NBA DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups, Injuries & More Today: Thursday Playbook
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Published: Jan 30, 2025
Happy Thursday, January 30th! We have a five-game main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel this evening. The injury to Anthony Davis headlines the slate, and LeBron James is also listed questionable. Let’s dive into the top plays and strategies for tonight’s action!
Make sure to check our Discord out and tune into the live show at 5 p.m. ET!
Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.
- News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
- Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
- Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
- NBA DFS Projections
- Lineup Generator
- NBA Ownership
NBA DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, January 30th
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Pre-Lock Update
This section will be used for anything that changes from the morning until right up to roster lock.
Injury updates, players we’re higher on than we were in the morning and so much more.
UPDATE 5:40 ET
- Dorian Finney-Smith OUT
- Gabe Vincent - OUT
- Rui Hachimura and Max Christie each have a chance to play 30+ minutes
- Dalton Knecht is an interesting option off the bench
UPDATE 6:25 ET
- Sam Merrill - Available
- Ja Morant - Doubtful
- Luke Kennard is a strong value option if Ja sits
- Desmond Bane (+1.2% USG, +3.1% AST) and Jaren Jackson (+4.2% USG, +3.2% AST) get big boosts with Morant/Smart off the floor
NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 1/30
- Anthony Davis - OUT
- LeBron James - Q
- Dorian Finney-Smith - OUT
- Gabe Vincent - OUT
- Alex Sarr - OUT
- Jalen Johnson - OUT
- Clint Capela - OUT
- Bogdan Bogdanovic - OUT
- Caris LeVert - OUT
- Sam Merrill - A
- Dean Wade - OUT
- Donte DiVincenzo - OUT
- Mike Conley - Q
- Johnny Juzang - OUT
- Cody Williams - OUT
- Alperen Sengun - Q
- Steven Adams - Q
- Ja Morant - D
- Jalen Suggs - Q
- Jerami Grant - Q
NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews
In the section below, I’m listing the most notable things we need to look at in Las Vegas, including notable O/U and spreads. Not every game is listed, but every game listed has the pace and defensive numbers listed.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Washington Wizards
- LAL -8.5
- Total: 223.5
Atlanta Hawks vs Cleveland Cavaliers
- CLE -10
- Total: 240
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Utah Jazz
- MIN -5.5
- Total: 224.5
Houston Rockets vs Memphis Grizzlies
- MEM -5
- Total: 236.5
Orlando Magic vs Portland Trail Blazers
- ORL -5.5
- Total: 212.5
NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks
Here are the core players I’m looking at for my NBA DFS picks tonight. You can see the full analysis of tonight’s NBA DFS projections and player pool below or skip ahead to building the best lineups possible by locking these into the aforementioned lineup generator now.
High
- LeBron James (if active), Anthony Edwards, Alperen Sengun (if active)
Mid
- Austin Reaves, Amen Thompson, Jaren Jackson, Desmond Bane, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Kyle Kuzma, Jonas Valanciunas, Rudy Gobert
Value
- Rui Hachimura, Max Christie, Max Strus, Ty Jerome, Mike Conley (if active), Luke Kennard, Nickeil Alexander-Walker
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Pos (Click to sort ascending) | Player (Click to sort ascending) | Matchup (Click to sort ascending) | DK (Click to sort ascending) | DK Pts (Click to sort ascending) | FD (Click to sort ascending) | FD Pts (Click to sort ascending) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PG | Donovan Mitchell | ATL @ CLE Thu 7:00 | 8400 | 43.6 | 8700 | 42.2 |
Darius Garland is expected to return to the lineup, but Spida gets a good matchup against the Hawks. Both of these teams rank top-eight in pace, so we get a great game environment here. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
PG | Austin Reaves | LAL @ WAS Thu 7:00 | 8500 | 34.6 | 7800 | 33.1 |
Anthony Davis has been ruled out and LeBron James is questionable. Reaves has posted a very healthy 27% usage rate with Davis off the floor this season, so he is a good value regardless of LeBron's status. The matchup is elite against Washington. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
PG | Darius Garland | ATL @ CLE Thu 7:00 | 7600 | 40.2 | 7600 | 38.6 |
Garland sat on the front end of this back-to-back, so he should be well rested for this up-tempo matchup with the Hawks. Cleveland has the highest implied team total on the slate. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
PG | Jordan Poole | LAL @ WAS Thu 7:00 | 6900 | 37.3 | 7600 | 35.7 |
Poole is coming off a disaster of a game where he shot just 1-of-9 from the field. This is a great bounce-back spot against a poor Lakers defense that will be sans Anthony Davis tonight. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
PG | Ty Jerome | ATL @ CLE Thu 7:00 | 4400 | 28.3 | 5100 | 28.1 |
Jerome played 29 minutes last night with Darius Garland resting. Garland will be back tonight, but the Cavs are still without Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade and potentially Sam Merrill. Jerome should have a solid role as the Cavs 6th man. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
PG | Mike Conley | MIN @ UTA Thu 9:00 | 4300 | 23.7 | 4900 | 23.6 |
Conley has played 30+ minutes in two straight games with Donte DiVincenzo out. He gets an elite matchup against the Jazz, who own the second-worst defensive rating in the league. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
SG | Anthony Edwards | MIN @ UTA Thu 9:00 | 9500 | 47.1 | 9200 | 44.9 |
Edwards has accessed his ceiling much more frequently of late, with five games over 50 FP this month. He posted 33-7-5 last time out and gets an elite matchup against the Jazz tonight. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
SG | Desmond Bane | HOU @ MEM Thu 9:30 | 7700 | 37 | 7500 | 35.9 |
Ja Morant is listed questionable on the injury report, so that is certainly something to monitor. If Ja plays, Bane is GPP only option in a tough matchup. If Ja sits, Bane becomes much more of a priority. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
SG | Jalen Green | HOU @ MEM Thu 9:30 | 7400 | 35.5 | 7100 | 33.8 |
Green has been cooled off by some tough matchups against Boston and Cleveland lately, but he still has big upside when things are going well. He gets an up-tempo matchup against the fastest team in the league. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
SG | Max Christie | 4600 | 0 | 4200 | 0 | |
Max Christie has seen a usage bump of over 5% with Anthony Davis off the floor this season. Christie has averaged over 30 minutes per game in 22 contests since being inserted into the starting lineup. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
SG | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | MIN @ UTA Thu 9:00 | 3400 | 18.6 | 4000 | 18.2 |
Near minimum salary and an elite matchup against the Jazz. NAW played over 35 minutes last game with DiVincenzo and Reid out of the lineup. NAW should have a solid role again tonight with DiVincenzo out again. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
SF | Amen Thompson | HOU @ MEM Thu 9:30 | 8300 | 41.2 | 8600 | 40.7 |
Thompson has been filling up the stat sheet for over a month now. He has averaged 38.6 minutes per game since the injury to Jabari Smith. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
SF | Franz Wagner | ORL @ POR Thu 10:00 | 7800 | 40.4 | 8000 | 40.2 |
Franz looks to be fully back from the injury as he played just shy of 40 minutes last game. He gets an elite matchup against a terrible Portland defense tonight. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
SF | Deni Avdija | ORL @ POR Thu 10:00 | 7300 | 38 | 7700 | 37.7 |
Avdija has averaged over 34 minutes per game since his return to the starting lineup. Jerami Grant is also questionable tonight, and his absence could further cement Avdija's chances of seeing huge minutes. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
SF | Rui Hachimura | LAL @ WAS Thu 7:00 | 4900 | 25.4 | 5600 | 25.6 |
No Anthony Davis and an elite matchup against Washington make Rui an intriguing salary saver. He becomes a priority if LeBron (questionable) also sits. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
SF | Max Strus | ATL @ CLE Thu 7:00 | 4500 | 25 | 5200 | 24 |
The minutes restriction has been fully removed as Strus has logged over 33 minutes in two of his last three games. Garland's return probably lands him more in the upper-20s range tonight, but Strus gets a good matchup against the up-tempo Hawks. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
PF | LeBron James | LAL @ WAS Thu 7:00 | 10500 | 53.1 | 10100 | 50.7 |
With Anthony Davis ruled out, LeBron is the top option on the slate if he is able to play (currently questionable). He gets the best possible matchup against a Washington team that has allowed the most points in the league. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
PF | Paolo Banchero | ORL @ POR Thu 10:00 | 8600 | 46.9 | 8500 | 45.7 |
Paolo logged over 44 minutes last game in a tough overtime loss to the Heat. The Magic are as healthy as they have been in quite some time, but Paolo has an elite ceiling in this great matchup. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
PF | Jaren Jackson | HOU @ MEM Thu 9:30 | 7800 | 42.6 | 8400 | 43.8 |
Ja Morant is listed questionable on the injury report, so that is certainly something to monitor. If Ja plays, Jackson is GPP only option in a tough matchup. If Ja sits, JJJ becomes much more of a priority. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
PF | Evan Mobley | ATL @ CLE Thu 7:00 | 7700 | 41.2 | 8200 | 42 |
Our guy Grande expertly pointed out Mobley's potential upside last night. Garland will return tonight, but Mobley gets an excellent matchup against the Hawks. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
PF | Julius Randle | MIN @ UTA Thu 9:00 | 7500 | 38.8 | 7400 | 37 |
Randle posted a monster 28-7-6 line last time out against the Suns. He gets another elite matchup against the Jazz tonight. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
PF | Kyle Kuzma | 6400 | 0 | 6500 | 0 | |
Kuzma has been wildly inconsistent this season, but he did pop for a 50+ FP performance just last week. He gets an excellent matchup against the Anthony Davis-less Lakers tonight. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
C | Alperen Şengün | HOU @ MEM Thu 9:30 | 9000 | 47.1 | 8800 | 46 |
Sengun is questionable to play tonight, but he is an upside GPP option if he is able to go. The Grizzlies play at the fastest pace in the league, so there should be a few extra possessions on tap for Sengun and the Rockets. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
C | Jarrett Allen | ATL @ CLE Thu 7:00 | 6500 | 35.8 | 7300 | 35.1 |
The Hawks are lacking size behind Onyeka Okongwu with Clint Capela and Jalen Johnson ruled out. Allen has lacked consistency this season, but the upside is absolutely still there. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
C | Onyeka Okongwu | ATL @ CLE Thu 7:00 | 6900 | 31.6 | 6900 | 32.1 |
Brutal matchup against the Cavs, but Okongwu has a good chance to see 30 minutes of action with Capela ruled out. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
C | Rudy Gobert | MIN @ UTA Thu 9:00 | 5600 | 28.3 | 6400 | 29 |
Naz Reid is expected to return, but Gobert should still be in line for 30+ minutes if the game stays close. Gobert returns to where his career began for an elite matchup with the Jazz. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
C | Jonas Valančiūnas | 5700 | 0 | 5900 | 0 | |
JoVal was a bit of a disappointment last night in a starting role with Alex Sarr out. He gets a shot at redemption tonight against a bad Lakers defense that will be without Anthony Davis. Game Type: CASH & GPP |
Donovan Mitchell, PG | 8400 , 43.6 | 43.6 | 8700 , 42.2 | 42.2 | ||
Darius Garland is expected to return to the lineup, but Spida gets a good matchup against the Hawks. Both of these teams rank top-eight in pace, so we get a great game environment here. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Austin Reaves, PG | 8500 , 34.6 | 34.6 | 7800 , 33.1 | 33.1 | ||
Anthony Davis has been ruled out and LeBron James is questionable. Reaves has posted a very healthy 27% usage rate with Davis off the floor this season, so he is a good value regardless of LeBron's status. The matchup is elite against Washington. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
Darius Garland, PG | 7600 , 40.2 | 40.2 | 7600 , 38.6 | 38.6 | ||
Garland sat on the front end of this back-to-back, so he should be well rested for this up-tempo matchup with the Hawks. Cleveland has the highest implied team total on the slate. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Jordan Poole, PG | 6900 , 37.3 | 37.3 | 7600 , 35.7 | 35.7 | ||
Poole is coming off a disaster of a game where he shot just 1-of-9 from the field. This is a great bounce-back spot against a poor Lakers defense that will be sans Anthony Davis tonight. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Ty Jerome, PG | 4400 , 28.3 | 28.3 | 5100 , 28.1 | 28.1 | ||
Jerome played 29 minutes last night with Darius Garland resting. Garland will be back tonight, but the Cavs are still without Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade and potentially Sam Merrill. Jerome should have a solid role as the Cavs 6th man. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
Mike Conley, PG | 4300 , 23.7 | 23.7 | 4900 , 23.6 | 23.6 | ||
Conley has played 30+ minutes in two straight games with Donte DiVincenzo out. He gets an elite matchup against the Jazz, who own the second-worst defensive rating in the league. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
Anthony Edwards, SG | 9500 , 47.1 | 47.1 | 9200 , 44.9 | 44.9 | ||
Edwards has accessed his ceiling much more frequently of late, with five games over 50 FP this month. He posted 33-7-5 last time out and gets an elite matchup against the Jazz tonight. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
Desmond Bane, SG | 7700 , 37 | 37 | 7500 , 35.9 | 35.9 | ||
Ja Morant is listed questionable on the injury report, so that is certainly something to monitor. If Ja plays, Bane is GPP only option in a tough matchup. If Ja sits, Bane becomes much more of a priority. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Jalen Green, SG | 7400 , 35.5 | 35.5 | 7100 , 33.8 | 33.8 | ||
Green has been cooled off by some tough matchups against Boston and Cleveland lately, but he still has big upside when things are going well. He gets an up-tempo matchup against the fastest team in the league. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Max Christie, SG | 4600 , 0 | 0 | 4200 , 0 | 0 | ||
Max Christie has seen a usage bump of over 5% with Anthony Davis off the floor this season. Christie has averaged over 30 minutes per game in 22 contests since being inserted into the starting lineup. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
3400 , 18.6 | 18.6 | 4000 , 18.2 | 18.2 | |||
Near minimum salary and an elite matchup against the Jazz. NAW played over 35 minutes last game with DiVincenzo and Reid out of the lineup. NAW should have a solid role again tonight with DiVincenzo out again. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
Amen Thompson, SF | 8300 , 41.2 | 41.2 | 8600 , 40.7 | 40.7 | ||
Thompson has been filling up the stat sheet for over a month now. He has averaged 38.6 minutes per game since the injury to Jabari Smith. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
Franz Wagner, SF | 7800 , 40.4 | 40.4 | 8000 , 40.2 | 40.2 | ||
Franz looks to be fully back from the injury as he played just shy of 40 minutes last game. He gets an elite matchup against a terrible Portland defense tonight. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Deni Avdija, SF | 7300 , 38 | 38 | 7700 , 37.7 | 37.7 | ||
Avdija has averaged over 34 minutes per game since his return to the starting lineup. Jerami Grant is also questionable tonight, and his absence could further cement Avdija's chances of seeing huge minutes. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Rui Hachimura, SF | 4900 , 25.4 | 25.4 | 5600 , 25.6 | 25.6 | ||
No Anthony Davis and an elite matchup against Washington make Rui an intriguing salary saver. He becomes a priority if LeBron (questionable) also sits. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
Max Strus, SF | 4500 , 25 | 25 | 5200 , 24 | 24 | ||
The minutes restriction has been fully removed as Strus has logged over 33 minutes in two of his last three games. Garland's return probably lands him more in the upper-20s range tonight, but Strus gets a good matchup against the up-tempo Hawks. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
LeBron James, PF | 10500 , 53.1 | 53.1 | 10100 , 50.7 | 50.7 | ||
With Anthony Davis ruled out, LeBron is the top option on the slate if he is able to play (currently questionable). He gets the best possible matchup against a Washington team that has allowed the most points in the league. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
Paolo Banchero, PF | 8600 , 46.9 | 46.9 | 8500 , 45.7 | 45.7 | ||
Paolo logged over 44 minutes last game in a tough overtime loss to the Heat. The Magic are as healthy as they have been in quite some time, but Paolo has an elite ceiling in this great matchup. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Jaren Jackson, PF | 7800 , 42.6 | 42.6 | 8400 , 43.8 | 43.8 | ||
Ja Morant is listed questionable on the injury report, so that is certainly something to monitor. If Ja plays, Jackson is GPP only option in a tough matchup. If Ja sits, JJJ becomes much more of a priority. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Evan Mobley, PF | 7700 , 41.2 | 41.2 | 8200 , 42 | 42 | ||
Our guy Grande expertly pointed out Mobley's potential upside last night. Garland will return tonight, but Mobley gets an excellent matchup against the Hawks. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Julius Randle, PF | 7500 , 38.8 | 38.8 | 7400 , 37 | 37 | ||
Randle posted a monster 28-7-6 line last time out against the Suns. He gets another elite matchup against the Jazz tonight. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Kyle Kuzma, PF | 6400 , 0 | 0 | 6500 , 0 | 0 | ||
Kuzma has been wildly inconsistent this season, but he did pop for a 50+ FP performance just last week. He gets an excellent matchup against the Anthony Davis-less Lakers tonight. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
9000 , 47.1 | 47.1 | 8800 , 46 | 46 | |||
Sengun is questionable to play tonight, but he is an upside GPP option if he is able to go. The Grizzlies play at the fastest pace in the league, so there should be a few extra possessions on tap for Sengun and the Rockets. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
6500 , 35.8 | 35.8 | 7300 , 35.1 | 35.1 | |||
The Hawks are lacking size behind Onyeka Okongwu with Clint Capela and Jalen Johnson ruled out. Allen has lacked consistency this season, but the upside is absolutely still there. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
6900 , 31.6 | 31.6 | 6900 , 32.1 | 32.1 | |||
Brutal matchup against the Cavs, but Okongwu has a good chance to see 30 minutes of action with Capela ruled out. Game Type: GPP | ||||||
Rudy Gobert, C | 5600 , 28.3 | 28.3 | 6400 , 29 | 29 | ||
Naz Reid is expected to return, but Gobert should still be in line for 30+ minutes if the game stays close. Gobert returns to where his career began for an elite matchup with the Jazz. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||||
5700 , 0 | 0 | 5900 , 0 | 0 | |||
JoVal was a bit of a disappointment last night in a starting role with Alex Sarr out. He gets a shot at redemption tonight against a bad Lakers defense that will be without Anthony Davis. Game Type: CASH & GPP |