NBA DFS Preview – First Look (1/22)

It is odd to see just three games in the NBA Saturday but at least we can pair this DFS slate with some playoff football, right? Let’s take a look at the top DFS plays for this limited Saturday.

Be sure to keep tabs on the FTN NBA Optimizer throughout the day. 

NBA Vegas Data for January 22 | NBA DFS First Look

Sacramento Kings @ Milwaukee Bucks

MIL -10, total: 232.5
Pace: SAC (3rd), MIL (9th)

Situations to monitor:

• Tyrese Haliburton cleared the health and safety protocols but is questionable for Saturday’s game.

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Cleveland Cavaliers

CLE -12, total: 209
Pace: OKC (18th), CLE (21st)

Situations to monitor:

• Both Lamar Stevens and Rajon Rondo are listed as questionable for Cleveland.

Indiana Pacers @ Phoenix Suns

PHX -12, total: 219.5
Pace: IND (19th), PHX (5th)

Situations to monitor:

• Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner will be out for the Pacers, while Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert are listed as questionable.
• Deandre Ayton will miss his third consecutive game with an ankle injury.

Stats to Know | NBA DFS First Look

Goga Bitadze is sporting a 30% rebounding rate with Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis off the floor

The Pacers frontcourt will remain shorthanded Saturday, as both Turner and Sabonis are still out. Bitadze entered the starting lineup during Indiana’s last game, scoring 13 points to go along with nine rebounds, five assists and a block. With both Turner and Sabonis off the floor this season, Bitadze’s rebounding rate jumps up to 30%, while also sporting a healthy 22.4% usage rate and 1.08 fantasy points per minute in the split. It was his first start of the year but in three starts last season, Bitadze averaged a solid 10.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.3 blocks per game.

The Thunder are allowing 5.6 points per game off screens this season

That is the third-highest mark in the NBA so far this season, while Oklahoma City is also coughing up the sixth-most points per possession (1.02) and eighth-worst field goal percentage off the play type (41.8%). This bodes well for Darius Garland, who is averaging right around two points per game off screens, while averaging 1.03 points per possession off the play type. The Thunder have also struggled to protect the rim this season, while Garland is averaging nearly 16 drives per game. 

Value Plays | NBA DFS First Look

The Indiana Pacers — Keep an eye on the status of both Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert, who are both questionable. If they are out, Keifer Sykes, Jeremy Lamb and Chris Duarte will all stand out as strong value plays. 

Last Night’s GPP Performances | NBA DFS First Look

DraftKings optimal lineup

James Harden (71.5)
De’Anthony Melton (37.75)
Miles Bridges (54.5)
P.J. Washington (34.5)
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (35.25)
Will Barton (47.75)
Jeff Green (31.25)
Jusuf Nurkic (62.75)

FanDuel optimal lineup

Cade Cunningham (52.7)
Russell Westbrook (47.7)
Jalen Suggs (46.3)
De’Anthony Melton (36.3)
Will Barton (45.0)
James Harden (65.5)
Aaron Gordon (42.7)
Christian Wood (53.0)
Jusuf Nurkic (59.4)