NBA DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups, Injuries & More Today: Friday Playbook

Happy Friday, January 24th! We have a three-game NBA DFS main slate on DraftKings and on FanDuel.

The stars are out as Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, Tyrese Maxey, and Dejounte Murray are taking the floor. There are some big-time injury statuses that we need to watch out for as LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Deandre Ayton are questionable.

Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.

• News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
• Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
• Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
• NBA DFS Projections
• Lineup Generator
• NBA Ownership

NBA DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, January 24th

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Pre-Lock Update

This section will be used for anything that changes from the morning until right up to roster lock. 

Injury updates, players we’re higher on than we were in the morning and so much more.

6:25 pm ET

• LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges & Seth Curry are OUT. Cody Martin is IN.
• Vasilije Micic, Mark Williams, Nick Smith Jr., Cody Martin are priorities. 
• Ja Morant & Santi Aldama are OUT.
• Luke Kennard started in his place last game Ja Morant missed. Desmond Bane led in all passing metrics, had 14 assists.
• Jaren Jackson, Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard are my favorite options. Jaylen Wells is a secondary play.

NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 1/24

• LaMelo Ball - OUT
• Zion Williamson - OUT
• Evan Mobley - OUT
• Dejounte Murray - IN
• Miles Bridges - OUT
• Deandre Ayton - OUT
• Yves Missi - IN
• Andre Drummond - OUT
• Caleb Martin - OUT
• Santi Aldama - OUT
• Caris LeVert - OUT
• Donovan Clingan - IN
• Cody Martin - IN
• Marcus Smart - OUT
• Jake LaRavia - OUT
• Ja Morant - OUT
• Robert Williams - OUT
• Anfernee Simons - IN

NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews

With the NBA season just kicking off we don't have data yet for teams regarding pace of play and defensive matchups. In the section below, I’m listing the most notable things we need to look at in Las Vegas, including notable O/U and spreads.

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Charlotte Hornets

• Total: 220.5
• Spread: CHA -5
• Trail Blazers are 18th in pace, Hornets are 21st in pace
• Trail Blazers are 25th in DRtg, Hornets are 19th in DRtg

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers

• Total: 228.5
• Spread: CLE -10.5
• Cavaliers are 6th in pace, 76ers are 28th in pace 
• Cavaliers are 9th in DRtg, 76ers are 22nd in DRtg

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Memphis Grizzlies

• Total: 245
• Spread: MEM -11.5
• Pelicans are 14th in pace, Grizzlies are 1st in pace
• Pelicans are 28th in DRtg, Grizzlies are 6th in DRtg

NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks

Here are the core players I’m looking at for my NBA DFS picks tonight. You can see the full analysis of tonight’s NBA DFS projections and player pool below or skip ahead to building the best lineups possible by locking these into the aforementioned lineup generator now.

High

• Tyrese Maxey

Mid

• Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy, Paul George, Mark Williams, Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson

Value

• Donovan Clingan, Jerami Grant, Guerschon Yabusele, Nick Smith Jr., Jaylen Wells, Luke Kennard, Vasilije Micic, Cody Martin

Don't Miss The NBA DFS Playbook Live Show At 5:00 PM ET

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