Jimmy Butler plays his third game with the Miami Heat on Tuesday following a team-imposed seven-game suspension, and the six-time All-Star has failed to live up to the expectations of daily fantasy basketball players since his return. Butler is averaging 13 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his first two games heading into a matchup against Portland, so can you confidently add Butler to NBA DFS lineups? With only five games on Tuesday, the means to strategize NBA DFS are limited, and due to Butler’s vocal displeasure, he could be erased by many NBA DFS picks. But could this create an opportunity for value and variation in NBA DFS lineups?
Joel Embiid (knee) remains out for the 76ers ahead of a game against the Denver Nuggets, and Tyrese Maxey has scored at least 28 points in seven of the eight games Embiid has missed since Jan. 4. Although Maxey is an expensive option in the NBA, DFS sites like FanDuel and DraftKings are also strongly considered. Before making any NBA DFS picks, be sure to check out NBA DFS tips, player rankings, stacks and top daily Fantasy basketball picks from SportsLine’s Mike McClure.
McClure is a DFS professional with over $2 million in career winnings. He is also a predictive data engineer at SportsLine that uses a powerful prediction model that simulates every minute of every game 10,000 times, taking into account factors like matchups, statistical trends and injuries. This allows him to find the best NBA DFS values ​​on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel and create optimal lineups that he shares only on SportsLine. They are a must-have for any NBA DFS player.
On Monday, McClure highlighted Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards as one of his top NBA DFS picks from the pool of NBA DFS players at both sites. The result: Edwards had 32 points, four rebounds and three assists, earning 42.5 points on DraftKings and 39.3 points on FanDuel. Anyone who included him in their lineup could have been on their way to a profitable day.
McClure turned his attention to NBA action on Tuesday and locked in his top daily fantasy basketball picks. You can only see them by going to SportsLine.
Best NBA DFS Picks for Tuesday, January 21
For Tuesday, one of McClure’s top NBA DFS picks is Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, listed at $12,000 on DraftKings and $12,700 on FanDuel. Jokic is coming off his third straight triple-double after posting 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a 113-100 win over the Magic on Sunday. The 29-year-old is averaging 30.1 points, 13.2 rebounds and 9.9 assists this season, ranking second in assists and third in scoring and rebounds. Jokic, the reigning NBA MVP and winner of three of the last four MVP awards, currently has the second-best odds to win his fourth MVP.
The Nuggets host the 76ers on Tuesday and Jokic is averaging 26.7 points, 13.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists in his last six home games against Philadelphia. Embiid has only appeared in one of those contests, and he’s out again with a knee injury. The 76ers have lost six straight games and are coming off a 123-109 loss to the Bucks on Sunday, while Denver is 6-1 in their last seven games.
Another part of McClure’s optimal NBA DFS strategy includes rostering Magic forward Paolo Banchero ($8,600 on DraftKings and $8,800 on FanDuel). Banchero is averaging 21.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists through five games after missing about two and a half months with an oblique injury, including scoring 34 points in his first game on the 10th. January. in the 2022 NBA Draft, he is averaging a career-high 25.2 points and 7.5 rebounds this season.
The Magic face the Raptors, who are coming off a 130-112 loss to the Bucks on Friday. Toronto has lost 17 of its last 20 games, largely due to its 27th-ranked defense (118.5 points per game) this season. Banchero had 29 points, six rebounds and five assists in his final game against Toronto in March of last season. He’s played 29 straight minutes, his most since his extended absence due to injury, and that workload could increase in time for a game against one of the league’s worst defenses. See McClure’s other NBA DFS picks here.
How to set your NBA DFS lineups for Tuesday, January 21
McClure is also targeting a player who could stand out on Tuesday due to a dream matchup. This choice could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.
Who does DFS pro Mike McClure lay out his optimal NBA DFS lineups for Tuesday? Visit SportsLine now to see the optimal NBA DFS picks, rankings, tips and stacks, all from a professional DFS player who has more than $2 million in career earnings.and find out.