NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for December 18, 2017

For the 12/18 NBA DFS slate tonight, and for the rest of the season, we’ll be writing up the best picks for guards, forwards, and centers that we’ll be considering for our Cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. The info below can also be used for crafting your strategy on Draft Fantasy.

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.

12/18/17 NBA DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS

DraftKings Excellent 8’s: $8 buy-in, $425k guaranteed
DraftKings Dunkfest Windmill: $180 buy-in, $550k guaranteed
DraftKings Sharpshooter: $3 buy-in, $130k guaranteed
FanDuel Layup: $9 buy-in, $99k guaranteed
FanDuel Clutch Shot: $4 buy-in, $300k guaranteed
FanDuel Slam: $33 buy-in, $130k guaranteed

PLAYERS RULED OUT
Blake Griffin (knee)
Hassan Whiteside (knee) 
Joel Embiid (rest)
Devin Booker (groin) 
Stephen Curry (ankle) 
Draymond Green (shoulder) 
Steven Adams (concussion) 
Rudy Gobert (knee)
Derrick Favors (eye) 
James Johnson (ankle) 
Trevor Booker (ankle) 
Dewyane Dedmon (leg)
Tim Hardaway Jr. (leg) 

INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Jimmy Butler (back)
Kristaps Porzingis (knee) 
Clint Capela (heel) 
Lauri Markkanen (back) 
Danilo Gallinari (hip)
Dennis Smith Jr. (hip)
Danny Green (groin) 

Best NBA DFS Picks for December 18, 2017

Guards

Chris Paul vs. UTA ($9.0k DraftKings, $9.9k FanDuel)
After three relatively quiet games, James Harden ($10.5k, $11.0k) is as cheap as he’s been on DK since the first week of the season. That makes him a tempting play. Yet Chris Paul has essentially been producing on the same level as Harden at a much lower price tag. The “Point God” draws the better individual matchup tonight against Ricky Rubio and the Jazz. Utah has given up the second-most RPG (7.69) and ninth-most FPPG (48.27) to opposing PGs over the last month, and CP3 contributed to those totals with 18 points, nine rebounds, and 13 assists in Utah earlier this month. He should keep rolling along with the rest of the Rockets’ offense at home tonight.

Lonzo Ball vs. GSW ($6.9k DraftKings, $7.3k FanDuel)
Now that he’s finally found his range, Lonzo Ball is letting the game come to him and filling the box score in all categories. A home tilt against the defending champion Warriors is no longer as intimidating with Draymond Green (shoulder) and Steph Curry (ankle) expected to be in street clothes. With Curry mostly out, the Dubs are allowing the sixth-most FPPG (49.76) and most PPG (25.18) to opposing PGs over the last month while maintaining their blinding pace of play. Always more dangerous in the open court, Ball went for 15 points and 10 assists in a meeting with the Warriors earlier this year.

Donovan Mitchell @ HOU ($6.7k DraftKings, $7.4k FanDuel)
After going head-to-head with LeBron James and coming out with a favorable line, Donovan Mitchell is clearly a top play in what should be more of an offensive shootout with James Harden and the fast-paced Rockets. Mitchell leads all rookies at 18.1 PPG, and he’s posting one of the highest usage rates (29.1 percent) in the league. With Rudy Gobert (knee) out indefinitely, Mitchell’s responsibilities should increase even further. He’ll have to go off to keep Utah competitive at red-hot Houston, so give him a look as a correlation play alongside Paul or Harden.

Others to consider: Victor Oladipo, Will Barton, Gary Harris, Milos Teodosic, Wesley Matthews, Jarrett Jack, Isaiah Canaan

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Forwards

Kevin Durant @ LAL ($11.6k DraftKings, $12.0k FanDuel)
With few other superstars truly worth paying up for tonight, Kevin Durant is close to a must-play with Curry and Green ruled out for the Warriors. He’s forced to do so many things with both those players out, as evidenced by his averages of 0.27 rebounds, 0.18 assists, 0.8 points and 1.52 FPs per minute with Green and Curry off the court this season. He managed 29 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in an OT win over the Lakers with Curry active and was arguably outplayed by Brandon Ingram in that contest. Look for the world’s second-best player to come out motivated and ready to carry his squad on the road. 

Nic Batum vs. NY ($5.7k DraftKings, $6.4k FanDuel)
Perhaps the Hornets brought him back too soon initially, but Nic Batum is clearly working his way back up to speed. He’s played 34, 37, and 38 minutes over his last three games and produced his usual plus peripheral stats with 16 rebounds and 18 assists during that span. Batum found his range, going 5-for-9 from deep in a close loss to Portland on Saturday. Now, he’ll face a Charlotte team that allows the second-most 3PT attempts (32.8) and fourth-most 3PTM (11.9) per game this season.

Bobby Portis @ PHI ($4.7k DraftKings, $5.0k FanDuel)
Right alongside Nikola Mirotic ($5.9k, $7.0k) as a slam-dunk value play if Lauri Markkanen (back) misses another game, Bobby Portis is clearly the better value on FD in that instance. He’s coming off a 27-point, 12-rebound double-double in Milwaukee on Friday and will face a Sixers front line that will be much more vulnerable with Joel Embiid (rest) inactive tonight. Portis is posting career-best averages of 21.3 points and 11.2 rebounds per 36 minutes and is playing well alongside Mirotic despite their early-season spat.

Others to consider: Ben Simmons, Paul George, Brandon Ingram, Robert Covington, Kelly Olynyk, John Collins, Joe Ingles, Jordan Bell

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Center

Greg Monroe @ DAL ($5.1k DraftKings, $5.9k FanDuel)
Possibly due to the absence of Devin Booker (groin), the Suns have turned to their best offensive center to lead their three-headed committee at the position. Greg Monroe has rewarded that faith with averages of 11.8 PPG and 9.0 RPG over his last six appearances. He also slides over to PF at times to accommodate another surging big man in Alex Len ($4.9k, $5.4k). Dallas has coughed up the most RPG (15.05) and seventh-most FPPG (48.12) to opposing PFs over the last month. Dirk Nowitzki is clearly a below-average defender at this late stage in his career.

Ekpe Udoh @ HOU ($3.7k DraftKings, $4.7k FanDuel)
Forced into an increased role with Rudy Gobert (knee) out and Derrick Favors (eye) placed in the league’s concussion protocol, Ekpe Udoh is a great value option tonight. He peaked with nine points, seven rebounds, six blocks, three assists, and three steals over 33 minutes in Cleveland on Saturday. He could draw an even more favorable matchup tonight if Houston’s starting center Clint Capela (heel) is unable to play. As long as Udoh can avoid foul trouble while contesting drives from Harden, he should play enough minutes to exceed value once again. 

Others to Consider: Nikola Jokic, Dwight Howard, Al Horford, Bam Adebayo, Richaun Holmes