After an exciting 12-game slate yesterday featuring a game-winning floater by Amen Thompson, a double-overtime thriller in South Florida, and the Phoenix Suns nearly blowing a late double-digit lead to the LA Clippers, the NBA returns to a more modest four-game slate for tonight.
Below, I’m going to break down everything you need to know for tonight’s featured slate on DraftKings, with injury news, statistics, and DFS advice so you can fill out the best possible lineup for tonight’s contest.
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Key Injury News
PROBABLE: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura
QUESTIONABLE: Trae Young, Deandre Ayton
OUT: Paul George
Click here for the slate’s full injury report.
Matchup Analysis
Best Defensive Rating
- Houston Rockets at ATL (108.6)
- Milwaukee Bucks at POR (110.8)
- Golden State Warriors vs. UTA (111.8)
Worst Defensive Rating
- Utah Jazz at GSW (118.1)
- Portland Trail Blazers vs. MIL (116.1)
- Los Angeles Lakers at PHI (114.5)
Fastest Pace
- Atlanta Hawks vs. HOU (104.2)
- Milwaukee Bucks at POR (100.1)
- Utah Jazz at GSW (100.0)
Slowest Pace
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. LAL (97.2)
- Los Angeles Lakers at PHI (98.1)
- Houston Rockets at ATL (99.1)
Highest Game Total
- Utah Jazz at Golden State Warriors (229.5)
- Milwaukee Bucks at Portland Trail Blazers (229)
- Houston Rockets at Atlanta Hawks (227)
Top DFS Pick
PG Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz, $8,800 – It’s no secret that Curry has struggled as of late, scoring fewer than 20 points in three of his last four games and shooting just 38.1% from the field and 32.4% from beyond the arc across that span. Father Time has finally caught up with the 36-year-old, who’s posting his worst Value over Replacement Player figure since his rookie season — discounting two campaigns that he lost to injury. By fantasy points per game, he’s been just the NBA’s 10th-best point guard this season.
It’s also no secret that the Jazz have struggled the entire season, although they’re finally getting healthier after losing their entire starting five to injury. Utah has allowed the third-most points, fifth-most assists, most steals, and most blocks to opposing players while forcing the fewest turnovers. The one place the Jazz do excel is at controlling the glass, and while Curry is a good rebounder for his six-foot-two frame, that’s never been a major part of his game.
Unsurprisingly, Utah allows the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards, so it seems like the perfect opportunity for Curry to bounce back, especially since the game is at Chase Center, where Curry averages 2.2 more points and shoots 6.9 percentage points better from deep.
Top Value Pick
PG/SG Shake Milton, Los Angeles Lakers at Philadelphia 76ers, $3,000 – With just four games on the docket, there really aren’t a ton of great value options on tonight’s slate, but Milton might be worth taking a flier on with Vincent out and the Lakers on the second night of a back-to-back. He has played sparingly since a December 29 trade brought him over from Brooklyn, and he somehow hasn’t yet scored more than six points with Los Angeles just four years after earning Sixth Man of the Year votes with the 76ers. Head coach JJ Redick clearly hasn’t had the confidence to give him real rotational minutes.
However, Vincent’s injury opens up an opportunity for Milton to earn more minutes. Vincent has missed five games since Milton joined the team, and he has played more than 10 minutes in four of them, and although he hasn’t been massively productive, he did have a two-point, four-rebound, four-assist, one-block (14.5-FPT) performance against the Atlanta Hawks on January 3. Obviously, the Lakers are a deeper team than the Nets, but Milton is the same guy who scored 42.25 FPTS in his final game with Brooklyn — there’s a good player in there somewhere.
Playing its third game in four nights, Los Angeles is likely to play it cautious with its core playmakers, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, so if there’s ever an opportunity for Milton to make an impact on in a Lakers uniform, it’s tonight.
