DraftKings NBA picks January 30: Big night for Beal

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 31: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets drives with the ball during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on October 31, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA centers:

Best Bets:

Nikola Jokic ($10,100): If you use Jokic, don’t even look at your lineup until this game is in the fourth quarter. I guarantee his stat line will piss you off. Jokic has still put up very strong numbers with Murray and Millsap out, but it often take him until the fourth quarter to really get in the groove. That’s dangerous for someone that costs this much, but what can you do? He is the Denver offense right now.

Joel Embiid ($9,300): The Sixers may limit Embiid’s minutes again here, but he totally dominated Atlanta in his only game against them this year. Despite playing just 32 minutes, Embiid put up 66.75 DraftKings points. Even if he only plays about half the game, he might hit 50.

Honorable Mention:

Serge Ibaka ($7,100): This is the time to run a Toronto center. When one of them is injured. Ibaka played a lot once Gasol left with a hamstring issue on Tuesday. Now he’ll have most of the minutes to himself tonight. Ibaka put up 43 DraftKings points in 27 minutes on the Hawks. Cleveland isn’t much better up front, so I expect another strong outing from Ibaka.

Daniel Theis ($6,100): Thies has cleared 30 DraftKings points in every game with Kanter out so far. The Warriors are still pretty strong against centers, but I see no reason not to trust Theis here. He has faced Orlando, Miami, Memphis, Detroit, and Milwaukee during the streak. Those are solid defensive teams.

Dark Horses:

Thomas Bryant ($5,200): Apparently the minutes limit is off. Bryant played 32 minutes, which was 14 more than any other game since his return, and racked up 44 DraftKings points on the Bucks. Bryant did a number on the Hornets the first time around as well. If Bryant is going to lay 30 minutes again, he’ll hit close to 8x value. We can’t fade that.

Marquese Chriss ($4,500): Chriss has carved out a nice little role for a Warriors team that doesn’t really have a center since WCS was dealt. Spellman and Chriss are mostly power forwards. That said, Chriss is the kind of center that the Warriors usually like. He’s long and athletic and can shoot. He’s still a bargain at this price.