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Happy Thursday RotoBallers! We have a solid eight-game slate ahead of us with a few teams on back-to-backs to keep an eye on. Those teams are the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and the L.A. Clippers. So keep a good eye on those injury reports as those are the teams with likely injury news. Clippers are also on their fourth game in five days and rested many of their starters last night.
James Harden, Tyler Herro, Ivica Zubac, Kristaps Porzingis, Franz Wagner, Deandre Ayton, Coby White, Anfernee Simons, Cole Anthony, Goga Bitadze, Jrue Holiday, and Toumani Camara all carry questionable tags. Keep an eye on the news for these guys as they can make a difference in building your lineups for this slate. NBA DFS success hinges on in-day adjustments to injury news, but having a game plan and top targets early is essential. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and access our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/23/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7 p.m. EST on DraftKings and FanDuel. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Today's NBA DFS Core Picks
Here is a look at some of the higher-priced players we can use as building blocks for cash and GPP contests.
Paolo Banchero might be one of the best plays on this slate, especially if Franz Wagner remains out for this one. The Blazers are giving up the second most fantasy points to SF/PFs this season. Paolo has just hit the 30-minute mark since returning from injury too and should continue to hit that barring any setback. He should be in for a big fantasy night and still relatively affordable at 8.7k on this slate.
Malik Monk has finished with 43+ FP in seven of his last eight games, he now gets an elite matchup against the Denver Nuggets who are giving up the third most fantasy points to opposing SGs. Malik Monk has been incredible since joining the starting lineup and makes me for a solid fantasy play day in and day out.
Daniel Gafford was in foul trouble most of their last game against the Thunder but in the other three games that Gafford has played since Lively went down with injury. He has finished with 49, 77, and 42 FP and that was in just over 30 minutes of play in each of those games. If he can stay out of foul trouble in this one he should be set again for another monster performance.
- Paolo Banchero, ORL vs. POR - SF/PF ($8,400 DK; $8,700 FD)
- Malik Monk, SAC at DEN ($7,000 DK; $8,000 FD)
- Daniel Gafford, DAL at OKC ($6,500 DK; $7,600 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Value Picks
This is where we talk about saving salary. Whether it's a severely underpriced backup or even as simple as a guy playing like someone who should be priced higher, this is where you'll find guys who make lineups work.
Bruce Brown has been working his way up to more and more minutes since coming off his injury in the offseason. He has seen a season-high minutes in his last game where he finished with 24 minutes and 30 FP. It's a great matchup with Atlanta giving up the most fantasy points to opposing SFs and even with the limited minutes he has shown he can produce. With his price being only 4.5k on FD and 3.9k on DK, he makes for an excellent GPP value play.
I'm going right to Cason Wallace for some guard value, he has continued to increase his play and become more useful on the court. He has had 25+ in five of his last six games and 33 FP in their game against the Mavericks last week. He is still relatively cheap at only 5.3k and is normally good for 30+ minutes.
Nikola Jovic has been solid for this Miami team recently. He has scored 20+ FP in 13 straight games and 27+ in eight of those games. With Jimmy Butler going out on suspension again, he should continue to see 30+ minutes and decent usage. He is one of the few cheap PFs on this slate that has boom potential.
Note: There is the worry that Milwaukee might be stuck in New Orleans because of the weather keep an eye on the news for that.
Top Value Plays:
- Bruce Brown, TOR @ ATL ($3,900 DK; $4,500 FD)
- Cason Wallace, OKC vs. DAL ($4,600 DK; $5,300 FD)
- Nikola Jovic, MIA @ MIL ($5,300 DK; $5,400 FD)
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Stephen Curry has an elite matchup in today's slate! He gets a Bulls team that is bleeding fantasy points to opposing PGs this season including the most assists per game. Curry is averaging just under 40 FP a game this season but has double-double potential and 50 FP+ potential in this matchup. However, my only worry about Curry is the potential to rest him on the back-to-back. He should bounce back though after a putrid end to the game last night.
Portland is giving up the fourth most fantasy points to opposing PGs this season. This gives Anthony Black a great spot to excel, if Cole Anthony is in however I would pivot to him. Black played 36 minutes when Cole Anthony was out in their last game and finished with 31 FP. At 5.5k he has 30+ potential which is good for 6x his price.
I'm going right to Cason Wallace for some guard value, he has continued to increase his play and become more useful on the court. He has had 25+ in five of his last six games and 33 FP in their game against the Mavericks last week. He is still relatively cheap at only 5.3k and is normally good for 30+ minutes.
STEPH BREAKS OUT ALL THE TRICKS 🪄
Curry gets crafty for 2 on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/v8H0nDUgiA
— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2025
Top PG Options:
- Stephen Curry, GSW vs. CHI ($8,800 DK; $8,800 FD)
- Anthony Black, ORL vs. POR ($5,400 DK; $5,500 FD)
- Cason Wallace, OKC vs. DAL ($4,600 DK; $5,300 FD)HM: Damian Lillard, MIL @ MIA ($8,500 DK; $9,100 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
Norman Powell is currently questionable but I think with him being rested last night, he should be back in the lineup tonight. Wizards are giving up the most fantasy points to opposing SGs this season. They also give up the second most three-pointers made which is what Powell excels in.
This is a matchup play, Gradey Dick hasn't been doing incredibly well but he should continue to see close to 30 minutes a game with Immanuel Quickley and Ochai Agbaji likely out for this one. The Hawks are giving up the fifth most fantasy points to opposing SGs and with Gradey being only 4.7k he doesn't need much to hit value.
Top SG Options:
- Malik Monk, SAC at DEN ($7,000 DK; $8,000 FD)
- Norman Powell, LAC vs. WAS ($7,400 DK; $7,300 FD)
- Gradey Dick, TOR at ATL ($4,200 DK; $4,700 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
DeMar DeRozan has been impressive over the last seven games. He has pushed 40+ in six of those and hasn't seen lower than 35 minutes in that time frame either. The Kings are using him to his maximum potential at the moment. Denver is middle of the pack when it comes to defending SFs but with how DeMar has been shooting the ball recently I'll ride him will he is hot.
Bruce Brown has been working his way up to more and more minutes since coming off his injury in the offseason. He has seen a season-high minutes in his last game where he finished with 24 minutes and 30 FP. It's a great matchup with Atlanta giving up the most fantasy points to opposing SFs and even with the limited minutes he has shown he can produce. With his price being only 4.5k on FD and 3.9k on DK, he makes for an excellent GPP value play.
Top SF Options:
- Paolo Banchero, ORL vs. POR - SF/PF ($8,400 DK; $8,700 FD)
- DeMar DeRozon, SAC at DEN ($7,000 DK; $8,100 FD)
- Bruce Brown, TOR @ ATL ($3,900 DK; $4,500 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
Scottie Barnes has been one of the few bright spots on this Toronto team. He has 42+ FP in seven straight games and is going against an Atlanta team that is giving up the second most fantasy points to opposing PFs this season. He should be one of the top-scoring guys on the slate and should be considered one of your core plays. The only downside is he is pretty expensive making it pretty difficult to fit him in along with some other top players on the slate.
SCOTTIE BARNES WINDMILL TIME 😆 pic.twitter.com/WgRYxJVQIs
— NBA (@NBA) January 7, 2025
Onyeka Okongwu has finally been slotted into the starting lineup and has looked decent in the role. His minutes have stayed relatively the same sitting in the 25-30 minute range but he is still getting 30+ FP in those games and has big potential in this one as Toronto is giving up the third most fantasy to opposing Centers. In just 18 minutes he had 28 FP in their previous matchup, imagine what he can do in nearly 30 minutes. The best part is he is PF-eligible!
Top PF Options:
- Scottie Barnes, TOR @ ATL ($8,700 DK; $9,300 FD)
- Onyeka Okongwu, ATL vs. TOR ($7,200 DK; $6,400 FD)
- Nikola Jovic, MIA @ MIL ($5,300 DK; $5,400 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
Daniel Gafford last 2 games
22.5 PPG
13.5 RPG
2.5 APG
5.0 BPG
1.0 SPG
69% FG
33.5 MPGLively is out for the season and Gafford will continue to feast in his absence. You should feel incredibly lucky to have him rostered and top 50 production is realistic rest of season.
— Fantasy 365 (@FantasyBall365) January 23, 2025
I'm only putting Ivica here in case he does play because he is a spectacular play on this slate. Keep an eye on the news for him as if he is starting then he is a top fantasy guy on this slate. He is going up against a Wizards defense that gives up the most fantasy points to opposing Centers this season.
Ivica had 40 FP in only 23 minutes in their previous meeting back in November. He is also coming off a monster performance against the Lakers where he finished with 58 FP.
The centers are pretty loaded on this slate but with Goga Bitadze doubtful for this one, that makes Wendell Carter Jr. an interesting play. The Blazers are giving up the seventh most fantasy points to opposing Centers this season. On top of that Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams are both questionable for this one, which should give Wendell a big advantage in the paint.
Top C Options:
- Daniel Gafford, DAL at OKC ($6,500 DK; $7,600 FD)
- Ivica Zubac, LAC vs. WAS ($7,200 DK; $7,800 FD)
- Wendell Carter Jr., ORL vs. POR ($6,300; $6,000 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Raptors @ Hawks (o/u 234.5)
- Bulls @ Warriors (o/u 230.5)
- Kings @ Nuggets (o/u 239.5)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
The Milwaukee/Miami game is a bit of a risk as Milwaukee may not be able to travel as previously mentioned. If they are flying out in the morning they could be rushing to the stadium with likely less sleep.
Orlando plays extremely well on Defense and with the low total in this game, I won't be playing very many Trail Blazers on this slate.
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite overall play on the slate: Paolo Banchero
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Scottie Barnes
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: DeMar DeRozan
- My favorite value play: Bruce Brown
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