Happy taco Tuesday! It is January 23rd and we have a small five-gamer on tap tonight in the Association. Although, we are limited on games to pick and choose from tonight, there are some really intriguing match ups here on the board including the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic heading into Indy to take on the Indiana Pacers who are without their stud point guard Tyrese Haliburton, the Utah Jazz hitting NOLA for a date with the New Orleans Pelicans, and the late night hammer with the Lebron James-less Los Angeles Lakers taking on Kawhi Leonard and company of the Los Angeles Clippers! Let's take a look and dive in!

NBA DFS Tools to dominate tonight's NBA DFS slate!

Make sure to check out today's NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections before finalizing your lineups today. We also have the NBA Consistency Report to help identify players that have exceeded value based on their current price tag this season and of course our NBA DFS Lineup Generator!

Here's the NBA DFS Podcast for today's slate. Like the video and subscribe to our channel!

Notable NBA Injury Updates

QUESTIONABLE

OUT

PROBABLE

DOUBTFUL

 

PACE (Last 15 Games):

Pace definition: Pace is the total number of possessions a team uses in a game.

*key* Green is elite pace of play, Blue is decent pace of play, & Red is slow pace of play.

Green = Fast Paced team

Blue = Neutral Paced team

Red = Slow Paced team

 

NBA Game Totals

 

Top Tier Core Plays:

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

This is likely the best possible match up on the board for a super-star tonight, and a very good game environment. Jokic gets Myles Turner, Jalen Smith, and possibly Isaiah Jackson, ALL who can struggle with foul trouble. Jokic has looked like himself again lately, going for 63 and 78 fantasy points in his last two games. 

Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

We have the sweet luxury of getting AD here tonight with LeBron James OFF the floor. In this scenario so far this season, in a 516-minute sample with James OFF the court for Davis, he is averaging a 29.7% usage rate, 54.8 fantasy points per 36, and a whopping 1.52 fantasy point per minute. This is the Clippers, but they are down Ivica Zubac in the frontcourt and this will allow Davis to give them absolute fits in the paint. Davis only played 26 minutes last time out two nights ago vs the Blazers, but had secured at least 60 fantasy points or more in four of his prior five games before that low minute outing.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

I think SGA is merely a cash game play tonight at his price. The good thing about Gilgeous-Alexander is we can pretty much bank on what we are going to get most nights with him - around 50 fantasy points. Tonight the Thunder will play host to the Portland Trail Blazers, who are currently nearly two-touchdown dogs in this game. The Blazers won't have enough juice in this one to hang around too long, we just have to hope they hang around long enough to get SGA his fantasy points and move on.

 

Mid-Tier Core Plays:

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Brunson has been on a mini-tear since returning from a two-game absence with a calf contusion. Since returning, Brunson has recorded 45, 67, and 61 fantasy points in that span against the Rockets, Wizards, and Raptors. This game is really interesting, as we are seeing just a couple basket spread with a modest 223 total. The Nets have played a bit better as of late, and this is the first game of the TNT primetime TV double-header. Fully expect Nets to show up here at home, so really like this spot for both Brunson and Randle.

Julius Randle, New York Knicks

As mentioned above, this is a great spot here for the surging Knicks. Randle continues to play well and is fresh off a 55-fantasy point outing vs the Raptors. Prior to that, Randle had amassed at least 37+ fantasy points in six of his last eight contests with five of those also touching at least 42 or more fantasy points. The Nets are susceptible in the frontcourt, and seeing as how the Knicks are likely going to be down Hartenstein tonight, Randle could slide in for some glass duty here also. 

Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

Leonard is coming off two sub-par outings vs the Thunder and Nets at home where he only put up 34 fantasy points in both contests, but the Lakers are his opponent tonight, and against them in two games so far this season - Kawhi is averaging 48 fantasy points. Fully expect to see Kawhi get up for this game and put on a nice show in front of both home crowds here.

Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers

I could just lump all three Clipper studs here and likely would save a bunch of time and effort, but they all three deserve a spot. PG is another one that has had success against the Lakers, going for 46 fantasy points in his lone meet with them (Missed their last meet). George has been a bit up and down lately, and we have seen a couple floor games at that, but he did go for 64 fantasy points two games ago vs the Thunder, so we obviously know the ceiling is there.

James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers

I do believe the price makers have it correct tonight in terms of these three for the Clipp. Harden has been more of a facilitator lately and his fantasy games have shown that. Harden did have an excellent game last time out vs the Nets going for 52 fantasy points, however, prior to that he had only eclipsed 40 just one out of his last five.

Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz

Lauri has been basically a jack of all trades for the Jazz this year. He does a bit of everything and we can typically count on him for scoring and boards mainly. He does get a tough match up here in NOLA tonight, but he did also drop 48 fantasy points earlier this season here as well. Lauri is easily the Jazz top player and his price is more than convenient tonight in a game with a 240-point total.

Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

Ingram is trending up quite a good ways over his last couple of games. He recorded 44 last time out vs the Suns, and nearly touched 70 against the Hornets the game prior to that. Not only that, but in three meets so far between these two squads this season, Ingram is averaging a smooth 42.4 fantasy points. Good numbers vs this team.

 

Value Tier Core Plays:

Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets

Bridges loves the big stage likely more than any player in the league. Tonight he gets to face the Knicks in the Battle for the New York! Bridges has been shaky at best, but even in his “bad” games, he is still giving around 30 fantasy points. He also has 50+ fantasy point upside, like we saw four games ago vs the Heat on his home floor. Look for Bridges to come out looking for a statement game here on natty tv vs his cross town rivals. 

CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans

I do think this game is stackable to a degree. I like more of the Jazz side and think we will have more value there, but I do like Ingram and CJ here for the Pels. McCollum had a rough outing last game against the Suns, but had been over 36 fantasy points in the prior four out of five games played with a few 40's and a 50 in there. Utah is currently allowing the 8th most total fantasy points on average per game to the PG spot over their last month of play.

Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets

Claxton is a super interesting play tonight and I don't really think a ton go here because everyone will likely be skittish on playing against the Knicks tonight. Claxton has been one of the brighter spots for this Nets team this year and continued right were he left off last season and is getting better. Claxton put up 27 fantasy points last time he faced the Knicks, and has topped 34 fantasy points in his last three-straight contests.

Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

I don't exactly love much of this game tonight between OKC and Portland. I do like JaWill's price here though. Jalen continues to play extremely well, and has recorded 36, 52, 39, and 45 fantasy points over his last four games played. He has been playing great and I don't mind the price on a small slate.

D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers

Have to think D'Lo will pick up some extra usage here with James out. So far this season with LBJ OFF the court, Russell is seeing the 2nd highest usage rate at 26.7%, while averaging a 1.27 fantasy points per minute, and roughly 45 fantasy points per 36 minutes. Good spot here vs the Clippers.

Collin Sexton, Utah Jazz

Sexton continues to prove that he should be on the floor. He hasn't needed 30+ minutes a game to put up 34+ fantasy points in his last seven of eight games played, just needed about an average of 28 in order to do so. This isn't the sexiest of match ups, but he has faced some good teams lately and has played too good to not be considered here at his price.

Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

Typically, when LeBron sits, Reaves is the Laker that tends to pick up the scoring and facilitating behind Davis, and D'Angelo Russell for the most part. Reaves is hoisting a 1.11 fantasy point per minute with James on the floor this year, including roughly 39 fantasy point average per 36 minutes in that same scenario.

Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets

With the rumors swirling that Dinwiddie was essentially “quiet quitting” the Nets lately, this has seen his fantasy production pick right back up over his last three games. In those three games, Dinwiddie has played 32, 33, and 33 minutes while recording 35, 33, and 33 fantasy points to boot. I do think this game, even though the total is lower, has great stacking potential.

Precious Achiuwa, New York Knicks

With Sims slated to get the starting nod with Hartenstein “unlikely to play” tonight, we get the value here with Achiuwa, who is the much more fantasy-friendly play out of this New York Knick center position. Achiuwa saw 25 nice minutes last time out with Hartenstein getting knocked out early, and he capitalized on the extended run putting up 34 fantasy points on 18 points, 11 boards, with a block.

 

Check out our NBA DFS Livestream tonight at 5pm ET 

Remember to like the video and subscribe to our channel! 

Player Pool

$ Tier {{pos.alias}}

Stacks

{{stack.team.name}} {{player.name}}
DraftKings {{player.fantasy.price.value[8]}}-
Fanduel {{player.fantasy.price.value[6]}}-