
Jahlil Okafor (knee)
Emmanuel Mudiay (back)
NBA GAME SPREADS, TOTALS & START TIME FOR TODAY’S GAMES
Spurs -3 @ Raptors (7:00p): 206
Clippers -3.5 @ 76ers (7:00p): 203.5
Celtics -1.5 @ Wizards (7:00p): 217
Bulls -2.5 @ Magic (7:00p): 206
Jazz @ Nuggets -2 (9:00p): 211.5
Timberwolves @ Suns -1.5 (9:00p): 215
Best NBA Picks for January 24, 2017
Karl-Anthony Towns ($10.5k DraftKings, $10.5k FanDuel)
His price tag and the specifications of his matchup are important for sure, but it’s more of a situation where fading KAT on tonight’s short slate is simply putting your bankroll in danger. He’s been on fire lately with averages of 28.6 PPG, 13.2 RPG and 55.3 DK PPG while spurning the notion that he’s less dangerous on the road and coming through in a tough matchup at San Antonio. Now he faces a Suns team that’s posted good DvP splits against centers, but their starting center Tyson Chandler is a bit old to be covering a super-athlete in Towns and that’s why KAT is averaging 25 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 50.1 DK PPG over 2 meetings with Phoenix this year. With Embiid sitting tonight, Towns is easily the top option at the center position and could draw less ownership than Nikola Jokic considering the nearly $2k price difference.
Kyle Lowry ($8.8k DraftKings, $8.4k FanDuel)
Even though he’s facing a tough defense in the Spurs, Lowry is worth a long look with his backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan (ankle) expected to miss tonight’s contest. The Raptors have been running everything through DDR and Lowry leads the team with a 29.5% Usage Rate while averaging 1.19 FPS per minute when DeRozan is off the floor this season. The Spurs elite defense takes a slight hit with injuries to Tony Parker and Pau Gasol while it would become much more vulnerable if Kawhi Leonard (hand) misses tonight’s game. Another consideration here is that this is San Antonio’s fourth game over the last six nights, so their legs could be bit heavy tonight.
Eric Bledsoe ($8.9k DraftKings, $9.3k FanDuel)
Bledsoe is an appealing pivot off Kyle Lowry on DraftKings at a similar price tag. While he comes at a much higher price on FanDuel, he’s probably a better cash game play than the struggling Lowry as he draws a much easier matchup at home against the fast-paced Wolves. Minnesota is coughing up the fourth-most APG (9.33) to opposing PGs over the last month and ranks 27th in opponents FG defense (47%) on the season, while EB is doing a little bit of everything to lead the young Suns right now. He’s coming off a career performance with 40 points in Toronto on Sunday and he’s 50-for-52 at the FT line while averaging 24 PPG and 8.8 APG over his last 6 appearances. A healthy 215 total with just a 1.5 point spread solidify Bledsoe as a top option in what is projected to be a tight, high-scoring affair.
Mid Tier DFS NBA Picks
Elfrid Payton ($6.2k DraftKings, $6.7k FanDuel)
The Magic were already down starting wing Evan Fournier (foot) and backup SG Jodie Meeks (thumb) and an injury to D.J. Augustin (ankle) could really open up a big opportunity for Payton. He’s been flashing upside whenever Fournier is out and the Frenchman is unlikely to play heavy minutes even if he makes his return tonight. On tap this evening is a Bulls defense that is deteriorating right now and coughs up the second-most FPPG (48.67) to opposing PGs over the last month, while Payton comes into that plus matchup averaging 20.7 PPG and 7.8 APG over his last 6 appearances.
Robin Lopez ($4.5k DraftKings, $4.6k FanDuel)
Much like Zaza Pachulia last night, Lopez can provide a solid floor of fantasy production without breaking the bank at the center position. He’s been able to meet or exceed value in 7 consecutive appearances with remarkably similar lines during that span, so while he’s not a high-upside option, he appears to be dependable. Tonight Lopez and the Bulls face a Magic squad that gives up the third-most FPPG (51.97) to opposing centers over the last month and ranks 23rd in total rebounding this year. RoLo should play 30-plus minutes in an effort to match up with Orlando’s sizable front line and he always plays hard on both ends of the floor.
Bargain Tier DFS NBA Picks
C.J. Watson ($3.7k DraftKings, $4k FanDuel)
He’ll only serve as a viable punt play if Fournier remains out, but Meeks is not going to play tonight and if Augustin is out as well, Watson should draw another start at SG next to Payton. He played 31 and 36 minutes over his last 2 appearances and produced modest returns with 17 points, 6 assists and 7 rebounds during that span. Yet that came during a tough matchup against Milwaukee and a blowout loss to the Warriors, so he’s more likely to exceed value in what should be a close game against one of the most poorly coached teams in the NBA in Chicago. The Bulls struggle against opposing backcourts and aren’t much better against SGs with Dwyane Wade reaching the end of his line.
Norman Powell ($3.4k DraftKings, $3.9k FanDuel)
DeRozan’s absence will make several Toronto guards worth a look including Terrence Ross and Cory Joseph, but Powell is the player I’d be most confident with using as a true punt play. His ability to pile up peripheral stats makes him a bit safer than a gunner like Ross and he’s more of a natural wing, which makes him the more likely candidate to soak up DeRozan’s minutes. Powell is averaging 0.7 FPs per minute when DeRozan is off the floor this year and posting per 36 minute averages of 14.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals on the season.
If, Then Player
If Kawhi Leonard is out again, you can use Jonathan Simmons, Patty Mills and Kyle Anderson as punt plays, while LaMarcus Aldridge would carry a heavy load again for the Spurs.
If Emmanuel Mudiay is out with that back injury, Gary Harris gets a boost, Jameer Nelson becomes a solid low-upside punt and Jamal Murray will be worth a look in tournament formats.
