NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Friday, January 19

NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Friday, January 19

This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.

Slate Overview

PHI at ORL: 76ers on three-game win streak; Magic 3-7 in last 10 games 

SAS at CHA: Spurs on three-game slide; Hornets on six-game slide and are 4-13 at home

DEN at BOS: Nuggets 11-10 on road; Celtics on three-game win streak

PHX at NOP: Suns on three-game win streak; Pelicans 7-3 in last 10 games 

ATL at MIA: Hawks on two-game win streak; Heat 12-7 at home

IND at POR: Pacers 7-3 in last 10 games; Trail Blazers 3-7 in last 10 games

BKN at LAL: Nets on four-game slide; Lakers on two-game win streak

For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.

Injuries to Monitor  

For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report       

PHI - Mo Bamba (knee), Robert Covington (knee), De'Anthony Melton (back): OUT
Kelly Oubre and Nicolas Batum are up for a boost. 

ORL - Gary Harris (calf), Franz Wagner (ankle): OUT
Chuma Okeke, Caleb Houstan and Cole Anthony are up for increased responsibility.  

SAS - Zach Collins (ankle): Probable; Victor Wembanyama (rest): OUT
Cedi Osman and Dominick Barlow could see more playing time. 

CHA - Bryce McGowens (hip), Brandon Miller (back), Nick Richards (ankle): Questionable; Mark Williams (back), Gordon Hayward (calf): OUT
P.J. Washington, Cody Martin and JT Thor could pick up more opportunity.  

DEN - Aaron Gordon (shoulder): Probable    

ATL - De'Andre Hunter (knee), Trae Young (illness): OUT
Saddiq Bey and Jalen Johnson continue to get more playing time. Bogdan Bogdanovic must also step up without Young. 

MIA  - Jaime Jaquez (groin): Doubtful
Nikola Jovic and Caleb Martin could get a boost.    

IND - Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring), Andrew Nembhard (back), Aaron Nesmith (leg), Pascal Siakam (not injury related): Questionable
T.J. McConnell, Jalen Smith and Buddy Hield are in line for more playing time.   

POR - Deandre Ayton (knee): Probable; Anfernee Simons (illness): Questionable; Shaedon Sharpe (abdomen): OUT
Scoot Henderson should see more action. 

BKN - Mikal Bridges (leg): Probable

LAL - Anthony Davis (ankle): Probable; LeBron James (ankle): Questionable; Cam Reddish (knee): OUT
Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura are in line for more playing time.   

Elite Players

Guards

LaMelo Ball, Hornets ($8,800) vs. Spurs 

Since returning from a six-week absence, Ball topped 47 DK points in three consecutive games, while averaging 26.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.3 steals over that span. He has great chance to excel against the Spurs, who give up the league's most points per game to opposing point guards, and who will be without the shot-blocking presence of Victor Wembanyama

Dejounte Murray, Hawks ($7,500) at Heat 

Murray is averaging 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists over the last 10 games, including four with more than 40 DK points. Murray must step up for an even more prominent role in the backcourt in the absence of Trae Young, and he should benefit from a size advantage at the point-guard position. 

Forwards/Centers

Jimmy Butler, Heat ($7,600) vs. Hawks 

Butler has looked solid in two games, reaching a high of 46.8 DK points since returning from a two-week absence. He faces a favorable matchup against the Hawks, who remain shorthanded at the wing and give up the league's fifth-most points per game to opposing small forwards. Butler missed both of the Heat's previous meetings with the Hawks this season. 

Kevin Durant, Suns ($9,200) at Pelicans 

Durant is averaging 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 blocks over the last five games, going over 40 DK points four times, with a high of 46, in that span. He faces a tough matchup against the Pelicans' frontcourt, but he should find an advantage when taking the matchup to the perimeter, where he is shooting 47.1 percent on the season. 

Bam Adebayo, Heat ($8,700) vs. Hawks 

Adebayo is coming off a quieter performance, but he is averaging 21.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks over the last 10 games, including a high of 64 DK points. He also faces a good opportunity to thrive against the Hawks, who give up the league's fourth-most points per game to opposing centers. The Heat big man finished with 43.3 DK points in his previous meeting with the Hawks on December 22. 

Expected Chalk 

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets ($11,300) at Celtics 

Jokic reached 50 DK points in each of the last four games, including a high of 66.5, while averaging 26.0 points on 71.2 percent shooting, 13.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.0 steals over that span. His squad faces a tough matchup against the Celtics, but Jokic dominated in their two encounters last season, averaging 29.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game. 

Mid-Range Money 

Malcolm Brogdon, Trail Blazers ($5,400) vs. Pacers 

After missing two of the previous three outings, Brogdon got the start and amassed 34.3 DK points in 30 minutes of playing time in the last game. He is up for another start, as the Trail Blazers remain shorthanded in the backcourt, and he should do well against the Pacers, who face the second night of a back-to-back and are dealing with a handful of potential absences. The Pacers also give up the league's second-most points per game.  

Bogdan Bogdanovic, Hawks ($5,600) at Heat 

Bogdanovic is averaging 13.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals over the last 10 games, including seven with at least 25 DK points and a high of 34.8. He is likely up for a start in the absence of Trae Young, and he topped 27 DK points in each of his previous two starts this season. Additionally, the Heat give up the league's seventh-most points per game to opposing shooting guards.  

Miles Bridges, Hornets ($7,100) vs. Spurs 

Bridges is averaging 21.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists over the last 10 games, including four with more than 40 DK points. He finished with 27.3 DK points in the Hornets' recent meeting with the Spurs, but he faces an easier matchup, as they are without the interior defense and rebounding of Victor Wembanyama

Value Picks

Julian Champagnie, Spurs ($3,500) at Hornets 

Champagnie has reached double-digit DK points in five straight games, averaging 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists over that span. He will remain up for more opportunity as the Spurs are shorthanded in the frontcourt, and he should do well against the Hornets, who give up the league's eight-most points per game to opposing small forwards. 

Jarred Vanderbilt, Lakers ($3,500) vs. Nets 

Vanderbilt is averaging 5.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals over the last five games, including two with more than 20 DK points. He is averaging 19 minutes per game on the season, and he should continue to stand out in his role. 

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dan Bruno plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: duelingdan.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Bruno
Dan has been writing all things NBA for RotoWire since 2014. He is an active fantasy sports player, with a love for DFS. Dan is a certified Coach with the Ontario Basketball Association and is a recreation professional in his home city.
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