There are 11 NBA games on Monday’s slate.
DEN, HOU and IND are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Joel Embiid is in. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Trae Young, Brandon Miller, Keyonte George, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Draymond Green, Josh Giddey, Bilal Coulibaly, Moses Moody, Cody Williams, Sam Merrill, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jalen Suggs, Gary Harris, Ricky Council IV, Dalano Banton, Kyle Filipowski and Sam Hauser are questionable. Damian Lillard is doubtful. Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon and Moritz Wagner are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there are two double-digit favorites: CLE -14.5 over UTA and OKC -18.5 over WAS. BOS is -9.5 over ORL and DAL is -9.5 over POR. There is only one game within three points: MIL -1.5 over CHI. There are three games with a total of at least 230: UTA/CLE (230.5), MIL/CHI (238) and LAC/MEM (234). There are two games with a total below 220: BOS/ORL (216.5) and BKN/MIA (214.5). Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Washington Wizards ($10,100): Gilgeous-Alexander has scored in the 30-FPTS range five times this season. In three of those games, he didn’t shoot well. In the other two, he didn’t contribute much outside of scoring. All that proves is that he’s human because, more often than not, he is going to stuff the stat sheet and score a bunch of points. He’s gone over 60 FPTS five times with a high of 77.75 FPTS. The matchup is great because Washington is fourth in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency. There is risk of a blowout, but in two games in early December, OKC won by 38 and 26 points. Gilgeous-Alexander played 30 minutes in both while contributing at least 50 FPTS.
Other Options: Scottie Barnes ($9,100), Jalen Brunson ($8,300), Tyler Herro ($7,400), Zach LaVine ($7,300), Darius Garland ($7,100), Norman Powell ($7,000), Dyson Daniels ($6,700), Anfernee Simons ($6,500), Jalen Green ($6,400), Kelly Oubre Jr. ($6,100)
Value
Spencer Dinwiddie, Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers ($5,000): Luka Doncic has missed the last two games and is questionable for Monday. Wednesday’s Christmas game is nationally televised, so I’m guessing Doncic rests up for that one. Plus, it’s the Trail Blazers and Dallas should feel comfortable with the players they have. Dinwiddie has started the last two games and played 29 and 37 minutes. He’s finished with 33.75 and 40.75 FPTS.
Other Options: Gradey Dick ($5,900), Amen Thompson ($5,800), Payton Pritchard ($5,800), Shaedon Sharpe ($5,700), Devin Vassell ($5,400), Julian Champagnie ($4,700), Cole Anthony ($4,700), Quentin Grimes ($4,500), Dru Smith ($4,200)
Forward
Stud
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls ($6,300): Giannis Antetokounmpo missed last game and is questionable for Monday. Portis put up a whopping 70 FPTS in his absence. The scenarios are similar in that both Washington and Chicago play fast and eschew defense. Portis likely won’t replicate getting anywhere near 70 FPTS again, but he’s gone over 40 FPTS three other times with a high of 52 FPTS. Obviously, if Antetokounmpo starts, then abort this mission.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,300) if he starts, Jayson Tatum ($10,500), Scottie Barnes ($9,100), Paul George ($8,200), Jalen Williams ($8,100), Evan Mobley ($7,600), Cameron Johnson ($7,400), Zach LaVine ($7,300), Josh Hart ($7,000), Norman Powell ($7,000), Jeremy Sochan ($6,400), OG Anunoby ($6,100)
Value
Larry Nance Jr., Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ($4,500): For much of the season, Nance was averaging minutes in the lower teens. Then Onyeka Okongwu suffered an injury and Nance has played 24, 31 and 24 minutes, contributing 30.5, 48.25 and 32.5 FPTS. Okongwu is still out for a few more games, so Nance should continue seeing a lot of playing time. Nance is averaging a respectable 1.13 FPTS per minute.
Other Options: Amen Thompson ($5,800), Alex Sarr ($5,400), Devin Vassell ($5,400), Dillon Brooks ($5,000), Wendell Carter Jr. ($4,800), Julian Champagnie ($4,700), Jaden McDaniels ($4,500), Quentin Grimes ($4,500)
Center
Stud
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs at Philadelphia 76ers ($11,000): I think there is some foul risk with the matchup against Joel Embiid. That said, I think Wembanyama will get plenty of good looks on the offensive end because Embiid won’t want to go all the way out to challenge shots from downtown. There are so many good options at center on this slate, but, if paying up, I’ll go with Wembanyama because he could access a ceiling that no one else can match. Who else can block 10 shots while scoring 40 points and dishing out five dimes?
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,300) if he starts, Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,200), Joel Embiid ($9,600), Alperen Sengun ($8,900), Evan Mobley ($7,600), Ivica Zubac ($7,300), Isaiah Hartenstein ($7,100), Goga Bitadze ($6,400), Bobby Portis ($6,300) if he starts
Value
Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls ($5,500): With Damian Lillard out, Lopez sees a 4.84 percent usage rate bump. Giannis Antetokounmpo is questionable, and Lopez sees a 6.55 percent usage bump with both Lillard and Antetokounmpo off the court. Regardless, this is a fantastic matchup for Lopez because the Bulls play fast and don’t care much about defense. The last time these teams met, Lopez went for 40.75 FPTS.
Other Options: Alex Sarr ($5,400), Zach Edey ($4,800), Wendell Carter Jr. ($4,800), Larry Nance Jr. ($4,500)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) 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.
