NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for December 13, 2017
For the 12/13 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.
12/13/17 NBA DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS
DraftKings Excellent 8’s: $8 buy-in, $425k guaranteed
DraftKings 180 Dunkfest Windmill: $180 buy-in, $550k guaranteed
DraftKings Sharpshooter: $3 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
FanDuel Hang Time: $222 buy-in, $400k guaranteed
FanDuel Clutch Shot: $4 buy-in, $350k guaranteed
FanDuel Slam: $33 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Blake Griffin (knee)
Hassan Whiteside (knee)
Devin Booker (groin)
Evan Fournier (ankle)
Mike Conley (Achilles)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Nikola Jokic (ankle)
John Wall (knee)
Anthony Davis (groin)
Aaron Gordon (concussion)
Kyrie Irving (quad)
Jusuf Nurkic (ankle)
Danilo Gallinari (glute)
Will Barton (back)
Lauri Markkanen (back)
Nic Batum (elbow)
Darren Collison (ankle)
Best NBA DFS Picks for December 13, 2017
Guards
Victor Oladipo vs. OKC ($9.2k DraftKings, $10.0k FanDuel)
Victor Oladipo comes with a revenge narrative tonight as his Pacers host a Thunder team that couldn’t find a way to properly utilize him alongside Russell Westbrook last season. He’s since flourished in Indiana with averages of 29.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, and 2.4 SPG over his last seven appearances. He’s logging a 31.96 percent usage rate during that span and is unquestionably the first option. The Pacers surprisingly play at the 10th-fastest pace in the league. Look for Dipo to go toe-to-toe with Westbrook tonight and possibly produce comparable DFS production. He’ll see even more usage if Darren Collison (ankle) can’t play.
Rajon Rondo vs. MIL ($6.3k DraftKings, $5.8k FanDuel)
He’ll be a very popular option after posting a triple-double for the first time this season on Monday, but Rajon Rondo still makes for a great mid-tier option. He’s also a viable stacking partner with DeMarcus Cousins in tournaments tonight. That’s especially true if Anthony Davis (groin) misses another game. Rondo averages 1.12 FPs and 0.33 assists per minute when The Brow is off the floor this season. Further, his playing time could continue to rise if Jameer Nelson (ankle) is inactive. Rondo should be able to demolish the Bucks’ poor pick-and-roll defense with Cousins finishing over a weak front line.
Milos Teodosic @ ORL ($3.9k DraftKings, $4.5k FanDuel)
The Serbian import returned to action Monday and made an immediate impact for the Clippers. He led them to a win over the Raptors with deft passing and a clutch 3-pointer late. Milos Teodosic is going to be relied upon heavily with Blake Griffin (knee) out, and Danilo Gallinari (glute) appears to be headed back to the shelf as well. Orlando’s been a fantastic matchup for opposing PGs, giving up the second-most FPPG (51.04) to the position this year. Plus, the Magic cough up the most APG (25.0) overall this season, so a great passer like Teodosic could carve them up.
Others to consider: James Harden, Kyle Lowry, Jrue Holiday, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Alec Burks, Mike James, David Nwaba
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Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo @ NO ($11.3k DraftKings, $12.1k FanDuel)
Obviously a player with an excellent floor, Giannis Antetokounmpo has a ton of upside. That’s especially true in a correlation play, if you stack Pelicans while looking to take advantage of the potential absence of Anthony Davis tonight. The Greek Freak is averaging 32.4 PPG, 11.4 RPG, and 2.6 STL/BLK per game while shooting 54.2 percent from the floor over his last five. Now, he faces a Pelicans team that gives up the third-most FPPG (50.61) to opposing PFs and second-most PPG (111.6) overall this season.
Nikola Mirotic @ UTA ($5.2k DraftKings, $4.8k FanDuel)
His playing time continues to rise, and Nikola Mirotic would become a very good option in any format if he starts for the injured Lauri Markkanen (back) once again. The versatile forward went for 24 points and eight rebounds over 32 minutes in a surprising win over Boston on Monday. He draws a much better matchup on paper against a Jazz team that ranks 23rd in opponent 3PT shooting (37 percent) this season.
Kenneth Faried @ BOS ($5.0k DraftKings, $5.5k FanDuel)
The Celtics are a much better rebounding team this year but remain vulnerable to ultra-athletic bigs such as Kenneth Faried. The Manimal has been hustling while seeing steady run for the Nuggets off the bench in the absence of Nikola Jokic (ankle). He’s a better fit for a matchup against the small-ball Celtics than his main competitor for minutes, Mason Plumlee. Faried posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards in his sole appearance against Boston last year and could certainly reach that bonus again with Al Horford (rest) sitting out.
Others to consider: Paul George, T.J. Warren, Jayson Tatum, Jeremy Lamb, Al-Farouq Aminu, Bobby Portis, Trey Lyles, Lance Stephenson
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Center
DeMarcus Cousins vs. MIL ($11.0k DraftKings, $12.0k FanDuel)
While he won’t come cheap, DeMarcus Cousins continues to show a very high floor and insane upside when Davis sits out. He’s sporting an mind-boggling 39.1 percent usage rate and averages 1.61 FPs per minute with Davis off the floor this season. Cousins is also coming off another monster line with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists in Monday’s loss to the Rockets. The Bucks are a cakewalk matchup for Boogie. They give up the fifth-most FPPG (55.47) and second-most RPG (17.35) to opposing centers while starting a skinny big man in John Henson.
Aron Baynes vs. DEN ($3.9k DraftKings, $3.6k FanDuel)
Aron Baynes could serve as a nice source of salary relief tonight and a good option in any format if Nikola Jokic remains out for the Nuggets. He might struggle to guard the elite center if The Joker returns but would otherwise look to dominate a Nuggets team that gave up the most FPPG to opposing centers with Jokic out over the past week. Baynes went for six points and 13 rebounds in a start for Al Horford on Sunday and posted a season-high 21 points when Horford missed a game on Nov. 11. Also, Marcus Morris (knee) will be inactive, forcing the Celtics to rotate Baynes and Daniel Theis down low.
Others to consider: Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, Steven Adams, Greg Monroe
