NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for December 8, 2017

For the 12/8 NBA DFS slate tonight, and for the rest of the season, we’ll be writing up picks for the guards, forwards, and centers we’re considering rostering in our Cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. The info below can also be used when crafting your strategy on Draft.

Please note the advice below is relevant for daily fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than in real life due to matchup, price, and lots of other factors. This is important to consider when constructing a roster.

Injuries play a huge role in NBA DFS on a nightly basis, and value plays at the various daily fantasy sites can arise at a moment’s notice. Always, always check the starting lineups and injury news right before tipoff.

12/8/17 NBA DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS

DraftKings Mini Dunkfest: $7.20 buy-in, $450k guaranteed
DraftKings Dunkfest: $720 buy-in, $750k guaranteed
DraftKings Medium Dunkfest: $72 buy-in, $300k guaranteed
FanDuel Monster: $333 buy-in, $200k guaranteed
FanDuel Clutch Shot: $4 buy-in, $300k guaranteed
FanDuel Slam: $33 buy-in, $150k guaranteed

PLAYERS RULED OUT
Steph Curry (ankle)
Nikola Jokic (ankle) 
Kawhi Leonard (quad)
Evan Fournier (ankle) 
Mike Conley (Achilles) 
Frank Kaminsky (ankle) 
Kyle Anderson (knee) 

INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Anthony Davis (groin)
Draymond Green (shoulder) 
Myles Turner (calf)
Willie Cauley-Stein (back) 
Dennis Smith Jr. (hip) 
Jaylen Brown (eye) 
Marcus Morris (knee)

Best NBA DFS Picks for December 8, 2017

Guards

Eric Bledsoe vs. DAL ($6.7k DraftKings, $7.3k FanDuel)
You’ll likely have to avoid high-priced guards tonight to afford Kevin Durant and/or DeMarcus Cousins after their huge games. Eric Bledsoe is a solid upper-tier option to consider if that’s your strategy. After a quiet game at Boston, he bounced back with 22 points on a notable 21 FGA against the Pistons. He should see heavy usage again as the Bucks look to exploit the Mavericks’ undersized backcourt tonight. He’s averaging 20.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.3 steals per 36 minutes since joining Milwaukee and is locked into a secure role as the number two facilitator behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Jamal Murray @ ORL ($5.7k DraftKings, $6.0k FanDuel)
In the Nuggets’ first game without Nikola Jokic (ankle), who is expected to be out a couple of weeks, Jamal Murray carried the load with 28 points on 8-of-20 FG shooting against the Lakers. He’s met value with 37 points over decent road matchups at Dallas and New Orleans but has a chance to blow up in a much better matchup tonight against the horrific Magic defense. Orlando’s giving up the third-most PPG (110.8) overall and the second-most FPPG (44.41) to opposing SGs this season. The Magic will also be without rangy defender Evan Fournier (ankle) in this contest.

Shaun Livingston @ DET ($3.9k DraftKings, $3.5k FanDuel)
Throw Andre Iguodala ($4.5k, $4.9k) in with Shaun Livingston as a value option capable of stepping up in the absence of Steph Curry (ankle) over the next couple of weeks. The 6-foot-7 point guard averages 11 points and 4.6 rebounds per 36 minutes. While he won’t see that type of run necessarily, he does see a 2.7 percent rise in usage rate (to 18.7 percent) with Curry off the floor this season. Those two veterans should carry a heavier load until Patrick McCaw (concussion) is cleared to return.

Others to consider: Victor Oladipo, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Will Barton, Darren Collison, Dwyane Wade, Avery Bradley, Patty Mills

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Forwards

Kevin Durant @ DET ($10.7k DraftKings, $11.1k FanDuel)
And so we get to the most obvious and likely most popular option on this full slate in Kevin Durant. He carried the Warriors in every facet with Steph Curry (ankle) out on Wednesday, posting his second triple-double since joining the Warriors two summers ago. He’s rocking a 35.5 percent usage rate (4.3 percent increase) and averaging 1.45 FPs per minute with Curry off the floor this season and draws a plus matchup against a Pistons team that’s giving up the fourth-most FPPG (53.59) to opposing SFs this season.

Rudy Gay vs. BOS ($5.2k DraftKings, $6.3k FanDuel)
Kawhi Leonard (quad) was rumored to be nearing a season debut this Friday, but in true Spurs fashion, he won’t play in a huge litmus test against the league-leading Celtics. Kyle Anderson (knee) is also out, so Rudy Gay is slated to draw the start against a tough defensive team. He’s been great with 46 points, 22 rebounds, and seven steals/blocks over three games this month and is clearly a bit under-priced as the second-leading scorer on the Spurs right now.

Trey Lyles @ ORL ($4.0k DraftKings, $4.8k FanDuel)
Whatever the Nuggets are trying without Nikola Jokic available, it isn’t really working. They’ve lost handily on the road in their last two games and decided to bench true center Mason Plumlee in favor of Kenneth Faried at New Orleans on Wednesday. Yet Trey Lyles was more productive than either big after coming off the bench with 10 points and 11 boards. He’s been consistent with averages of 12.7 PPG and 6.5 RPG while playing 23.9 MPG over his last four appearances. The Magic use two versatile big men in Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, so we could see plenty of Lyles alongside either Faried or Plumlee as the Nuggets try to match up.

Jakarr Sampson @ NO ($3.4k DraftKings, $4.2k FanDuel)
Another value worth considering tonight, Jakarr Sampson might be the Kings’ best option against DeMarcus Cousins after he absolutely annihilated former teammate Willie Cauley-Stein in October. Sampson grabbed 16 boards over 33 minutes of run with Cauley-Stein out due to a back injury on Wednesday. He’s obviously dirt cheap on both main DFS sites.

Others to consider: LeBron James, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nic Batum, Jayson Tatum, Kenneth Faried, Andre Iguodala

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Center

DeMarcus Cousins vs. SAC ($11.8k DraftKings, $12.0k FanDuel)
Like Durant, DeMarcus Cousins is an obvious play tonight especially if superstar teammate Anthony Davis (groin) is ruled out for a third straight game. Boogie went bonkers against the Jokic-less Nuggets on Wednesday, and his price tag has skyrocketed as a result. He still has tons of upside against his former team, which happens to give up the third-most FPPG (59.01) to opposing centers this season. He dominated Sacramento en route to 41 points and 23 boards in late October and could be worth his exorbitant price. 

Al Horford @ SA ($7.6k DraftKings, $7.2k FanDuel)
Perhaps you’re worried about a blowout win for the Pelicans, or the return of Anthony Davis, or simply can’t afford Cousins at his lofty price tag, so you decide to settle for Al Horford. The Celtics’ big man is on fire with averages of 17.3 PPG and 6.6 RPG over his last six appearances. Plus, he’s dropped 27 dimes over his last three outings alone. He’s the second-most important offensive player for Boston right now and will be needed in a key matchup at the Spurs.

Others to consider: Andre Drummond, Nikola Vucevic, Pau Gasol, Mason Plumlee