While most of the sports world will be focused on the NFL games on Sunday, the NBA also has a great slate lined up for fantasy basketball. DraftKings’ main slate includes six games tipping off at 6:00 p.m. ET or later. Four of those games tip right at 6:00 p.m. ET with the Nets-Jazz and Hornets-Suns serving as the late-night hammers. There are 12 teams to consider as you build your lineup for DraftKings contests, headlined by the NBA $100K Fadeaway [$25K to 1st] which offers a $25,000 top prize for just a $15 entry. Of those 12 teams, there are a few options that stand out as top DFS stacks for this Sunday, January 12.
Make sure to keep a close eye on today’s injury report for the latest news as we approach tip-off. With the information available going into the afternoon, here are my top three DFS stacks to target:
Oklahoma City Thunder at Washington Wizards
The Thunder had won 15 straight regular season games (not counting the NBA Cup Final) before going down to the Cavs earlier this week. They bounced back with a 25-point win over the Knicks on Friday, and come into this stop in Washington with an impressive 31-6 record to lead the Western Conference. Washington is at the other extreme of the Eastern Conference at just 6-30. The Wizards have allowed an NBA-high 122.3 points per game, and have been an especially favorable matchup for poing guards
Core Plays: The Thunder offense is centered around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,700), who continues to post up dominant numbers. On Friday, he only needed 29 minutes to score 39 points and 51.25 fantasy points. He has at least 30 points and at least 50 fantasy points in four straight and six of his last seven. As he showed on Friday, even in a blowout, he can post monster numbers. SGA’s top running mate is Jalen Williams ($8,400) while Isaiah Hartenstein ($7,200) has also provided multi-category production at a high level since returning from his injury.
Value Options: With Alex Caruso (hip) missing a 10th straight game, the rest of the Thunder’s rotation is where the real value should come from against the Wizards. If the Thunder open up a big lead early, options like Cason Wallace ($3,700), Isaiah Joe ($3,600) and Aaron Wiggins ($3,200) could all be elite bargain values while picking up more work in the blowout. Joe had 31 points and 38.75 fantasy points on Friday, giving him over 25+ fantasy points in back-to-back games. Wiggins has played 20+ minutes in five straight games with at least 15 fantasy points in each of those contests and a high mark of 34.25 fantasy points. Wallace, Wiggins and Joe are cheap enough to be stacked next to SGA and Hartenstein as a great place to start your Sunday night lineups.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers
Even in their exceptional matchup, the Thunder don’t have the highest implied team total on the board for Sunday night. That distinction goes to the Cavs in their home game against the Pacers. Both teams in this matchup rank in the top seven in the NBA in pace, so there should be plenty of chances for both teams to pile up points. This is the first half of a home-and-home between the Central Division rivals, who have not met yet this season.
Core Plays: Donovan Mitchell ($8,600) got Thursday’s game off against the Raptors, and Darius Garland ($7,500) went off for 40 points and 60.5 fantasy points in 36 minutes. Both guards are expected to be available for this matchup, which means there could actually be better value in the front court from Evan Mobley ($8,400) and Jarrett Allen ($6,600). Allen has posted three straight double-doubles and usually produced good non-scoring numbers. He has at least 40 fantasy points in four of his last five games.
Value Options: The Cavs are likely to be without Ty Jerome ($3,600; illness), who is doubtful. Caris LeVert ($4,800) should get more work as a result after a strong showing on Thursday with 32.75 fantasy points in 36 minutes while filling in for Spida. Another great value to consider is Max Strus ($3,900), who has only played nine games this year for the Cavs but has been ramping into a larger role. He is averaging 23 minutes per game on the year but has played over 25 minutes in four of his last five. The veteran wing scored 17 points and 29.25 fantasy points against the Thunder on Wednesday and followed that up with 12 points and 22 fantasy points on Thursday. He has 20+ fantasy points in five straight, and he’s a great play under $4,000 in what should be a favorable matchup.
Brooklyn Nets at Utah Jazz
I would not have believed you if you had told me when I started writing DFS stacks that the Nets would be a team I’ve highlighted multiple times, but here we are. While the Nets haven’t been scoring a ton of points as a team, they have been bringing a ton of cheap value. Cameron Johnson (ankle), Cam Thomas (hamstring) and D’Angelo Russell (leg) will all remain out, leaving lots of work for the rest of the roster.
Core Plays: Nic Claxton ($6,200) and Ben Simmons ($5,800) are the most expensive plays, but they haven’t brought as much upside as Keon Johnson ($5,600) and Noah Clowney ($5,100). Johnson had 22 points and 38 fantasy points in Friday’s loss to Denver and has 30+ fantasy points in three of his last four games. He should be able to keep rolling against the Jazz, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards. Clowney has been less consistent but showed a high ceiling with 47 fantasy points against Detroit on Wednesday.
Value Options: The Nets have a plethora of strong value plays, starting with Ziaire Williams ($4,900), who has at least 10 points ad at least 22+ fantasy points in four straight games. Even cheaper, Day’Ron Sharpe ($4,300) had a huge double-double with 41.25 fantasy points on Monday before missing Wednesday’s game with illness. He can be boom-or-bust at times, but he brings good potential. If you’re shopping even cheaper, Tosan Evbuomwan ($3,300) has been playing 20+ minutes since signing his two-way deal on New Years Day. He has at least 18 fantasy points in each of his last three games and brings good value for barely more than the minimum salary.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is z.thompson) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
