DraftKings NBA Picks January 29: Can Embiid hit triple digits in L.A.?
By Mike Marteny
DraftKings NBA Picks January 29: Can Embiid hit triple digits in L.A.?
We have a solid seven games for our DraftKings NBA tournament tonight. We have several players in five figures. Davis is already out, and it appears as though LeBron will be too. There are still four more in five figures. Should we use any of them?
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The money line last night was a solid 277.5 DraftKings points. Kyrie being ruled out gave way to chalk Terry Rozier. Draymond being out landed me on Iguodala, so I still put my lineup in the money by upgrading to Harris.
bjollyag123 took this one down with 351 DraftKings points. He built around Harris, Trae Young, and cheap Celtics while getting a nice game from Conley and Patrick Beverley.
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DraftKings NBA Point Guards:
Best Bets:
Russell Westbrook ($10,600): I’ll start this off by saying that I probably prefer George to Westbrook again even though the price difference isn’t that big right now. Orlando has done well against point guards. The only reason I’m even considering Russ here is because of what the tandem of CP3 and Harden did to Orlando on Sunday. This is a solid price for Westbrook, and the 53 DraftKings points that Westbrook needs for 5x value is quite a ways from a ceiling game, and is probably closer to his floor. This is a pretty low risk spot for Westbrook.
Eric Bledsoe ($7,000): The fact that Bledsoe is in this tier on a seven game slate should tell you just how much I dislike the top tier of point guards. Westbrook probably wont be worth the money. We can say the same for Simmons. Bledsoe is the first one that actually looks like a strong play. Bledsoe has averaged 38.5 DraftKings points in just 30 minutes of court time in the first three meetings with Detroit. The risk here is the same as it always is. This is Giannis’s team. The rest fight for scraps.
Honorable Mention:
Chris Paul ($6,900): Paul racked up 32.75 DraftKings points in just 25 minutes in his return. The Rockets are expected to limit his minutes to about the same range tonight. That caps his upside, but Paul put up 39.5 DraftKings points on the Pelicans in the first meeting in only 32 minutes. I still feel like it would take a ceiling game from Paul at 25 minutes to hit value though. I don’t like that feeling.
Kris Dunn ($6,700): Dunn has 75 DraftKings points in 67 minutes against the Nets this year. Rozier did pretty well against them last night, but this is kind of a smash spot for Dunn. He hasn’t always come up big in those spots, but this one is too good to pass up, and it is the only reason I’m not using Rondo tonight.
Tomas Satoransky ($6,000): Satoransky put up another massive line against the Spurs over the weekend with 46.75 DraftKings points. He has hit that exact mark twice in the last five games. Now Satoransky gets a porous Cleveland defense to showcase his great all around play of late. I really like Satoransky at this price, and will have plenty of exposure to him tonight.
Dark Horses:
Derrick White ($5,700): White has now topped 25 DraftKings points in six straight games. He still doesn’t have a lot of upside, but with the way White is efficient on offense and running the offense, I see no reason for regression this time around. White isn’t doing anything unsustainable here. The minutes are consistently in the low to mid 30’s, and the production reflects that. White is more of a cash game play for me, but he’s decent for GPP usage against the Suns tonight.
Shabazz Napier ($4,900): Napier’s price still isn’t high enough for the numbers he is putting up while starting for Spencer Dinwiddie. Napier has 69 DraftKings points in the two games with Dinwiddie out. This is a nice matchup against the Bulls, and Napier’s price hasn’t taken that big leap yet. He is a great bargain here tonight again.
Elie Okobo ($3,500): Okobo is playing big minutes running the point for the Suns, but his only impact on DFS has been to spurn the value of Booker. Okobo has 54.75 DraftKings points in his three starts filling in for Melton, but that only comes out to about 18 DraftKings points per game. That is 5x value, but we would expect a little more upside with Okobo running 30 minutes a game.
My pick: Satoransky(PG), Napier(G)
DraftKings NBA Shooting Guards:
Best Bets:
James Harden ($13,600): Paul made his return on Sunday, and Harden still lit up the Magic for 71.75 DraftKings points. Harden has 124.5 DraftKings points in two games against the Pelicans so far. Only one of those was without Paul. Paul’s minutes are going to be limited to around 25 again tonight, so it’s hard to say that Harden isn’t worth the price. His upside isn’t what it was last week, but I could still see 5x value or more tonight.
Bradley Beal ($9,200): The emergence of Satoransky as a scorer has actually taken some value away from Porter instead of Beal. Beal continues to be the main scorer for Washington, and that isn’t going to change any time soon. Beal has 75.25 DraftKings points in just 60 minutes against Cleveland this year. The only question here is whether the Wizards can blow out the worst team in the league with Wall out. If you think the answer is yes, it’s probably best to leave Beal out tonight.
Jrue Holiday ($8,600): Holiday again led the Pelicans in scoring, which is going to be a common theme while Davis is out. Honestly, it’s conceivable that the Brow may not play another game in a Pelicans uniform. This is pretty much Holiday’s team right now. He should be between 45 and 55 DraftKings points once again.
Honorable Mention:
Jimmy Butler ($6,900): Butler’s production in Philly has been far from consistent, so any time you use him it’s a sizeable risk. The Lakers were a team that Butler just embarrassed while with Minnesota. He put up 103 DraftKings points in two games. I expect Embiid to have the bigger game, but if Butler manages to hit 40 for this price, we’ll all be happy. I don’t know if I like the chances of him doing that though.
Terrence Ross ($5,100): Ross has only been under 24 DraftKings points once in the last nine games. He is playing strong minutes for the Magic right now because they need his shooting. Ross does little outside of score, but even if he just snags five rebounds a night or so, he’s going to hit value at this price.
Eric Gordon ($5,000): Gordon is basically Ross except he plays for the Rockets. However, Gordon has more upside because more minutes are available and the Rockets are all told to shoot. Gordon is capable of putting up big numbers in relatively small minutes. I like him a lot at this price against a Pelicans team that Gordon has 56.75 DraftKings points against in two games this year.
Dark Horses:
Alec Burks ($4,900): Burks went through a miserable week a couple of weeks ago, but last week Burks put up 97 DraftKings points in three games. That is almost 7x value at this price. The Cavs need his scoring, but the rebounds are what has actually given Burks the hidden value here. Burks snagged 24 rebounds in those three games last week. If he can keep that up, Burks is a big time bargain here.
Marco Belinelli ($4,200): Belinelli hasn’t necessarily seen more court time, but he has seen more favorable court time with DeRozan out. DeRozan wont be back tonight, which should mean another 25-28 minutes and the same amount of DraftKings points for Belinelli. He is a strong play at this price with DeRozan out.
Terrance Ferguson ($3,700): As long as DraftKings leaves Ferguson at this price, I’ll keep playing him. There isn’t a lot of upside here, but Ferguson has at least 20 DraftKings points in five of the last six games. That’s 7x value just for stepping on the court. That is exactly what we want in a punt value play.
My pick: N/A
DraftKings NBA Small Forwards:
Best Bet:
Paul George ($9,800): I’m not sure how you justify a fade of George right now. Sure, the Magic could be a tougher matchup, but George has more than 50 DraftKings points in six of the last seven games and hasn’t been under 40 in about six weeks. High floor, good ceiling. What more can you ask for? Giannis has not looked good against Detroit in any of the three games this year. George is the better play at the position and over his teammate Russell Westbrook.
Honorable Mention:
Kelly Oubre ($5,700): Oubre continues to get good run for the Suns despite coming off the bench. He has not been under 20 DraftKings points in a Suns uniform and has even managed to clear 40 a couple of times. Oubre is the leading scorer off of the Phoenix bench. That shouldn’t change any time soon. Oubre is a solid mid range play tonight if he fits into your build.
Josh Jackson ($5,300): Jackson’s minutes are back up in the 30’s once again with Warren out, but the production is not quite the same. If you are going with Jackson, 20 DraftKings points is fairly certain, but anything beyond that is a bonus. Jackson does have quite a bit of upside, and he is still taking quite a few shots. He just isn’t hitting them right now. If that changes against the Spurs, Jackson could be in for a good night.
Cedi Osman ($5,200): Where did this come from? Someone woke up Osman. He has 118.5 DraftKings points over the last three games. Washington remains one of the worst defensive teams in the league, so I don’t see Osman slowing down all that much here. His price has only gone up $1,000 during this hot streak. Enjoy the value!
Dark Horses:
Jonathan Isaac ($4,500): Isaac continues to put up solid numbers for the price thanks to his defensive prowess. Isaac still isn’t much of a scorer, which is why he continues to cede minutes to Terrance Ross, who is a scorer. This caps Isaac’s upside, but he is still worth using for the price if you are punting the position.
Wayne Seldon ($4,200): Seldon started for Hutchison on Saturday and stuffed the stat sheet for 32 DraftKings points. That’s better than Hutchison does! However, Seldon is only in play with Hutchison out again. The Bulls have nothing to play for, so the rookie will likely take his job back when he is healthy enough to do so. Seldon is a superb value play in the meantime though.
Davis Bertans ($4,100): The Spurs are interested in what Bertans has to offer. They are playing him minutes in the high 20’s on a team of veterans. With DeRozan out, Bertans has been given some minutes in the trickle down effect from his outing, but more importantly, Bertans had a career high 21 points against the Wizards. There is nice upside here, especially for the price.
My pick: Osman(SF), Selden(SG), Bertans(F)
DraftKings NBA Power Forwards:
Best Bets:
Blake Griffin ($9,300): Griffin has averaged 48.7 DraftKings points in the three games against the Bucks already this year. Judging by what we have seen so far, Griffin is easily one of the better plays on the slate tonight, and you don’t even have to shell out five figures for him. Griffin has not been under 46 DraftKings points since January 14th. Don’t expect him to be under that tonight either.
LaMarcus Aldridge ($8,700): Aldridge has struggled against the Suns this year, but they were at full strength the other three times. A lot has changed since then. First off, DeRozan is out so almost all of the Spurs offense runs through him. The Suns are going to be without Ayton again, so the Suns are even weaker up front. The 76 DraftKings points in 76 minutes against the Suns earlier this year is the floor. The only thing that could ruin a big night for Aldridge is if this is another blowout.
Honorable Mention:
Aaron Gordon ($6,700): Gordon has had a couple of big games in a row now, but this matchup is going to be a little more difficult. Maybe. The Thunder have had issues defending power forwards. Gordon is so enigmatic that it’s hard to rely on him in any situation, even the good ones. The price is very fair for what he is capable of if you are willing to take the plunge though.
Trevor Ariza ($6,300): Ariza continues to do all of the dirty work for the Wizards. That’s what they brought him in for. With Porter not scoring as much thanks to the guard explosion, I would rather go with Ariza who not only has the really good defensive stats, he has posted 20 or more real points in five of the last seven games. This is a good spot for Ariza.
Kenneth Faried ($6,300): This is the Faried we saw with the Nuggets before Malone took over. You know, when they actually played him. Faried has 114 DraftKings points over the last three games. This is a big spot for Faried with the Pelicans just ravaged with injuries. This price looks pretty high, but we can’t say it’s not justified.
Dark Horses:
Jerami Grant ($5,300): Grant continues to put up strong numbers on a strong team. He has at least 24 DraftKings points in nine straight games. The Magic likely wont thwart that streak. Grant may go largely ignored with all of the good options both at higher and lower prices. That kind of makes me want to play him even more.
Michael Beastley ($3,800): Beasley picked up 28.5 DraftKings points in 26 minutes against the Suns on Sunday with Kuzma out. Since Kuzma didn’t practice yesterday either, it would appear that he will miss this game as well. If Kuzma starts, I’m not really interested in Beasley. If Kuzma is out again, look for another strong night from Beastley.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($3,800): The Nets are ramping up RHJ’s minutes, and the production is coming with it. RHJ has 58 DraftKings points in 51 minutes over the last two games. His minutes should be in the high 20’s in this one as well. There is very good upside with RHJ again.
My pick: Griffin(PF)
Best Bets:
Joel Embiid ($10,200): Embiid is going to destroy the Lakers. That’s a given. The Lakers can’t stop anyone on the interior. Embiid has not been below 50 DraftKings points since January 13th. It’s not going to happen here either. Embiid might be my favorite play of the night.
Nikola Vucevic ($9,500): Vucevic has at least 50 DraftKings points in four of the last six games. This is not a great spot with Adams lurking, but with the way Vucevic is playing right now, he’s worth a shot. That said, with Embiid only $700 more, find the extra cash somewhere.
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Honorable Mention:
Julius Randle ($7,800): If Randle plays, I do have interest in him. However, it sounds that he is on the doubtful side of questionable. The Pelicans are a horror show of injuries right now. If Randle plays, he will be a huge part of the offense even if his minutes are limited.
Bobby Portis ($6,400): HE’S PLAYING THE NETS! Portis is going to tear them up even if he does only play 30 minutes!
Jahlil Okafor ($6,100): The Rockets have been atrocious on the interior since Capela went down. That isn’t going to change tonight. Okafor has been a force with Davis out. That continues tonight.
Dark Horses:
Ivica Zubac ($5,600): The Lakers are finally starting Zubac. He is worth the price if he is getting that kind of workload. Will the Davis news be a distraction? Who knows, but I’m willing to take a shot with Zubac here. However, with all of the other great options at center, in almost seems like a waste to throw him at Embiid.
Jarrett Allen ($5,600): Allen has 67 DraftKings points in just 54 minutes against the Bulls this year, and that was with Carter in the lineup. Allen could do even worse to Portis. If you have blown your budget elsewhere, Allen is a strong value play at center.
Richaun Holmes ($4,700): Holmes was given 27 minutes in his return to the court, and he racked up 37.5 DraftKings points against the Lakers. The Spurs will offer a little more resistance, but if Holmes is going to get that many minutes again, he’s going to put up big numbers. Holmes is one of the highest per minute producers going right now.
My pick: Embiid(C), Okafor(UTIL)
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