NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for December 12, 2017
For the 12/12 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 for 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.
12/12/17 NBA DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS
DraftKings 10 out of 10 Monster Jam: $10 buy-in, $650k guaranteed
DraftKings Medium Dunkfest: $54 buy-in, $275k guaranteed
DraftKings Sharpshooter: $3 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
FanDuel JUMBO Layup: $9 buy-in, $99k guaranteed
FanDuel Clutch Shot: $4.44 buy-in, $400k guaranteed
FanDuel Slam: $33 buy-in, $150k guaranteed
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Nikola Jokic (ankle)
D’Angelo Russell (knee)
Devin Booker (groin)
Dennis Smith Jr. (hip)
Dewayne Dedmon (leg)
Tim Hardaway Jr. (leg)
Kyle Anderson (knee)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Joel Embiid (back)
John Wall (knee)
Kawhi Leonard (quad)
Kevin Love (hip)
Robert Covington (back)
John Collins (shoulder)
Willie Cauley-Stein (back)
Danny Green (groin)
T.J. McConnell (shoulder)
Tristan Thompson (calf)
Best NBA DFS Picks for December 12, 2017
Guards
Bradley Beal @ BKN ($8.6k DraftKings, $8.6k FanDuel)
There’s a good chance John Wall ($8.2k, $9.3k) is cleared to make his return tonight. If he’s not on a strict minutes limit, he’ll become a very solid per-dollar play. Still, you might want to roll with Bradley Beal as a contrarian option, given his hot shooting streak and ability to play off Wall when both are healthy. The sharpshooting guard is 34-for-80 (42.5 percent) from the field to average 36.6 PPG over his last three. Tonight, he faces a horrible Nets defense giving up the second-most PPG (111.1) while playing at the third-fastest pace in the NBA this season.
Jimmy Butler vs. PHI ($8.0k DraftKings, $9.0k FanDuel)
If you follow the minutes, you’re likely to get DFS production. Tom Thibodeau has been more than willing to give Jimmy Butler a ton of run since their days together in Chicago. Butler is averaging 26 PPG and 5.5 APG over his last four appearances and has topped 40 minutes in each of his last five outings. His presence on both ends of the floor hurts the prospects of Ben Simmons too. Butler might be a better per-dollar option tonight against a Sixers team that gives up the fourth-most FPPG (43.86) to opposing SFs this season.
Mike James @ SAC ($4.3k DraftKings, $4.5k FanDuel)
Timing has been key for Mike James, who was in danger of losing his spot on the Suns’ active roster before getting his contract renewed. Suddenly, Phoenix thrust him into a much bigger role with Devin Booker (abductor) expected to miss the next couple of weeks. James is rocking a team-high 34.2 percent usage rate and averaging 1.14 FPs per minute with Booker off the floor. He went for 25 points over just 29 minutes in a tough matchup against the Spurs on Saturday. The athletic Kings backcourt represents a mismatch for Tyler Ulis, who is in a timeshare with James, so we can expect steady run for James as he looks to provide an encore.
Others to consider: Jeff Teague, Spencer Dinwiddie, Buddy Hield, Wesley Matthews, Jarrett Jack, Kelly Oubre Jr.
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Forwards
Kristaps Porzingis vs. LAL ($9.5k DraftKings, $9.7k FanDuel)
After missing a few games with an ankle injury, Kristaps Porzingis returned and re-asserted his status as an elite player with a huge weekend. He dropped a combined 53 points on the Bulls and Hawks. Up next is another inexperienced team in the Lakers, who give up the sixth-most RPG (12.96) and third-most BPG (1.96) to opposing PFs this season. “The Zinger” is sporting a 38.3 percent usage rate and averaging 1.23 FPs per minute this season with Tim Hardaway Jr. (leg) off the floor. He’s been lights out while averaging 26.4 PPG on 48.2 percent shooting at home.
Ersan Ilyasova @ CLE ($5.2k DraftKings, $5.9k FanDuel)
Strangely enough, it took Ersan Ilyasova a few games to make an impact with virtually every other big man injured on Atlanta’s roster. Yet he found his stroke with a ridiculous 9-for-9 shooting performance on Saturday and followed that up by dropping 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting on Sunday. He’s 10-for-11 from downtown in those contests and faces a Cavs team tonight that gives up the most 3PTM (11.8) per game this year. John Collins (shoulder) might return tonight, but Dewayne Dedmon (leg) remains out indefinitely. Plus, Kevin Love (hip) is questionable for the Cavs, which could weaken their defense.
Trey Lyles @ DET ($4.3k DraftKings, $4.8k FanDuel)
Unfortunately, we called it one game too early, but Trey Lyles did indeed step up with Nikola Jokic out on Sunday. He dropped 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting in a shootout loss at Indiana. Jokic will miss at least one more game with an ankle injury, and Kenneth Faried ($5.2k, $5.8k) should benefit with extra run. As for tonight, the Pistons are a great rebounding team and more vulnerable to skilled jump shooters such as Lyles. He’s averaging career-best numbers of 17.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per 36 minutes and is a solid value option for at least one more game.
Others to consider: Ben Simmons, Zach Randolph, Brandon Ingram, Dario Saric, Kyle Kuzma, Jae Crowder
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Center
Andre Drummond @ DEN ($9.4k DraftKings, $9.2k FanDuel)
It’s good that Andre Drummond’s had a pair of slow games heading into this matchup. This is clearly a blow-up spot against a Nuggets team that isn’t playing a true center while Jokic is on the shelf. Denver’s coughed up an absurd 82.38 FPPG and 24.67 RPG to opposing centers last week, both league-high marks by far. Drummond is quite clearly the best rebounder in the NBA. He’s made tremendous strides this season as a passer and free thrower too.
Jahlil Okafor vs. WAS ($4.2k DraftKings, $5.2k FanDuel)
Jahlil Okafor is worth deploying at this price tag as he makes his debut for the Nets tonight. He’s certainly well rested considering he’s played a total of 25 minutes this year, last seeing action Nov. 7 for the Sixers. Washington’s giving up the fifth-most RPG (16.64) to opposing centers, and Marcin Gortat has been very inconsistent this year. The main draw for Okafor is his probable high usage as the only capable center on Brooklyn’s guard-heavy roster.
Others to consider: Joel Embiid, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tyson Chandler, Mason Plumlee
