NBA Pick'Em Today: Sleeper, Underdog and PrizePicks for Thursday, January 8

RotoWire's JP Aravena provides his expert pick'em plays for Thursday's NBA slate, including leans on Daniel Gafford, Coby White and Rudy Gobert.
NBA Pick'Em Today: Sleeper, Underdog and PrizePicks for Thursday, January 8

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NBA Pick'Em players on Sleeper, Underdog and PrizePicks can gain an edge by leaning on reliable NBA projections, updated NBA injury reports and accurate NBA starting lineups for today's slate. 

Whether you're tracking fantasy basketball rankings, consulting a fantasy basketball cheat sheet or checking NBA depth charts, today's matchups offer plenty of actionable angles. 

Using tools like an NBA lineup optimizer, NBA player projections and the latest fantasy basketball news can help shape smarter picks. As always, staying aware of NBA rumors, sleepers and breaking NBA news is key when evaluating today's props.

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NBA Pick'Em Today

Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls: Coby White over 20.5 points + assists, Sleeper, 1:30 PM CT

White has been dealing with calf injuries all season long, and that has limited him to just 17 games this season. However, he's been productive more often than not. Even though the former UNC standout is riding a tough stretch in which he's posted 17 points + assists or fewer in three games in a row, White did achieve this line in 12 of his first 13 appearances in the campaign. He's simply too talented to continue struggling at this rate on a sustained basis, and he could be in line for a bounce-back effort against a Heat team that's not known for its perimeter defense. White has averaged 15.9 points, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 three-pointers in 26.8 minutes per contest over his last 12 games, so the recent body of work suggests he should hover around this line with no major problems.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz: Daniel Gafford over 16.5 points + rebounds + assists, PrizePicks, 1:30 PM CT

Gafford is coming off a well-rounded effort in the Mavs' win over the Kings on Tuesday, posting 10 points (5-8 FG), 13 rebounds, one block and one steal across 22 minutes. The big man has been enjoying a steady role in a depleted frontcourt, and he's posted two double-doubles over his last four games while averaging 11.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per contest over that stretch. As if the stats didn't support this play enough, Gafford has also cleared the 16.5 P+R+A in four of his last five appearances. The lone exception was the Jan. 1 game against the 76ers, where he had 14 P+R+A.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Rudy Gobert over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists, Underdog, 1:30 PM CT

Gobert has recorded well over 30 P+R+A in his last two games, and while he'll have a tough matchup dealing with the frontcourt of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, it wouldn't be surprising to see him dominate the boards once again. Gobert has recorded at least 25 P+R+A in five of his last nine games, but since he's posted at least 20 eight times over that stretch, there's enough floor to believe he'll hover around that line either way. Gobert is averaging 10.6 points, 11.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 2.4 blocks in 31.1 minutes per contest over his last seven appearances.

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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
35-year-old sports analyst and journalist. Fan of every single sport on this earth, but mainly NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL and soccer. Eternal optimistic who, for unknown reasons, chose to root for the Chicago Cubs and Jacksonville Jaguars. Born and raised in Chile.
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