This Christmas, the greatest gift of all is more than twelve hours of nonstop basketball! The NBA’s annual holiday showcase is stocking-stuffed to the brim with title contenders, former MVPs, and rising stars looking to shine in front of a national audience. The festivities get started at noon, when Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs visit the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, and the action doesn’t stop until a nightcap duel between Nikola Jokic and Kevin Durant.
With so many big names taking the floor, narrowing down a select group to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is a difficult task. Here are the three centers at the top of today’s board:
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $600K Holiday BBall Special [$150K to 1st]
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at PHX ($11,600)
The Nuggets have been a frustrating team to watch for much of the season, but Nikola Jokic has never looked better. The three-time MVP is still the NBA’s most dominant offensive force, averaging 30.9 points, 12.5 rebounds and 9.7 assists through 24 games. Most impressive has been the big man’s efficiency, with stellar 56.8/51.4/79.6% shooting splits.
Wednesday’s matchup appears difficult on paper, as the Suns are giving up the 14th-fewest DK fantasy points to opposing centers. However, Jokic has put up 26.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 8.4 assists over his last five games against Phoenix. That includes a 32-point, seven-assist performance on Monday night. Ahead of this primetime battle in the desert, Denver’s franchise player is as safe a bet as they come.
2. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers at GSW ($10,300)
Early-season MVP talk has died down, but Anthony Davis is still one of the game’s elite players. The nine-time All-Star has been Los Angeles’ leading man, posting 26.6 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 52.3% shooting from the field. Most impressive has been the big man’s two-way play, generating 2.2 blocks and 1.3 steals on the defensive end of the floor.
In a battle between LeBron James and Steph Curry, don’t be surprised if Davis steals the show. Golden State has struggled all season to defend against opposing centers, giving up the fifth-most DK fantasy points to the position. Much of that production comes from the glass, where the Warriors are giving up the fourth-most rebounds to opponents. With an undersized opponent lacking the personnel to slow him down, look for The Brow to make a major impact down low.
3. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs at NYK ($10,600)
Normally, 22-win teams aren’t awarded a Christmas day tipoff at Madison Square Garden. The Spurs are an exception, as all eyes will be on budding superstar Victor Wembanyama. The reigning Rookie of the Year continues to impress in year two, averaging 24.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on 47.7% shooting through 24 games.
The offensive numbers don’t do Wemby justice, as he’s leading the league in blocked shots per game (4.0). That includes an outstanding performance against the 76ers on Monday, in which the center tallied a whopping eight rejections to go with 26 points and nine rebounds. The Knicks aren’t an easy matchup, having limited opposing centers to the second-fewest DK fantasy points this season. However, Wembanyama did put up 40 points and 20 rebounds when these two teams last met in March. The 20-year-old’s price tag could scare some off, but he might have the highest ceiling of any player on Wednesday’s slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $600K Holiday BBall Special [$150K to 1st]
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
