NBA DFS Preview – First Look (1/8)

We have a modest five-game NBA DFS slate Saturday, and I’ll be honest, it definitely isn’t my favorite slate of the season. Be sure to keep tabs on news throughout the day and check out the FTN NBA Optimizer. 

Let’s take a look at the situations for Saturday.

NBA Vegas Data for January 8 | NBA DFS First Look

Milwaukee Bucks @ Charlotte Hornets

CHA -1, total: 234
Pace: MIL (14th), CHA (1st)

Situations to monitor:

• Milwaukee will remain without Jrue Holiday, George Hill, Pat Connaughton, Grayson Allen and Donte DiVincenzo for this game.

Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

DET -2, total: 212
Pace: ORL (11th), DET (4th)

Situations to monitor:

• Cole Anthony continues to deal with an ankle injury and is listed as questionable. Franz Wagner is also questionable with an ankle.
• Jerami Grant remains out for the Pistons.

Utah Jazz @ Indiana Pacers

UTA -3.5, total: 222.5
Pace: UTA (15th), IND (20th)

Situations to monitor:

• Seemingly Utah’s entire roster was ruled out Friday, but most players should be back for this game outside of Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles, who are in the health and safety protocols.
• Malcolm Brogdon and Chris Duarte are questionable for the Pacers, while Caris LeVert remains in the health and safety protocols.

New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics

BOS -7, total: 208.5
Pace: NYK (24th), BOS (18th)

Situations to monitor:

• Kemba Walker is out for New York, while Evan Fournier is now listed as questionable with a thigh injury.

Miami Heat @ Phoenix Suns

PHX -8.5, total: 217
Pace: MIA (24th), PHX (2nd)

Situations to monitor:

• Jimmy Butler is listed as questionable with an ankle injury.

Stats to Know | NBA DFS First Look

Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 1.78 FPPM with Jrue Holiday off the floor this season

With Milwaukee missing Holiday and George Hill Friday, Giannis actually started at point guard and, despite getting into some early foul trouble, still scored over 52 fantasy points in just 27 minutes. With Holiday off the court this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging a gaudy 1.78 fantasy points per minute, while also sporting a 37.3% usage rate, 34% rebounding rate and 21% assist rate. A matchup with Charlotte is as good as it gets, as the Hornets lead the NBA in pace, rank inside the bottom-five in defensive efficiency and are allowing the second-highest field goal percentage in basketball at the rim. 

Omer Yurtseven has recorded double-digit rebounds in 10 straight games

Yurtseven has filled in admirably for both Bam Adebayo and Dewayne Dedmon lately. He’s recorded at least 10 rebounds in each of his last 10 games and during that 10-game stretch, Yurtseven is averaging an impressive 21.9 rebounding chances per game, second to only Rudy Gobert in all of basketball. And over the last week of action, Yurtseven is sporting an absurd 49% rebounding rate.

Value Plays | NBA DFS First Look

Wesley Matthews vs. CHA — Matthews has started each of the last two games for Milwaukee, logging 29 and 30 minutes during that span. You’ll need him to knock down some threes and walk into some peripherals, but this slate isn’t exactly loaded with viable value plays.

Hassan Whiteside vs. IND — Whiteside didn’t exactly deliver last game, scoring just over 20 fantasy points in 30 minutes. However, this is still a player averaging 1.23 fantasy points per minute to go along with a 42% rebounding rate with Rudy Gobert off the floor this season, who will remain sidelined for this game.

Last Night’s GPP Performances | NBA DFS First Look

DraftKings optimal lineup

Malik Monk (46.0)
Seth Curry (43.25)
LeBron James (68.0)
Robert Covington (35.5)
Bobby Portis (47.0)
D’Angelo Russell (52.25)
Jarred Vanderbilt (42.5)
Alex Len (39.0)

FanDuel optimal lineup

D’Angelo Russell (49.2)
Fred VanVleet (71.2)
Ayo Dosunmu (37.0)
Malik Monk (44.3)
Elijah Hughes (45.6)
LeBron James (72.1)
Alex Len (39.0)
Bobby Portis (44.4)
Nikola Vucevic (55.3)

Elijah Hughes was one of the many Utah players who stepped into a larger role with Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles, Jordan Clarkson and Rudy Gobert sidelined. He scored 26 points to go along with eight rebounds and four assists in over 40 minutes. Meanwhile, LeBron James continued to dominate and has now scored 30 or more real points in nine of his last 10 games.