It’s Friday, January 10. While most of the focus will be on college football and the College Football Playoff (CFP) semi-finals, we have a seven-game slate, including the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks squaring off at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Core Plays
- DraftKings: $12,300
- FanDuel: $12,800
OK, this play comes with a couple of warnings. First, Nikola Jokic carries a questionable tag due to illness. He has missed the past two games, opening up larger roles for DeAndre Jordan and Dario Saric. Second, spending this kind of scratch on Jokic means adding at least two minimum-salary players.
Jokic is on another plane, posting 69.1 fantasy points per game — 9.3 more than the next closest player (Giannis Antetokounmpo). Jokic scored 41+ points in his last two outings, averaging 43.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 3.0 three-pointers made per game.
- DraftKings: $9,400
- FanDuel: $9,200
Tyrese Maxey and his Sixers teammates have an extremely favorable matchup against the visiting New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans are 25th in opponent rank on DraftKings.
Maxey has torn it up in his last two games, averaging 30 points per game (PPG), while posting eight assists per game (APG). In addition, he has hit a total of nine three-pointers in the two-game span. He has hit two or more triples in 14 consecutive games since December 6th. In three games against Western Conference teams in January, Maxey is averaging 25.3 PPG with 7.7 APG and 3.7 steals per game (SPG).
- DraftKings: $10,300
- FanDuel: $10,200
Jayson Tatum picked up 29 points, six assists, four rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal in 38 minutes in Denver on Tuesday night. He was just 1-of-9 from behind the three-point line, though, snapping a 10-game streak with at least two successful triples. He is working on an 11-game streak with 20+ points. He has eight or more boards in 20 of the past 22 outings
Tatum and the Celtics face a Sacramento Kings defense ranked 18th in points per game allowed (113.8). Teams are scoring at a clip of 46.4% from the field against the Kings. Sacramento is posting a defensive three-point percentage of 37.6%, which ranks 27th.
NBA DFS Cash Game Targets
- DraftKings: $7,800
- FanDuel: $7,600
CJ McCollum had a disastrous 1-of-14 shooting night against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, finishing with five points, two rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in 30 minutes.
McCollum bounced back nicely on Wednesday with 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including three three-pointers against the Portland Trail Blazers. He has another favorable matchup against the 76ers and their 23rd opponent rank.
- DraftKings: $8,100
- FanDuel: $8,200
You’re going to want a Bulls stack against the lowly Wizards. Washington’s defense is allowing a dismal 121.9 PPG, which ranks 30th in the NBA. They are allowing teams to hit 47.3% from the field and 36% from behind the three-point line.
Strike while the iron is hot, as Zach LaVine has scored 31+ points in all four of his games in January. In those four games, he is averaging 32.8 points, 5.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 2.8 three-pointers made per game.
- DraftKings: $8,500
- FanDuel: $8,000
Nikola Vucevic is the Temu Nikola, at least when it comes to comparing him and Nikola Jokic. The Bulls center has been pretty solid, posting 41.7 fantasy points per game. He is facing a Wizards defense with an opponent rank of 29.
Vucevic had a five-game double-double streak snapped at Indiana last time out on Wednesday. His 10-point performance was his lowest total since being limited to nine points against the Houston Rockets back on November 17th.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
- DraftKings: $5,800
- FanDuel: $5,500
With Cam Thomas (hamstring) suffering a strained left hamstring injury last Thursday, look for Keon Johnson and Tyrese Martin to continue to fill the void. Johnson has been solid in January, averaging 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.0 three-pointers made per game.
- DraftKings: $7,000
- FanDuel: $6,800
Josh Giddey is another Bulls player who could exceed salary expectations against the lowly Wizards. Giddey and Coby White should do big things with Ayo Dosunmu (calf) expected to sit again.
- DraftKings: $6,600
- FanDuel: $6,900
Sticking with the Bulls stack strategy, White is a solid mid-tier player with some upside. He has managed a solid 32.7 fantasy points per game and, again, the Wizards have an opponent rank of 30.
White is averaging 23.0 points, 4.5 assists, 2.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 4.3 three-pointers per game in four January outings.
NBA DFS Value Plays
Brandon Boston Jr. (SG, SF – NOP)
- DraftKings: $3,500
- FanDuel: $4,400
Brandon Boston Jr. is worth a look in this battle. Including him could save you enough money to squeeze in Jokic up top. Boston could get extended minutes with Brandon Ingram (ankle) and Herbert Jones (shoulder) out.
- DraftKings: $3,300
- FanDuel: $3,800
With Trey Murphy III (ankle) ruled out for a third consecutive game, Javonte Green could have a larger-than-usual role. He and Boston are tremendous low-cost DFS options with some upside, allowing you to spend heavily at other spots.
Guerschon Yabusele (PF, C – PHI)
- DraftKings: $5,500
- FanDuel: $5,900
With Joel Embiid (foot) ruled out for a third straight game and Andre Drummond (toe) also sidelined, look for Guerschon Yabusele to see plenty of run. At this price, he is a strong value in a favorable matchup against the Pelicans.
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