We've got an eight-game slate for Friday. Since the Warriors game has been postponed, no teams are playing on the second leg of a back-to-back.
There are three games at 7:30 PM (ORL@BOS, NY@CLE, and DAL@MIL), two games at 8:00 PM (CHI@OKC and MEM@MIN), one game at 9:00 PM (ATL@UTA), and the late-night hammers are LAC@SAC and NO@LAL.
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 1/15/21. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Keep an eye on Rotoballer’s injury news to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Tyus Jones, PG - @ MIN ($6,200)
Ja Morant has been upgraded to questionable, so keep an eye on updates as that would nuke the value of Jones. If Morant is unable to go, then Jones will be a viable option. The price is fairly valued, so you're not getting a discount, but Jones has averaged 29 minutes per game over the past eight games. On the season, Jones is averaging 0.92 FD per minute and 24.7 FD per game. The game environment is a good one, as the Timberwolves play at the seventh-fastest pace and are 27th in defensive efficiency.
Luka Doncic, PG - @ MIL ($11,600)
The price tag is a tough one to handle, as it's a season-high, but he did get above $12k last season so it's not unchartered territory. With that said, over his last four games, Doncic has gone for 60.7, 78.3, 50, and 77.1 FD points. On the season, he's averaging a ridiculous 1.57 FD points per minute and 53.43 FD points per game. MIL plays at the sixth-fastest pace so the environment will be a good one. They are one of the better defensive teams in the NBA but Doncic has a robust usage rate of 37 and contributes in so many areas that he should be able to produce. The last time Donic played the Bucks (8/8/20), he contributed 36 points, 14 rebounds, 19 assists, and one steal in 42 minutes.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, SG - vs. CHI ($8,200)
Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off an 18.9 FD point dud against the Lakers last game but he gets one of the juiciest matchups in the league. Chicago plays at the third-fastest pace and is 29th in defensive efficiency. Zooming in closer, the Bulls boost the fantasy points per minute to point guards by 12.73%. Shai is the engine that powers the Thunder and he should bounce back in a big way here. On the season, he is averaging 1.13 FD points per minute.
Also consider: Paul George ($8,800), Tyrese Haliburton ($5,400)
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FanDuel DFS Forwards
Kawhi Leonard, SF - @ SAC ($9,600)
The Kings play at the 10th-fastest pace and are dead-last in defensive efficiency. Kawhi has posted 50 FD points in each of the last two games. On the season, he's averaging 1.29 FD points per minute and 46.2 FD points per game. He should be able to do whatever he wants in this one and this game has the highest O/U of the slate at 231.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF - vs DAL ($11,300)
The last time Giannis faced the Mavericks, he went for 34 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, and five blocks in 33 minutes. If Luka does his thing and keeps this game close, then Giannis could beast. He's coming off a triple-double against the Pistons and is averaging 1.62 FD points per minute. Giannis has gone for over 50 FD points in seven games this season, with two of those over 60.
Brandon Clarke, PF - @ MIN ($5,600)
After getting off to a slow start this season, Clarke has found his groove, going for over 40 FD points in two of the past three games. He's playing over 32 minutes a game, scoring points, grabbing rebounds, and racking up steals and blocks. The field goal attempts have ballooned to 16.7, four over his average of 12.2, and he's converting 50% of his looks. On the season, Clarke is averaging 0.93 FD points per minute and 26.75 FD points per game.
Also consider: Aleksej Pokusevski ($4,000) and Anthony Davis ($9,800)
FanDuel DFS Centers
Jonas Valanciunas, C - @ MIN ($7,000)
The Timberwolves play at the seventh-fastest pace and are 27th in defensive efficiency. Against centers, in particular, they boost the fantasy points per minute by a whopping 20.46%. These two teams just played on Wednesday and, what do you know? Valanciunas posted a season-high 49.7 FD points by contributing 24 points, 16 rebounds, one assist, and two blocks.
Also consider: Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,800), Nikola Vucevic ($9,400)