On the menu for Christmas day is a five-game NBA slate. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players, and below, I break down some of my favorite options at each position.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $600K Holiday BBall Special [$150K to 1st].
Guard
Stud
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, $11,100
While this is a less than ideal matchup against a Minnesota defense that ranks fifth in efficiency this season, Doncic is far too cheap for his upside. This salary is a $400 drop from his last start. This season, Doncic is amassing 1.6 FPTS per minute with a 32.9% usage rate.
This game should be competitive throughout with Dallas only favored by five points on the DraftKings Sportsbook. In spreads of five points or less this season, Doncic is generating 59.2 FPTS per game (seven games).
Other Options: Kyrie Irving ($7,900), Jaylen Brown ($7,800), Jamal Murray ($7,400)
Value
Russell Westbrook, Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns, $6,300
Even if Jamal Murray (ankle) suits up, Westbrook is an appealing value play for this short slate. With Michael Porter Jr. struggling, the Nuggets have given Westbrook more minutes off the bench, with the former MVP logging at least 33 minutes in three of his past four games, which has translated into 40.4 FPTS per game for Westbrook during this four-game stretch.
The guard has been regularly closing games with the Nuggets’ starters over Porter Jr. and Westbrook should see over 30 minutes of action in this tight three-point spread vs. the Suns, regardless of Murray’s status. The veteran is supplying 1.2 FPTS per minute this season, and Westbrook should exceed five-times value against this soft Suns defense that ranks 27th in efficiency.
Other Options: Derrick White ($6,800), Devin Vassell ($4,900), Donte DiVincenzo ($4,100)
Forward
Stud
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, $9,300
James has been outstanding. After scoring 56.25 FPTS vs. the Kings this past Saturday, the forward tallied a triple-double worth 62.75 FPTS vs. the Pistons on Monday. James is producing 1.4 FPTS per minute with a 29.6% usage rate and 42.8% assist percentage this season, and this matchup vs. the Warriors is a great spot for the 39-year-old to continue his excellent form.
Dennis Schroder made his debut with Golden State three games ago and with him in the lineup, their defense has been the fifth-worst in the league based on efficiency. This contest presents the second-highest total of this five-game slate at 224.5 points on the DraftKings Sportsbook and James is a safe bet for at least 50 FPTS, making him one of the best values on the board at $9,300, which is the cheapest he has been on DraftKings since early November.
Other Options: Jayson Tatum ($9,500), Bradley Beal ($7,300, if Devin Booker is out)
Value
Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks, $4,200
McDaniels has been solid as of late, with 28.6 FPTS in 28 minutes per game in his last five starts. The veteran is averaging 0.8 FPTS per minute and 2.1 defensive stats per game this season, and in his lone start vs. the Mavericks in October, McDaniels finished with 24 FPTS.
The defensive specialist should have a similar performance on Christmas and is one of the best cheap values this slate has to offer.
Other Options: OG Anunoby ($5,800), Julian Champagnie ($4,700), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($3,600)
Center
Stud
Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets, $9,000
Assuming Devin Booker (groin) remains out, Durant will be one of the best spends for Christmas Day. With Booker off the court this season, Durant is leading Phoenix with 1.4 FPTS per minute, which is attributed to a 7.6 percentage point increase to his usage rate and a 6.7 percentage point increase to his assist percentage.
This same Nuggets team just blew out the Suns by 27 points in Denver on Monday, but for Wednesday’s rematch, this game will be taking place in Phoenix. Denver is only favored by three points on the DraftKings Sportsbook. This game’s total is also the highest on the slate at 233.5 points. Durant has been 2.9 FPTS per game better on his home floor this season, and he will easily out product this price tag if Booker remains unavailable.
Other Options: Nikola Jokic ($11,600, boost if Murray is out), Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,100)
Value
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers, $4,100
Jackson Davis has started in back-to-back games, and he has been an awesome fantasy asset with the starting job, scoring 32.1 FPTS in 24.5 minutes per game. Jackson-Davis has been the primary beneficiary for the Warriors since Schroder got traded to the team, with Jackson-Davis generating 1.1 FPTS per minute with Schroder on the floor.
The Lakers rank 21st in defensive efficiency and if Jackson-Davis remains a starter Wednesday, he should have zero issues beating his price tag with at least 25 FPTS.
Other Options: Dereck Lively II ($5,500), Naz Reid ($4,400), Daniel Gafford ($4,200)
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) 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 skills 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.
