NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for December 28, 2017
For the 12/28 NBA DFS slate tonight, we’ll take a look at the best 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 the Draft Fantasy App.
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.
12/28/17 NBA DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS
Excellent 8’s: $8 buy-in, $425k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Triple Threat: $33 buy-in, $150k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Sharpshooter: $3 buy-in, $130k guaranteed (DraftKings)
JUMBO Dunk: $150 buy-in, $300k guaranteed (FanDuel)
Clutch Shot: $4.44 buy-in, $400k guaranteed (FanDuel)
Slam: $33 buy-in, $100k guaranteed (FanDuel)
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PLAYERS RULED OUT
Nikola Vucevic (hand)
Clint Capela (face)
Avery Bradley (groin)
Reggie Jackson (ankle)
Tim Hardaway Jr. (leg)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Chris Paul (abductor)
Aaron Gordon (calf)
Evan Fournier (foot)
Jaylen Brown (knee)
Marcus Morris (knee)
NBA DFS Slate Breakdown for December 28, 2017
Detroit Pistons (TBD) at Orlando Magic (Over/Under – TBD)
Coming off a huge game against Indiana, Tobias Harris ($6.6k, $7.4k) is an appealing mid-tier option and a candidate to keep rolling against his former team. Orlando ranks 27th in defensive rating and is giving up 111.4 PPG since Nov. 1. Plus, the Magic will be without Nikola Vucevic (hand) and could still be missing Aaron Gordon (calf) in this contest.
Andre Drummond ($9.4k, $9.5k) actually sees a slight downgrade with Vucevic out because hardy center Bismack Biyombo ($4.6k, $5.5k) is a better defender and a solid value in his own right.
With Reggie Jackson (ankle) out indefinitely, Ish Smith ($4.9k, $5.5k) becomes another very appealing value in this game. Orlando’s giving up the most FPPG (50.8) to opposing PGs this season and is playing at the sixth-fastest pace, which seriously benefits a burner like Smith.
Reggie Bullock ($4.0k, $4.4k) has been inconsistent with Avery Bradley (groin) out, but he could be worth a look as a tournament play. Meanwhile, Stanley Johnson ($4.1k, $4.0k) seems like a safer value on the wing for Detroit.
Elfrid Payton ($6.8k, $7.4k) is coming on strong, and his price tag has been slow to rise as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. Evan Fournier ($5.4k, $5.8k) returned with 14 points over 30 minutes of run on Tuesday and will only be worth a look if Aaron Gordon ($7.6k, $7.4k) can’t return to action for Orlando.
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Houston Rockets (TBD) at Boston Celtics (Over/Under – TBD)
This is the premier matchup of the night. It should be rather high scoring with two capable offenses facing off in Boston.
James Harden ($11.4k, $12.5k) remains the safest play on the board if Chris Paul (abductor) can’t go, although CP3 ($8.8k, $9.8k) would become a relative value on DK if active. However, Harden doesn’t seem to be worth his lofty price tag on FanDuel due to his lack of defensive stats.
Kyrie Irving ($8.0k, $8.6k) has established a great floor as a pure scorer but doesn’t have tremendous upside. Still, he’s worth a look if CP3 remains out. That would leave the Rockets vulnerable defensively with Harden and Eric Gordon sharing the backcourt.
With Clint Capela (face) out indefinitely, the Rockets will turn to an uninspiring rotation of Nene ($3.9k, $3.5k) and Tarik Black at center. That’s good news for Al Horford ($7.1k, $7.1k) since neither of those players are solid defensively, and Nene is downright slow at this stage in his career. P.J. Tucker ($4.7k, $4.8k) also gets a boost for the Rockets as a great rebounding forward.
After missing Wednesday’s game, Jaylen Brown ($5.2k, $5.7k) might return as the best defensive option against Harden and a solid play. Jayson Tatum ($5.5k, $5.7k) is a very good Cash option either way. He’s a great rebounder and a locked-in shooter and if Brown can’t go. Also, Terry Rozier ($4.3k, $3.8k) would become a great value.
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Minnesota Wolves (+2.5) at Milwaukee Bucks (Over/Under – 213.5)
Karl-Anthony Towns ($8.9k, $10.0k) is the premier play in a matchup against a Bucks team that doesn’t use a true center with skinny bigs John Henson and Thon Maker rotating down low. As a result, Milwaukee’s giving up the fourth-most FPPG (55.53) and second-most RPG (16.47) to opposing centers this year.
Taj Gibson ($5.7k, $5.5k) could also bully the Bucks down low. He flashed an improved jumper en route to 23 points on 11-of-13 shooting in his last outing.
On the Bucks’ side of the ball, Eric Bledsoe ($7.1k, $7.6k) is a solid per-dollar option with a good floor in a matchup against the smaller Jeff Teague. Jimmy Butler should be occupied guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10.9k, $11.9k) or Khris Middleton, which would lead Milwaukee to run its offense through Bledsoe or backup combo-guard Malcolm Brogdon ($4.8k, $5.5k).
New York Knicks (+11.5) at San Antonio Spurs (Over/Under – 201)
The Spurs’ balanced style makes their games much less appealing for DFS purposes. You never really know who might step up on a given night. LaMarcus Aldridge ($7.8k, $8.5k) is the best candidate to lead San Antonio in scoring and rebounding.
Pau Gasol ($6.7k, $6.5k) could play more minutes in an effort to contain the Knicks’ big duo of Enes Kanter ($6.9k, $6.8k) and Kristaps Porzingis ($7.9k, $9.3k). Those big men should be tired; they play their third game in four nights and aren’t particularly appealing against a Spurs team that allows the fewest PPG (98) in the NBA this year. That said, Porzingis is quite cheap on DK.
Philadelphia 76ers (+3) at Portland Trailblazers (Over/Under – 207.5)
This is a great game to target out west. The primary option at PG tonight should be Damian Lillard ($8.4k, $8.8k), at least in tournament formats, since he might have a lower ownership rate after missing consecutive games with a hamstring injury.
Jusuf Nurkic ($6.3k, $5.8k) is an appealing mid-tier option against a Sixers team that’s been surprisingly vulnerable down low. They coughed up a ridiculous 13 offensive rebounds to Enes Kanter on Christmas, and Joel Embiid ($9.6k, $10.7k) serves as their only reliable rebounder.
Embiid’s status always bears monitoring, but he’s a great per-dollar option on DK if he goes. If not, Dario Saric ($6.0k, $6.2k) would see a big boost. He’s a solid option regardless in a matchup against the Blazers’ inconsistent rotation at forward.
T.J. McConnell ($4.2k, $4.6k) frankly outplayed Ben Simmons on Christmas and costs about half as much, so he’s worth a look as the best defensive option for Philly against the Blazers’ elite backcourt duo. J.J. Redick ($5.2k, $5.5k) is also worth a look in Cash games despite facing an excellent defensive team. He’s a good enough shooter to get his buckets regardless of the coverage.
