NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Sunday, January 15

NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Sunday, January 15

This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.

Slate Overview

OKC at BKN 
Thunder on two-game win streak. 
SAC at SAS
Kings on three-game win streak. 
ORL at DEN 
Nuggets on five-game win streak.
DAL at POR 
Trail Blazers 10-8 at home. 
PHI at LAL
Lakers on two-game slide. 

For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There, you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.

Injuries to Monitor  

For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report     

OKC - Aleksej Pokusevski (leg), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (ankle): OUT  

BKN - Kevin Durant (knee): OUT 

SAC - Kevin Huerter (illness): Questionable 

SAS - Doug McDermott (back): Questionable
Devin Vassell (knee): OUT

ORL - Gary Harris (finger): Questionable  

DEN - Jamal Murray (ankle), Vlatko Cancar (leg): Probable 

DAL - Dorian Finney-Smith (hip), Tim Hardaway (ankle), Christian Wood (ankle), Josh Green (elbow): Questionable 
Maxi Kleber (hamstring): OUT       

POR - Justise Winslow (ankle): OUT    

PHI - Tobias Harris (knee): Questionable  

LAL - LeBron James (ankle): Probable
Patrick Beverley (illness): Questionable 
Anthony Davis (foot), Lonnie Walker (knee), Austin Reaves (hamstring): OUT    

Elite Players

Guards

De'Aaron Fox, Kings ($9,100) at Spurs 

Fox produced 46.8 DK points in the prior meeting with the Spurs and should prosper again, as they give up a league-high 121.5 points per game and allow opponents to shoot an average of 50.6 percent from the field. Fox is averaging 25.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists across 10 games, including six with more than 40 DK points and a high of 55.5. 

Franz Wagner, Magic ($6,600) at Nuggets

Wagner is averaging 22.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals through his last 10 games, with a high of 48.5 DK points. He should continue to shine against the Nuggets, who allow opponents to shoot an average of 47.9 percent from the field.

Forwards/Centers

LeBron James, Lakers ($11,000) vs. 76ers 

James recorded 61.5 DK points in the previous game and is averaging 33.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists over the last 10. He faces a tough matchup against the 76ers but has to continue to carry the majority of the load for his shorthanded squad. 

Ben Simmons, Nets ($5,900) vs. Thunder 

Despite his limited point totals, Simmons topped 28 DK points in six of the last 10 outings, with a high of 44.8. He must step up in the absence of Kevin Durant and should flourish against the Thunder, who give up the league's eighth-most points in the paint and a league-high in rebounds per game to power forwards.

Nic Claxton, Nets ($6,100) vs. Thunder

Claxton has a favorable matchup against the Thunder, who are shorthanded in the frontcourt and give up the league's most rebounds per game. He is averaging 12.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 3.4 blocks across 10 games, with a high of 42.5 DK points. 

Expected Chalk 

James Harden, 76ers ($10,100) at Lakers 

Harden has five straight double-doubles, including two triple-doubles, and is averaging 23.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 1.4 steals over his last 10 outings. He should continue to thrive against the Lakers, who give up the league's most points per game to point guards. He can also rack up the assists to his big men down low, as the Lakers give up the league's sixth-most points in the paint. 

Value Picks

Moritz Wagner, Magic ($4,800) at Nuggets

Wagner is averaging 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists across four games since returning from a three-game absence. He topped 19 DK points in seven of his last 10 appearances and should find a chance to get his shot going against the Nuggets, who allow centers to shoot an average of 40.4 percent from downtown. 

Keegan Murray, Kings ($4,500) at Spurs 

Murray tallied at least 20 DK points in eight of 10 outings, including a high of 28.5. He should continue to fill the stat sheet against the Spurs, who give up the league's third-most points and seventh most rebounds per game to opposing power forwards.

T.J. Warren, Nets ($4,200) vs. Thunder

Warren is coming off a solid performance, with 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting, in 28 minutes of action. He must continue to step up in the absence of Kevin Durant and has a favorable matchup against the Thunder, who give up the league's ninth-most points and second-most free throws per game. 

Bruce Brown, Nuggets ($4,900) vs. Magic 

Brown continues to provide all-around support off the bench, averaging 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks in the previous five games. He should do well against the Magic, who give up the league's seventh-most turnovers per game. 

Kendrick Nunn, Lakers ($3,700) vs. 76ers

Nunn can be expected to see more playing time as the Lakers remain shorthanded in the backcourt. He is averaging 12.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 10 steals over five games, with a high of 33.3 DK points.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dan Bruno plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: duelingdan.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Bruno
Dan has been writing all things NBA for RotoWire since 2014. He is an active fantasy sports player, with a love for DFS. Dan is a certified Coach with the Ontario Basketball Association and is a recreation professional in his home city.
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