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 guards at the top of today’s board:
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $600K Holiday BBall Special [$150K to 1st]
1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks vs. MIN ($11,100)
While this might be a Western Conference Finals rematch, the Timberwolves are a much different team this season without Karl-Anthony Towns. Minnesota still plays good defense (107.2 PPG), but this is a squad that has looked somewhat lifeless over the past few weeks. That’s not ideal heading into a matchup with one of the best players on Earth. Despite a slow start, Luka Doncic has found his groove, averaging 29.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 8.3 assists over his last ten games.
As we’ve seen before, the Timberwolves have struggled to contain Doncic. The five-time All-Star has recorded 30 points or more in seven of his last nine appearances vs. Minnesota, including last spring’s five-game postseason rout. Even at such a high salary, the drop-off to the rest of the guards on Wednesday’s slate is significant. For those looking to secure an elite option at any position, Luka is your man.
2. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors vs. LAL ($8,900)
For as great as he is, Steph Curry is 36 years old. That means not every game is a masterpiece, such as last Thursday’s miserable two-point outing vs. the Grizzlies last Thursday. Still, the future Hall of Famer is still a threat to go nuclear on any given night. This season, Golden State’s point guard is putting up 21.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists on 43.5% shooting from the field (40.3 3PT%).
Those season-long numbers aren’t spectacular, but they do support a second-place ranking on Wednesday at a thin position. The Lakers have struggled on the perimeter, giving up the 12th-most DK fantasy points to guards and the tenth-highest three-point percentage to opponents (36.5%). Curry has scored at least 23 points in each of his last eight appearances vs. Los Angeles, so this is clearly a matchup he thrives in. Look for the two-time MVP to do what he does best and carry the Warriors’ offense in a primetime battle with LeBron James.
3. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks vs. SAS ($8,000)
The Knicks are on a roll, winning four straight games behind a scoring attack that ranks second in offensive rating (120.9). Leading the charge has been point guard Jalen Brunson, who has molded his game around a star-studded roster. Last season’s All-NBA selection has become more of a distributor, dishing out a career-best 7.6 assists to go along with 24.6 points and 2.8 rebounds through 29 outings.
The days of New York’s superstar scoring 30 points per game are over, but the seventh-year pro is still a walking bucket. That’s especially true against a San Antonio team that Brunson dropped a career-best 60 points on last March. The Spurs’ defense has improved, but they’re still giving up the seventh-most DK fantasy points to opposing guards this season. As the fifth-most expensive guard on the board, JB is a solid value for those looking to divert their funds elsewhere.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $600K Holiday BBall Special [$150K to 1st]
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
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.
