NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Thursday, January 22

RotoWire's Joe Mayo provides expert picks for Thursday's DraftKings NBA DFS slate by analyzing matchups, injury reports and recent performances to find value.
NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Thursday, January 22

DraftKings Main Slate NBA Games Today

DEN at WAS: Nuggets 17-7 on road; Wizards on seven-game slide, 6-14 at home

CHR at ORL: Hornets 9-15 on road; Magic 13-6 at home

HOU at PHI: Rockets on three-game winning streak, 11-12 on road; 76ers 11-12 at home

GS at DAL: Warriors 8-13 on road; Mavericks on three-game winning streak, 13-11 at home

CHI at MIN: Bulls 7-13 on road; Timberwolves on three-game slide, 15-6 at home

SAN at UTA: Spurs 13-9 on road; Jazz 10-12 at home

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.

NBA Injury Report Today

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

DEN - Jamal Murray (hip), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Tim Hardaway (knee): Probable; Jonas Valanciunas (calf): Questionable; Nikola Jokic (knee), Christian Braun (ankle), Cameron Johnson (knee): OUT

WAS - AJ Johnson (illness): Questionable; Marvin Bagley (illness), Bilal Coulibaly (back), Trae Young (knee/quadriceps), Tristan Vukcevic (hamstring): OUT

CHR - Brandon Miller (ankle): Probable; LaMelo Ball (thumb): Questionable; Tre Mann (illness), Grant Williams (knee): OUT

ORL - Franz Wagner (ankle), Jalen Suggs (knee): OUT

HOU - Aaron Holiday (back), Steven Adams (ankle): OUT

PHI - Joel Embiid (ankle): Probable; Paul George (knee): Questionable

GS - Gary Payton (foot): Questionable 

DAL - Moussa Cisse (illness): Questionable; Daniel Gafford (ankle): Doubtful; Kyrie Irving (knee), Anthony Davis (finger): OUT

CHI - Josh Giddey (hamstring): Probable; Patrick Williams (ankle): Questionable; Zach Collins (toe): OUT

MIN - Julius Randle (foot): Questionable; Terrence Shannon (foot): OUT

SAN - Jeremy Sochan (illness): Questionable; Luke Kornet (adductor), Devin Vassell (adductor): OUT

UTA - Keyonte George (forearm), Brice Sensabaugh (illness): Questionable; Lauri Markkanen (illness), Georges Niang (foot): OUT

Elite NBA DFS Players

Guards

Jamal Murray, Nuggets ($9,800) at Wizards

Murray is listed as probable for this contest and appears likely to suit up in the front end of Denver's back-to-back set. The star guard has recorded 42.5-plus DK points in nine of his last 10 outings, including 62.8 in a win over the Wizards on Saturday. He has averaged 27.8 points, 9.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 combined steals-plus-blocks per tilt during that period. 

Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves ($9,500) vs. Bulls 

Following a two-game absence due to right foot injury maintenance, Edwards has delivered 58.5 or more DK points in back-to-back outings. The superstar guard has recorded at least 41.3 DK points in seven of his eight January appearances, averaging 32.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals across 35.8 minutes per game over that stretch.

Forwards/Centers

Alperen Sengun, Rockets ($9,400) at 76ers 

Sengun has been on a tear of late and is fresh off dropping 53.8 DK points in a win over Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs on Tuesday. Sengun has appeared in six straight games, logging 38.8-plus DK points in all of them. During that span, the star big man has averaged 20.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.5 combined steals-plus-blocks per game. 

Paolo Banchero, Magic ($9,300) vs. Hornets

Banchero has stepped up his game over his last 10 appearances, averaging 23.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.6 combined steals-plus-blocks per tilt over that stretch. The star forward has contributed 38.0 DK points in nine of those 10 outings and will look to continue his productive ways with Franz Wagner (ankle) and Jalen Suggs (knee) sidelined. 

Joel Embiid, 76ers ($9,200) vs. Rockets 

Embiid is listed as probable for Thursday's contest after sitting out Tuesday's loss to the Suns -- the second leg of a back-to-back set. The star big man has registered at least 37.0 DK points in eight of his nine January appearances, averaging 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 32.3 minutes per contest during that stretch.

Expected NBA DFS Chalk 

Victor Wembanyama, Spurs ($9,700) at Jazz 

Wembanyama is coming off his least efficient shooting performance of the season in a loss to Houston on Tuesday, though he still recorded 30.5 DK points. The star big man will aim to bounce back Thursday and enters an extremely favorable matchup against the Jazz, who own the worst defensive rating (122.2) in the league. In two outings against Utah this season, Wembanyama has averaged 32.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 27.0 minutes per game, racking up 53.8 and 59.5 DK points.

Mid-Range NBA DFS Picks 

Kon Knueppel, Hornets ($6,600) at Magic

Knueppel finished with a 21-point double-double and 41.3 DK points in Wednesday's loss to Cleveland, and he has notched 25.5 or more DK points in 12 consecutive contests. While the Hornets are on the second leg of a back-to-back set, the rookie first-rounder has been solid in nine games on zero days of rest this season, during which he has averaged 18.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 three-pointers and 2.9 assists in 31.7 minutes per tilt. 

Naz Reid, Timberwolves ($6,200) vs. Bulls

The 26-year-old big man continues to provide a spark for the Timberwolves and is on pace to set several career highs this season. Additionally, he could see an increased workload Thursday if Julius Randle (foot) misses his first game of the season. Reid has supplied at least 23.8 DK points in each of his last nine completed games (one start), averaging 17.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 blocks across 26.8 minutes per game over that stretch.

NBA DFS Value Picks

Tim Hardaway, Nuggets ($5,000) at Wizards 

With the Nuggets depleted by injuries, Hardaway has stepped up recently. The veteran swingman has recorded at least 23.5 DK points in five of his last six appearances, including 34.0 in a win over the Wizards on Saturday. During that six-game span, Hardaway has averaged 16.8 points, 3.0 three-pointers, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 30.7 minutes per contest. 

Tre Johnson, Wizards ($4,500) vs. Nuggets 

Johnson has been a mainstay in the starting five since Dec. 28, generating 19.0-plus DK points in all but one of those 13 outings. The 19-year-old sharpshooter had a lackluster outing against Denver on Saturday, when he shot 1-for-10 from the field in a loss. However, he continues to see starter-level minutes and will look to remain productive after logging 25.3 DK points in Monday's loss to the Clippers. 

Dylan Harper, Spurs ($4,200) at Jazz 

Harper has tallied at least 17.8 DK points in five straight games, including 20.8 or more in four of them. During that span, the rookie first-rounder has averaged 11.4 points, 4.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 24.0 minutes per tilt. Harper has posted 38.8 and 29.8 DK points against the Jazz so far this season.

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
Joe is a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate who has covered the NBA, WNBA and MLB for RotoWire since early 2024.
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