NBA Underdog Fantasy Player Predictions for Thursday (1/2)
I’m here to give you a (free!) peek behind the curtain regarding some of the awesome things our NBA DFS projections team is cooking up by giving you my top picks for today’s NBA slate on Underdog Fantasy. Every single pick you will find below is going to be based on what our projections say is a meaningful edge, and I will then use my basketball and analytical background to try to pinpoint the very best of the best. Please keep in mind that the NBA news cycle can get crazy, so what is listed below may become a better/worse play depending on how that news breaks. You can always stay up to date on exactly what a team’s rotation and depth chart will look like on a given day by heading to our NBA starting lineups page.
We have 6 games on the schedule as the NBA is set to tip off on 1/2. Below, I’ll detail how I’m approaching things on Underdog this Thursday evening.
First… Sign Up to Make NBA Underdog Fantasy Picks
If you want to play along but haven’t signed up yet, grab a special offer with the RotoGrinders Underdog promo code “GRINDERS” to unlock up to $1000 Bonus Cash courtesy of a generous deposit match. Underdog Fantasy – one of the most popular DFS pick’em sites – provides player projections for NBA matchups each day. The ball is then in our court to decide whether a player will ultimately exceed or fall short of those projections in the games. With a huge roster of players available from which to choose, we just need to make a minimum of two picks to build an entry.
I’ll break down the board by looking at factors like usage rates, projected pace, lines in the sports betting market, and of course, our RotoGrinders projections to forecast how NBA players might fare in categories like points, rebounds, and assists. For even more insight when making your Underdog picks today, be sure to check out our fantasy pick’em tool.
Underdog Fantasy Top NBA Picks for 1/2
Now that you’re signed up, here are some of our top NBA picks on Underdog for 1/2 at a glance:
- Ivica Zubac Higher/Lower 13.5 Points
- Jalen Williams Higher/Lower Than 20.5 Points
- Deni Avdija Higher/Lower Than 15.5 Points
Clippers vs. Thunder NBA Underdog Fantasy Predictions
Here are the Clippers vs. Thunder NBA Underdog Fantasy predictions for tonight:
Ivica Zubac Higher Than 13.5 Points
Averaging 15.1 points this season, Zubac has consistently surpassed this mark in 60% of his last 10 games. His road performance is even stronger, with an average of 16.3 points per game. While the Thunder’s defense is slightly above average against centers, Zubac’s relatively consistent scoring and average usage rate makes him a strong candidate to exceed 13.5 points.
At the time of writing, our NBA projections show this pick with a 4.04% edge and a 61.77% win rate.
Jalen Williams Higher Than 20.5 Points
Averaging 21.0 points this season and notching 28 points against the Clippers in their last outing, Williams has proven his ability to excel in this matchup. As a key offensive contributor for the Thunder (27.7 usage percentage), Williams is well-positioned to take advantage of this matchup and deliver a strong scoring performance.
At the time of writing, our NBA projections show this pick with a 2.58% edge and a 60.31% win rate. While this isn’t a huge edge, over the long run, it’s shown to be +EV.
Blazers vs. Lakers NBA Underdog Fantasy Predictions
Here are the Blazers vs. Lakers NBA Underdog Fantasy predictions for tonight:
Deni Avdija Higher Than 15.5 Points
Over his last 5 games, he has averaged 18.2 points, hitting this mark in 80% of those contests. His consistency extends to his last 10 and 15 games, with averages of 16.5 and 16.93 points and hit rates of 70% and 73.33%, respectively. While his season average is 13.4 points, his recent scoring surge highlights his excellent form. And with Jerami Grant (face contusion) out tonight, Avdija is expected to start in his place.
At the time of writing, our NBA projections show this pick with a 2.38% edge and a 60.12% win rate.
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