On a day with Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Devin Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the NBA DFS player pool, could Domantas Sabonis be the top choice on a superstar-filled evening that daily Fantasy basketball players most want to fit into NBA DFS lineups? There are only three games on Tuesday’s NBA schedule, but many of the best players are featured and need to be considered when forming your NBA DFS strategy. Sabonis is coming off his fifth triple-double over his last nine contests after posting 21 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists in a Sunday loss to the Bucks, and he only missed one shot the entire evening.
The Kings play the Suns on Tuesday, so should daily Fantasy basketball players prioritize fitting Sabonis into NBA DFS picks even on a day with the reigning NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP in action? Who are some values from the NBA DFS player pool to complement these elite options when making NBA DFS lineups? Before making your NBA DFS picks, be sure to check out the NBA DFS advice, player rankings, stacks, and top daily Fantasy basketball picks from SportsLine’s Mike McClure.
McClure is a DFS professional with more than $2 million in career winnings. He’s also a predictive data engineer at SportsLine who uses a powerful prediction model that simulates every minute of every game 10,000 times, taking factors like matchups, statistical trends and injuries into account.
This allows him to find the best NBA DFS values and create optimal lineups that he shares only over at SportsLine. They’re a must-see for any NBA DFS player.
On Monday, McClure highlighted Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell as one of his top picks in his NBA DFS player pool on both sites. The result: Mitchell had 34 points, three rebounds, seven assists and two steals, returning 53.25 points on DraftKings and 52.1 points on FanDuel. Anybody who included him in their lineups was well on the way to a profitable day.
McClure has turned his attention to NBA action on Tuesday and locked in his top daily Fantasy basketball picks. You can only see them by heading to SportsLine.
Top NBA DFS picks for Tuesday, January 16
For Tuesday, one of McClure’s top NBA DFS picks is Clippers guard James Harden, who is listed at $8,100 on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Harden, who led the NBA in assists per game last season, is showcasing his elite playmaking abilities yet again this year, averaging 10.4 assists over his last nine contests. It took some time for him to get familiarized with Clippers superstars like Leonard and George, which is why his season total for assists per game sits at 8.4, but that number continues to rise as Harden ranks sixth in the NBA in assists.
The Clippers play the Thunder, who are coming off surrendering 30 assists in a 112-105 loss to the Lakers on Monday. Harden’s had great success against Oklahoma City, one of his former teams, throughout his NBA career. The 10-time All-Star averages 27.5 points, 7.9 assists and 6.4 rebounds over 33 career games against the Thunder. The Clippers have scored at least 125 points in three of their last four games, and Harden is a huge piece of that offensive success.
Another part of McClure’s optimal NBA DFS strategy includes stacking Harden with point guard Russell Westbrook ($5,900 on DraftKings and $6,900 on FanDuel). Westbrook had 13 assists, tied for a season-high, with 12 points, eight rebounds and two steals in a 109-105 loss to the Timberwolves on Sunday. The Clippers went with many smaller lineups with Ivica Zubac (calf) out, and the center is out again on Tuesday against the Thunder, which could mean more minutes and another increased role for Westbrook.
The nine-time All-Star spent the first 11 years of his career with the Thunder. Westbrook is averaging 22.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.3 assists over 12 contests against his long-time former home, including having 15 points and 13 rebounds against OKC on December 21. Westbrook comes at a much lower price tag at this stage of his career without as many scoring or assisting opportunities in Los Angeles as in previous stops of his career. However, he could play a larger role on Tuesday and serve as a value for NBA DFS lineups. See McClure’s other NBA DFS picks right here.
How to set your NBA DFS lineups for Tuesday, January 16
McClure is also targeting a player who could go off for massive numbers on Tuesday because of a dream matchup. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.