NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Thursday, January 26

NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Thursday, January 26

This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.

Slate Overview

NYK at BOS
Celtics on two-game slide. 
DET at BKN 
Pistons on four-game slide. 
CHI at CHA
Hornets 5-16 at home. 
CLE at HOU
Cavs 9-15 on the road. 
DAL at PHX 
Suns on four-game win streak. 
SAS at LAC 
Clippers on three-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     

NYK - Evan Fournier (personal): Questionable
Mitchell Robinson (thumb): OUT 

BOS - Marcus Smart (ankle): OUT   

DET - Isaiah Stewart (shoulder): Questionable
Marvin Bagley (hand), Cory Joseph (back): OUT

BKN - Kevin Durant (knee): OUT    

CHI - Javonte Green (knee): OUT 

CHA - LaMelo Ball (ankle), Gordon Hayward (hamstring): Questionable 
Cody Martin (knee), Kelly Oubre (hand): OUT 

CLE - Donovan Mitchell (groin): Questionable   

HOU - Kevin Porter (foot): OUT  

DAL - Christian Wood (thumb): Questionable 
Maxi Kleber (hamstring): OUT    

PHX - Deandre Ayton (illness): Probable
Landry Shamet (foot), Devin Booker (groin), Cameron Payne (foot): OUT   

SAS - Romeo Langford (hip): Questionable 
Devin Vassell (knee): OUT   

LAC - Luke Kennard (calf), Marcus Morris (ribs): Questionable 
John Wall (abdomen): OUT   

Elite Players

Guards

Darius Garland, Cavaliers ($8,600) at Rockets 

Garland is averaging 22.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.1 steals over 10 outings, and he topped 40 DK points in each of the last five games including two with more than 50. He faces a favorable matchup against the Rockets, who give up the league's sixth-most points per game to point guards, and who also face the second game of a back-to-back. 

Paul George, Clippers ($8,500) vs. Spurs 

George is averaging 19.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists in four games since returning from a five-game absence. He faces a favorable matchup against the Spurs, who give up a league-high 121.8 points per game and allow opponents to shoot an average of 39.9 percent from long range. 

Forwards/Centers

DeMar DeRozan, Bulls ($9,100) at Hornets 

DeRozan continues to fill it up, averaging 25.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.6 steals across his last 10 appearances, with a high of 64.3 DK points. He faces the second game of a back-to-back but should thrive against the Hornets, who give up the league's third-most points per game and allow opponents to shoot an average of 48.3 percent from the field. 

Kawhi Leonard, Clippers ($10,000) vs. Spurs 

Leonard seems to have found his rhythm, averaging 26.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.8 steals over his last 10 outings, including six with more than 45 DK points and a high of 60.8. He faces an advantageous matchup against the Spurs, who allow opponents to shoot a league-high 50.8 percent from the field. 

Nic Claxton, Nets ($7,600) vs. Pistons 

Claxton is coming off an impressive, 25-point, 11-rebound performance against the 76ers, and he is averaging 20.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.2 blocks across five outings. He has a good chance to keep rolling against the Pistons, who give up the league's sixth-most rebounds per game and the third-highest field-goal percentage to centers. The Pistons are also dealing with injuries in the frontcourt

Expected Chalk 

Luka Doncic, Mavericks ($12,700) at Suns 

Doncic continues to prosper, averaging 32.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.6 assists through 10 games, including six with more than 60 DK points and a high of 80. He delivered 59 DK points in his last meeting with the Suns and should excel again, as they continue to deal with injuries in the backcourt. The Suns also give up the league's seventh-most free throws per game.  

Value Picks

Alex Caruso, Bulls ($4,100) at Hornets

Caruso is averaging 8.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.0 blocks across five games, with a high of 38.3 DK points. He faces a favorable matchup against the Hornets, who give up the league's eighth-most points per game to point guards and remain shorthanded in the backcourt. 

Alec Burks, Pistons ($4,400) at Nets

Burks is coming off a quieter outing but is averaging 11.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists over the previous 10, including six games with more than 20 DK points. He should find room get his shot off from long range, as the Nets allow opponents to shoot an average of 36.7 percent from beyond the arc. 

Patrick Williams, Bulls ($4,700) at Hornets 

Williams topped 25 DK points in five of the last 10 games, while posting an average of 12.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals. He is likely to keep up the solid play against the Hornets, who give up the league's fourth-most points to power forwards. 

Grant Williams, Celtics ($4,600) vs. Knicks 

Williams is averaging 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists through 10 games, including three with at least 31 DK points. He has a good opportunity for success against the Knicks, who give up the league's sixth-most offensive rebounds per game and also remain shorthanded in the frontcourt. 

Zach Collins, Spurs ($3,700) at Clippers

Collins continues to provide a formidable effort off the bench, averaging 10.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists over 10 outings. He faces a good chance to stand out against the Clippers, who do not have much frontcourt depth and give up the league's seventh-most points per game to centers. 

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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