NBA DraftKings Picks – January 5th

Welcome Back, Everyone! Tonight’s main slate on DraftKings has a total of 4 games and the first match-up tips off at 6:00 P.M. Eastern Time. This article breaks down my favorite plays by position for tonight’s NBA action. If you haven’t signed up for WinDaily yet, click on the link below and start winning today! Good luck tonight!

-NBA Schedule-

POR @ MIA – At 6:00 P.M. Eastern Time

MIN @ CLE – At 7:30 P.M. Eastern Time

MEM @ PHO – At 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time

DET @ LAL – At 10:00 P.M. Eastern Time

Top PG Picks:

Shabazz Napier – DK: ($6,300)

• I don’t find it necessary to buy up at the PG position tonight given the solid amount of value at the position tonight. Napier has put up 37 points on DraftKings in each of his last three games. Wiggins will most likely make his return tonight, but it shouldn’t have that much effect on Napier’s production. After all, Cleveland is ranked 22nd in the NBA against opposing PG’s. If Wiggins and Teague come back tonight then I will most likely pivot down to Morant. However, if just Wiggins comes back, then I am still rolling with Napier. Look for him to have a floor of 30 fantasy points tonight.

Ja Morant – DK: ($6,200)

• Morant is another great value play at the PG position as his price is just $6,200. He is going up against Phoenix tonight for the third time this season. Morant is currently averaging 33 fantasy points per game against Phoenix. On top of that, he has recorded at least 30 fantasy points on DraftKings in four out of his last six games. The biggest exploit for Morant tonight is the fact that Phoenix is ranked 26th in the NBA against opposing PG’s. Look for Morant to have a floor of 30 fantasy points tonight.

Darius Garland – DK: ($4,600)

• Garland is my sleeper play at the PG position for tonight’s main NBA slate. He comes in at a price of just $4,600 and has recorded at least 27 points on DraftKings in three out of his last four games. Cleveland moved Jordan Clarkson a few weeks ago and that has really opened up some opportunity for Garland. In fact, over Garland’s last two games, he’s combined for 34 points, 15 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals in 69 minutes of action. Do not go all-in with this play tonight, but definitely sprinkle him in there.

Top SG Picks:

Jimmy Butler – DK: ($7,900)

• Miami has lost their last three games and it’s been pretty ugly. Miami Only put up 84 points against Toronto, then 85 points against Orlando, and lost to Washington who was missing half their team. Despite Miami’s woes over these past three games; Butler remains one of the bright spots for the team. I expect this to be a very competitive game tonight as Whiteside gets set to take on Miami for the first time since being traded by them. Butler should be able to hit value with ease in this game as Portland is 20th in the NBA against opposing SG’s. Look for Butler to have a floor of 38 fantasy points.

CJ McCollum – DK: ($7,000)

• I am going to pick McCollum tonight over Damian Lillard simply due to the salary relief it provides. McCollum has always been primarily a one-trick pony with his tremendous scoring ability. However, this season he has really stepped it up with his counting stats; particularly his rebounding and assist numbers. This game is going to be a dog -fight tonight against Miami so I expect McCollum to fill up his stat-line once again. He has recorded at least 32 points on DraftKings in eight of his last ten games. Look for him to have a floor of 35 fantasy points tonight.

Dillon Brooks – DK: ($4,900)

• Brooks normally doesn’t make my list because of how up and down he’s been this season. However, tonight he has a solid match-up against Phoenix and this will be the third time they’ve played this season. Brooks is averaging 28.9 fantasy points per game against Phoenix this season. On top of that, Brooks has dropped 11 combine 3-pointers over his last three games. His fantasy production mainly comes from scoring which can make him a hit or miss at times. I wouldn’t go all-in with this pick, as Memphis has a plethora of options at either guard position. But I would definitely consider him as a value play tonight.

Top SF Picks:

LeBron James – DK: ($11,000)

• LeBron is a solid option tonight on DraftKings considering he will be taking on Detroit. The Pistons are without Blake Griffin, Luke Kennard, Reggie Jackson, and Markieff Morris. LBJ should be able to score at ease tonight, as well as rack up a bunch of easy assists. LeBron has recorded at least 12 assists in each of his last four games now. The only potential negative with him tonight is the blow-out potential in this game. Detroit is missing four guys so if this game gets out of hand in the third quarter; you won’t see LeBron in the fourth quarter. Either way, look for LBJ to have a floor of 48 fantasy points tonight.

Kelly Oubre Jr. – DK: ($7,100)

• Oubre has been an absolute animal over the past week. In his last four games combined, Oubre put up at least 45 fantasy points on DraftKings in each outing. During that same stretch, he eclipsed the 20 point mark in each game. His defense has been stellar as well, having grabbed a whopping 11 steals over his last four. This will be his third time playing Memphis this season and over the first two games; he’s averaging 32.9 fantasy points per game. He has a very affordable price tag tonight and I will be playing him heavily.

Robert Covington – DK: ($6,300)

• Covington is another solid option at the SF position tonight on DraftKings as Minnesota tries to get healthy. Covington has recorded at least 29 points on DraftKings in each of his last five games. Obviously he’s seen this jump in production because Wiggins and Karl Anthony Towns have been out with injuries. Nevertheless, Covington will take on Cleveland tonight for the second time this year. In the first bout, Covington put up 37.8 fantasy points on DraftKings. Look for him to have a floor of 28 fantasy points tonight. If Kat and Wiggins play; definitely look elsewhere as Covington is priced too high if they return.

Top PF Picks:

Anthony Davis – DK: ($10,900)

• AD had a monstrous game against the Pelicans two nights ago where he racked up 46 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist, and 1 block in 38 minutes of action. Tonight he has another extremely exploitable match-up against the Detroit Pistons. Detroit ranks 25th in the entire NBA against opposing PF’s. On top of that, they are without Blake Griffin and Markieff Morris tonight which should make AD’s night so much easier. For his price, he needs to get you 50+ fantasy points on DraftKings to pay off.

Jaren Jackson Jr. – DK: ($6,600)

• Jaren Jackson is slowly turning into a reliable offensive weapon for Memphis as he now scored 14 or more points in nine of his last ten games. During that same ten game span, Jackson hit 28.75 points on DraftKings in nine of them. Tonight he will take on Phoenix for the third time this season. Jackson is averaging 26.4 fantasy points per game this season against them. Jackson represents a safe cash play on tonight’s slate given his reasonable price and his solid floor. Look for him to have a floor of 28 fantasy points tonight.

Derrick Jones Jr. – DK: ($3,300)

• Derrick Jones Jr. is my sleeper pick tonight at the PF position. I couldn’t believe it when I saw his price dipped down to almost bare-minimum. This is a guy that has played at least 26 minutes in each of his last 10 ten games. On top of that, Jones recorded at least 22 points on DraftKings in seven of his last ten games. His most recent game was the first full-blown clunker he’s had in quite some time. Despite Miami’s record, they have been struggling over the past few games. Either way, this is too cheap of a price tag for Derrick Jones tonight. If he hits 20+ fantasy points it’s a home-run for you.

Top C Picks:

Hassan Whiteside – DK: ($8,500)

• Whiteside went off against the Wizards two nights ago where he put up 23 points, 21 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 1 assist in 33 minutes of action. He was almost averaging 2 whole fantasy points per minute in that game while he was on the floor. Tonight Whiteside gets an awesome match-up against his former team Miami. This will be the first time Whiteside will be returning to The American Airlines Arena in Miami since being traded from last year. It wasn’t exactly the friendliest of ‘goodbyes’ either. Miami barely was utilizing him last season so I fully expect Whiteside to come into this game with a lot to prove. Look for his floor to be around 40 fantasy points tonight.

Jonas Valanciunas – DK: ($6,500)

• Valanciunas could be one of the best centers in the league from a statistical stand-point if only he could get the playing time. Don’t get me wrong, he is still extremely productive when he plays. However, Memphis is only giving him roughly 25 minutes per game this year on average. That hasn’t stopped him from putting up at least 32 points on DraftKings in eight out of his last nine games though. Tonight he will take on Phoenix for the third time this year. Phoenix currently is ranked 27th in the NBA against opposing C’s; making this a game to Valanciunas on. Look for him to have a floor of 28 fantasy points tonight.

Gorgui Dieng – DK: ($6,000)

• Dieng is my value play at the C position tonight on DraftKings. I will only play him as long as Karl Anthony Towns doesn’t make his return in this one. Dieng will be taking on Cleveland for the second time this season. In the first match-up, Dieng put up 25.8 fantasy points on DraftKings in just 23 minutes of action. On top of that, Cleveland is ranked 27th in the entire NBA against opposing C’s. Look for Dieng to have a floor of 25 fantasy points tonight.