The NBA slate for Thursday, January 8, features a busy schedule with several interesting usage trends driven by high-profile absences. With lineups shifting due to mid-season attrition and lingering injuries to stars in Cleveland and Indiana, the DFS market presents massive potential value on specific player projections. For tonight’s action, we are focusing on a Charlotte wing who has exploded as a primary scorer and a Cleveland sharpshooter stepping up to fill a massive void on the perimeter. These projections appear to undervalue their current roles and recent production for the 1/8 slate.
Sleeper Fantasy Free NBA Picks, January 8th: NBA DFS Projections
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Now, let’s dive into today’s NBA DFS projections and the best Sleeper Fantasy NBA picks to help you build a lineup.
Brandon Miller Sleeper NBA Pick: More Than 20.5 Points
Brandon Miller has been a dynamic offensive engine for the Charlotte Hornets recently, and his outlook for tonight is incredibly promising given his current form. Miller has been on an absolute tear, scoring 28 points against Oklahoma City and 22 against Chicago in his last two outings. He has solidified himself as a primary scoring option, averaging 20.1 points per game on the season.
Tonight, he faces an Indiana Pacers defense that ranks 25th in the league, allowing nearly 120 points per game. The game pace may vary, but the Pacers' defense remains porous, allowing opponents to shoot 48.6% from the field. With the green light to shoot and a matchup that favors wing scorers, Miller is poised to exploit Indiana’s struggles and clear this number.
Sam Merrill Sleeper NBA Pick: More Than 9.5 Points
The Cleveland Cavaliers' rotation has been severely tested with Max Strus and Dean Wade ruled out, and Darius Garland listed as questionable. Sam Merrill has stepped up admirably to fill that void, recently dropping 19 points against the Pacers and 15 against the Pistons. With these key absences, Merrill faces significantly less competition for perimeter touches, and his minutes are secure in a lineup desperate for floor spacing.
Averaging 13.6 points per game and shooting 44.7% from deep, Merrill is a critical release valve for the Cavs' offense. While the Minnesota Timberwolves boast a top-tier defense, Cleveland will need Merrill’s three-point shooting to keep pace. His ability to move without the ball and hit catch-and-shoot threes makes him a high-floor play, especially with the Cavs needing his offensive punch to stay competitive.
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