DraftKings NBA picks January 9: All aboard the Russ bus

HOUSTON, TX - JULY 26: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Houston Rockets pose for a photo during the Houston Rockets Introductory Press Conference on July 26, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves sits on the bench (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA picks January 9: All aboard the Russ bus

We only have four games in the Association tonight, so it makes for a smaller DraftKings NBA tournament tonight. The Rockets are playing the second night of a back to back. So is Boston, so look out or resting players. First let’s take a look at those we know are out.

Out: Joel Embiid (finger), Jusuf Nurkic (leg), Luke Kennard (knee), Kevin Porter (knee), Markieff Morris (foot), Dante Exum (illness), Nerlens Noel (ankle), Larry Nance (knee), Jake Layman (toe), Zach Collins (shoulder), Blake Griffin (knee), Rodney Hood (Achilles), Skal Labissiere (knee), Andre Roberson (knee), Nene (hip), Gerald Green (foot), Robert Williams (hip), Romeo Langford (illness), Vincent Poirier (finger), Reggie Jackson (back), Khyri Thomas (foot),

Questionable: Karl-Anthony Towns (knee), Hassan Whiteside (illness), Danilo Gallinari (calf), Eric Gordon (knee).

This is the easiest injury report we’ve had all season. We are just waiting on the status of Towns, and given how little the Tiimberwolves have said about his progression, I would be surprised if he plays and flabbergasted if he played without a minutes limit. This is simple. I wont play Towns anyway, and I’m not sure I want to run Dieng against Whiteside either. Update: I knew it couldn’t stay that simple. Whiteside’s illness is respiratory, so I’m staying away. If Gordon sits, House or McLemore are good plays.

I had my best night in a while last night. Three of my five lineups beat last night’s winning score with the best scoring 359.25 despite Terrence Ross and Reggie Bulluck screwing it up. I had Harden in all but one lineup and had Young in three of them.

mpsw got the takedown with 396.25, which was only 37 more than me. I know, it’s little consolation when he took home $2,000 and I got nine bucks. I’ll take what I can get. A win is a win. I’m not going to complain. He also built with Young and Harden and had many value pieces such as Hart, McCaw, Jerami Grant, and Portis like I did. However, he nailed the Khem Birch pick and paid up for Ingram’s massive night.

Just because you don’t see someone on here doesn’t mean they aren’t a good play. I only have so much room, and I’m not going anyone a favor if I recommend more than half of the players at a position. If you have a feeling about someone, by all means, follow that. I mostly follow numbers and trends.