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FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Saturday 1/13/24

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FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Saturday 1/13/24

Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. numberFire's projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news. numberFire also has player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

In addition to daily projections, numberFire also offers a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

Team
Opp
O/U
Spread
Implied Total
Injuries
HOUBOS22815.5106.25Eason OUT / Brooks available
MEMNY222.58107.25Morant, Rose, Smart, Bane OUT / Jackson Jr. doubtful
ORLOKC231.511110.25Fultz, Ingles, Carter Jr., Harris, Wagner OUT
SACHI226.55.5110.5Wembanyama, Collins OUT
NODAL2312.5114.25Williamson OUT / Murphy, McCollum, Ingram questionable
NYMEM222.5-8115.25Brunson questionable
CHISA226.5-5.5116

Guards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,200): Despite a tough matchup versus an Orlando Magic team ranked ninth in FanDuel points (47.9) allowed per game to his position, Gilgeous-Alexander is second overall with a 53.0-point fantasy projection at his lowest salary in January. In 198 minutes this month, the 25-year old is averaging 1.57 FanDuel points per minute and has amassed a 32.1% usage rate.

Kyrie Irving ($10,300): After three straight games scoring at least 60.6 FanDuel points, Irving is fifth overall with a 47.8-point fantasy projection at his highest salary this season. In 208 minutes with today's current inactives, Irving is producing a robust 1.33 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.2% usage rate.

Trae Young ($10,100): At his second lowest salary this month, Young is third overall with a 50.0 fantasy projection in a great spot against a Washington Wizards unit allowing the second most FanDuel points (53.8) per game to point guards. In three prior meetings, Young has crushed in this matchup, accounting for 29.7 real-life points and 54.6 FanDuel points per game.

Jalen Brunson ($9,100): If Brunson is able to play after he was listed as questionable, New York's star is sixth among guards with a 41.9 fantasy projection at his highest salary point in January.

Damian Lillard ($8,800): In an underrated matchup versus a Golden State Warriors' defense ranked 25th in FanDuel points (51.4) allowed per game to his position, Lillard is fifth among his position with a 42.0 fantasy projection.

Dejounte Murray ($8,200): In 598 minutes with today's inactives, Murray is averaging 1.07 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.4% usage rate.

Zach LaVine ($7,700): Since his return on January 5th, LaVine has produced 1.10 FanDuel points per minute and a 21.7% usage rate while his salary has increased by 1.7%.

Devin Vassell ($7,000): After Victor Wembanyama was ruled out, Vassell's production increases to 1.27 FanDuel point per minute and a 26.1% usage rate with today's inactives.

Tyus Jones ($6,500): Even at his second highest salary this month, Jones is seventh among guards in value with a 4.93 rating and a 32.1 fantasy projection.

Klay Thompson ($6,100): With Stephen Curry now inactive for rest reasons, Thompson is on track to play in a lead offensive role, recording 1.25 FanDuel points per minute and a team-high 28.8% usage rate with today's other inactives.

Tim Hardaway Jr. ($6,000): In 213 minutes with today's expected rotation, the veteran sees a boost to 1.12 FanDuel points per minute and a 30.1% usage rate.

Tre Jones ($5,900): After producing 0.96 FanDuel points per minute with Saturday's current injuries, the 24-year old is third among guards in value with a 5.13 rating and a 30.2 fantasy projection.

Luke Kennard ($4,800) / Jacob Gilyard ($3,600): With Desmond Bane inactive, Kennard rates as a viable mid-salary option after he averaged 0.62 FanDuel points per minute and a 29.4% usage rate with today's rotation while Gilyard is averaging 0.85 FanDuel points per minute and a 13.8% usage rate.

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,000): After a 2.4% salary drop to his lowest point this month, the Bucks' superstar is ninth among forwards in value with a 4.95 rating and first overall with a 59.4 fantasy projection.

Jayson Tatum ($10,200): At his second lowest salary after a poor 11.7 fantasy point performance in his last appearance, Tatum is fourth overall with a 48.6 fantasy projection versus a Houston Rockets' team allowing 45.6 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Paolo Banchero ($9,300): In 186 minutes with Orlando's injuries, the 21-year old is producing 1.25 FanDuel points per minute and a team-high 36.3% usage rate.

Julius Randle ($9,000): After producing 1.26 FanDuel points per minute with Saturday's rotation, Randle is second among forwards in value with a 5.21 rating and a 46.9 fantasy projection.

Jaylen Brown ($8,400): At his lowest salary this month, Brown is 11th among forwards in value with a 4.95 rating and a 41.6 fantasy projection.

DeMar DeRozan ($8,000): Ranking sixth among his positions in value with a 5.03 rating and a 40.2 fantasy projection, DeRozan is great play in all formats in a revenge matchup versus a San Antonio Spurs' unit ranked 25th in defensive rating.

Jalen Johnson ($7,800): Since December 26th, Atlanta's emerging young star ranks second among his team in fantasy production (1.16 FanDuel points per minute) while his salary has moved up by 39.2%.

Keldon Johnson ($6,700): Even in a potential bench role, Johnson has provided underrated production with today's rotation, recording 1.10 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.0% usage rate.

Saddiq Bey ($5,800): In 824 minutes with Atlanta's injuries, Bey is producing 0.80 FanDuel points per minute and a 15.7% usage rate.

Dario Saric ($4,800): The Warriors' forward is first among his positions in value with a 5.22 rating and a 25.1 fantasy production after recording 1.15 FanDuel points per minute with today's inactives.

Andrew Wiggins ($4,600): With five key players out of today's rotation, Wiggins is eighth among forwards in value with a 4.99 rating and a 23.0 fantasy projection.

Centers

Alperen Sengun ($9,200): After producing 1.19 FanDuel points per minute and a 30.4% usage rate with Houston's expected rotation, Sengun leads all centers with a 43.7 fantasy projection at second highest salary in January.

Nikola Vucevic ($8,100): In a favorable spot versus a San Antonio unit ranked 23rd in FanDuel points (56.2) allowed per game to centers, Vucevic is fourth among his position with a 38.5 fantasy projection.


Interested in playing NBA daily fantasy? FanDuel has plenty of contest options to make every moment more. Be sure to check out the NBA betting options, as well.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.

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