It’s Sunday, January 26th, and we have a fun single-game NBA DFS slate tonight. Fire up those single-game tournaments and let’s see what we can do. While these formats always present opportunities for both hopes and failures, they’re a great way to test different muscles of your decision-making.
Traditional methods still hold weight in how you approach these tournaments, but the single-game format is unique. In this article, we’ll highlight a few plays that should help you along the way. While these tournaments rely heavily on math, probability and mix-and-matching, there are also some key factors — like metrics and insights — you can consider to identify the players who can elevate your lineup from great to money-making greatness. We present some here.
This should be a fun game to watch, as the Portland Trail Blazers can add fuel to our curiosity about the direction they’ll eventually take in organizing their talent. Meanwhile, it’ll be a chance to see if the Thunder continue to push their super dominance or opt to be reserved and poised preparing for the second half of the season for a championship run.
Either way, let’s lock in and have some fun.
As always, our FantasyPros team is here to ensure you have everything you need to navigate tonight’s challenges. Tap into the expertise of Nick Rodriguez (@NickIsInNet), Ryan Coleman (@ryancoleman_98) and Daniel E. Dobish (@danieledobish), whose insights will elevate your game and sharpen your approach.
Let’s tackle tonight’s game with focus, creativity and confidence. Game on.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
Oklahoma City Thunder
Team Stats
PTS | FGM | FGA | 3PM | 3PA | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
116.5 | 43.5 | 91.8 | 13.8 | 38.6 | 43.4 | 26.1 | 11.4 | 5.7 |
7th | 5th | 5th | 12th | 11th | 23rd | 15th | 1st | 7th |
Team Opponent Stats
OPP PTS | OPP FGM | OPP FGA | OPP 3PM | OPP 3PA | OPP REB | OPP AST | OPP STL | OPP BLK |
104.3 | 36.7 | 85.3 | 12.4 | 38.4 | 46.4 | 24.0 | 6.7 | 4.8 |
1st | 1st | 4th | 2nd | 19th | 28th | 3rd | 1st | 14th |
The Hottest Team — Blazing a Thunderous Trail
The Thunder are arguably the hottest team in the league right now. Many will look to see this continue to be proven true as they hit the road against a talented Portland Trail Blazers squad. Coming off a tough loss against the Mavericks, they could look to bounce back. However, it is good to point out again that this Portland Trail Blazers team is talented, although their record doesn’t at all reflect it that much.
I’d at least consider that this game could be closer than one would think before going all in on the Thunder’s primary stars, as one could make and push the point that the aggregate in these single-slate tournaments rivals, more than usual, the sum of the individual parts or contributions of the players. Of course, the Thunder are elite in most team metrics as well as above average against opponents, so the numbers won’t lie to you, but if you know, you know, they don’t always tell the full picture.
A game against a Portland team who just beat the Bulls, Heat, Magic and Hornets could either be the makings of great play or signs that the team is in the process of looking to ready the ship for the second half of the season. On the flip side, do consider blowout factors in this one as well.
Thunder Players
MVP (FanDuel) & Captain (DraftKings)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC)
- DraftKings: $18,600
- FanDuel: $18,000
Non-MVP (FanDuel) & Captain (DraftKings)
- Primary Format: FanDuel
- Primary Appeal: PRO
- FanDuel: $7,000
- Primary Format: FanDuel, DraftKings
- Primary Appeal: UTIL, PRO
- DraftKings: $5,400
- FanDuel: $8,000
Portland Trail Blazers
Team Stats
PTS | FGM | FGA | 3PM | 3PA | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
107.8 | 39.9 | 88.9 | 12.1 | 36.0 | 43.4 | 23.1 | 8.1 | 5.7 |
28th | 22nd | 15th | 26th | 21st | 22nd | 28th | 16th | 6th |
Team Opponent Stats
OPP PTS | OPP FGM | OPP FGA | OPP 3PM | OPP 3PA | OPP REB | OPP AST | OPP STL | OPP BLK |
115.2 | 41.7 | 88.2 | 13.6 | 36.4 | 44.9 | 26.8 | 9.6 | 5.9 |
23rd | 21st | T-11th | T-14th | 6th | 24th | 20th | 28th | 27th |
The Hot Streak — Thundering Strong to Keep a Blaze
The Trail Blazers are riding a hot streak right now and seem to be figuring things out. Their metrics aren’t at all the best in the league across the board, but they boast one of the league’s most talented stables of players. It would be great to see them cut loose and compete at their peak in this one, showing us what could be as they navigate the rest of this season, trade season and beyond, but we’ll see.
They bring all the value tonight and potentially have the makings of some of the best plays on the slate. The team has everything and nothing to play for, and it seems like this could be a great time for them to right the ship and test just what they have.
They’re still in tweaking and experimental mode, and with trade season ticking away, it wouldn’t be surprising if they continue exploring options with their players. However, I’d expect this to be a time when players — especially key players — show up and take the floor to prove what they’ve got against one of the league’s best and brightest.
Trail Blazers Players
MVP (FanDuel) & Captain (DraftKings)
- None
Contrarian Consideration
- DraftKings: $13,500
- FanDuel: $13,500
Non-MVP (FanDuel) & Captain (DraftKings)
Donovan Clingan (C – POR)
- Primary Format: FanDuel, DraftKings
- Primary Appeal: STAR/PRO (FD), UTIL (DK)
- DraftKings: $7,500
- FanDuel: $7,500
- Primary Format: DraftKings, FanDuel
- Primary Appeal: PRO/UTIL (FD), UTIL (DK)
- DraftKings: $8,400
- FanDuel: $9,500
- Primary Format: DraftKings, FanDuel
- Primary Appeal: PRO (FD), UTIL (DK)
- DraftKings: $9,000
- FanDuel: $10,500
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