The NBA starts to hit the next gear around the holidays, and New Year’s Eve provides another intriguing slate filled with fascinating matchups.
DraftKings is offering a showdown contest with the chance to win $100,000. Below, I’ve identified a pair of DFS value plays that will give your lineup a crucial advantage.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
DraftKings Value Picks
PG/SG Donte DiVincenzo ($4,600)
It took over two months, but Donte DiVincenzo is finally starting to recapture his form from last season. The 27-year-old was a revelation in New York, becoming by far the best open three-point shooter in the league overnight. It was a career renaissance for the wing, who was coming off disappointing stints in Sacramento and Golden State. His lethal shooting from distance, an increasingly growing offensive bag, and defensive versatility made DiVincenzo a top-100 guy.
Since arriving in Minnesota, he’s struggled to find a rhythm. He’s shooting under 40% from the field, and his efficiency is down across the board despite a downtick in attempts. The team chemistry has looked abysmal, and DiVincenzo was at the forefront of the issues.
Over the last two games, the Villanova product has turned it around, scoring north of 20 points in each contest. That stretch has resulted in consecutive 40-point fantasy outings and a re-emergence of DiVincenzo on the DFS radar. Oklahoma City might have a stellar perimeter defense, but the veteran guard’s game hinges on quick jumpers from beyond the arc. He’s too talented of a player not to have a prolonged hot streak.
SG/SF Max Christie ($4,000)
Los Angeles has been desperate for wing help but might’ve found some internally with Max Christie. The 2022 second-rounder started getting instant praise because of the city he plays in, but it never translated to on-the-court performance. At best, Christie was a deep-depth option throughout his first two seasons but has been a revelation the last few weeks.
Christie has decent size and is one of the more sufficient switchable on-ball defenders on the roster. He can create offense for himself off the dribble but has done most of his damage as a stationary sniper from downtown. He’s scored at least 16 points in three straight outings and looks comfortable in his expanded role. Christie offers little else on the stat sheet, but carving out a few rebounds or assists is enough to skyrocket his fantasy potential.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is xaiver-aguiar) 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.
