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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on December 20, 2023. Juan Carlos Blanco provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
We're set for another big mid-week slate, with Wednesday night featuring a 10-game slate. As customary, there's no shortage of elite options to choose from, although there are also some very appealing mid-salary and value options to pick from. As usual, we'll focus on providing you with an option to consider at each point of the salary scale for each position.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 12/20/23. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7 PM ET.
Without further ado, let's dive right in. Good luck RotoBallers!
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Donovan Mitchell, CLE vs. UTA – PG/SG ($10,000 DK; $10,200 FD)
Mitchell has been carrying the Cavs most of the season, and even though there are now some trade rumors surrounding him, he'll keep spearheading Cleveland's attack for the time being. The star guard is averaging just under 50 fantasy points per game on either site over the last five contests, a span during which he's eclipsed the 50-mark on DK in each of the last three games and in the last two on FD.
Mitchell's old Jazz team could make for an excellent candidate to target with him, especially since the star guard is operating as the primary ball handler during Darius Garland's (jaw) absence. Utah is ranked No. 19 in offensive efficiency rating allowed to point guards (28.1), and the Jazz have also surrendered 55.8 DK/53.6 FD points per contest to the position in the last 15 games, a stretch during which they're also yielding the fourth-most assists per game to ones (10.5).
Donovan Mitchell is ridiculous lol pic.twitter.com/sBJ33VrjcX
— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) December 17, 2023
Coby White, CHI vs. LAL – PG ($8,000 DK; $8,300 FD)
It might be easy to forget that White was once thought to be the future at point guard for the Bulls since Chicago eventually made a move to acquire Lonzo Ball, but the former has been able to reclaim the mantle he was once thought to be destined for. White has accomplished the feat with outstanding play befitting the pedigree of the seventh overall pick he once was, averaging 32.8 DK/31.1 FD points and putting up an outstanding 49.2 DK/46.8 FD points in the last five games specifically.
The Lakers are ranked in the middle of the league in offensive efficiency rating to point guards (27.5), along with over 50 fantasy points per game to the position in the last 15 contests. White is shooting a career-best 42.4 percent from behind the arc and taking a career-high 13.4 shots per game overall, and Los Angeles is surrendering 37.4 percent three-point shooting on the road.
Jamal Murray, DEN at TOR – PG ($7,200 DK; $7,900 FD)
Murray naturally is capable of displaying the upside befitting much higher salaries, making him an especially intriguing value pivot off various higher-salaried options on Wednesday. The capable point guard is averaging 35 DK/34.7 FD points per contest in the last four games, and he's shooting a career-best 44.6 percent from three-point range overall thus far this season.
The Raptors have been more susceptible to point guards in recent games, allowing 49.1 FD points per contest to the position in the last seven contests while also surrendering the fourth-most assists per game to ones during that span (11.6). Toronto is also giving up the ninth-highest three-point shooting percentage overall (37.7), which dovetails nicely with Murray's aforementioned marksmanship from distance thus far.
ALSO CONSIDER: Terry Rozier - PG/SG ($8,900 DK; $9,600 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
LeBron James, LAL at CHI – SF/PF ($10,300 DK; $10,500 FD)
James will have to clear his usual questionable designation due to a calf injury, but if he's active, he's certainly very appealing based on his recent performances in particular. The future Hall of Famer is averaging an impressive 28.4 points, 10.6 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.2 steals across his last five games, a stretch during which he's eclipsed 50 DK points in each game and 50 FD points on four occasions.
The Bulls are down Torrey Craig due to a heel injury, and they're already allowing the ninth-highest offensive efficiency rating to power forwards (27.8) while giving up 50.5 percent shooting, including 40.6 percent from three-point range to the position. Chicago is also giving up over 51 fantasy points per game on either site to fours in the last seven contests and also ranks in the bottom 10 in rebounds per game allowed (53.4), giving LeBron no shortage of paths to another fruitful night.
LEBRON JAMES IS GONNA BE 39 IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/wqufFVQxXf
— BronMuse (@BronMuse) December 19, 2023
Miles Bridges, CHA at IND– SF/PF ($8,500 DK; $7,800 FD)
Bridges will be well rested after last having played Saturday, and he's arguably underpriced considering he's eclipsed 40 fantasy points on either site on five occasions. The talented wing has been efficient despite missing all of last season, shooting 47.0 percent overall and averaging a career-high 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals.
The Pacers play the fastest of any team in the league (108.2 possessions per game) and have given up a league-high 126.9 points per contest as well. Indiana has had particular trouble with Bridges' power forward position, surrendering the third-highest offensive efficiency rating to fours (32.4) along with a league-high 57.3 DK/56 FD points per contest to PFs.
Michael Porter Jr., DEN at TOR – SF/PF ($6,700 DK; $6,300 FD)
Porter is always a reliable mid-salary option, and like Murray, he should have a good chance of capitalizing on some of Toronto's defensive inefficiencies. The talented wing has already put together some elevated returns this season, posting five tallies of over 50 DK points and four performances greater than 40 on FD as well.
The Raps have given up a league-high 28.5 offensive efficiency rating to small forwards, partly a byproduct of allowing a league-high 51.6 percent, including 43.6 percent from three-point range to threes. Toronto is also conceding the third-most DK (46.8) and fourth-most FD (46.3) points per game to small forwards in the last 15 games. Porter is certainly capable of exploiting those vulnerabilities with his typical well-rounded profile.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jaylen Brown, BOS at SAC - SF/SG ($8,800 DK; $8,300 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at PHI – C/PF ($8,800 DK; $8,900 FD)
Towns scored 72 DK/72.4 FD points just two games ago against the Pacers, his 14th game over 40 fantasy points on either site. The big man has had the hot hand throughout the month of December as well, shooting 55.0 percent, including 48.6 percent from behind the arc, over the last eight contests overall.
The 76ers certainly can present a tough matchup to centers, but Towns should benefit from the attention Joel Embiid is likely to bestow on Towns' frontcourt mate Rudy Gobert. Philadelphia ranks just inside the bottom half of the league in offensive efficiency rating allowed to PFs (26.2), and the Sixers have also given up 48.5 DK/45.9 FD points per game to the position. Considering this game could well turn into a wire-to-wire battle, Towns should be on the floor more than enough to deliver a strong return.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have the best record in the NBA
Karl-Anthony Towns has played in every single game
Averaging 22.4 PPG 9.5 RPG shooting a ridiculous 51.6% FG and 43% 3P
GOTTA give respect where it’s due
pic.twitter.com/IyadXTzd5A— Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) December 17, 2023
Ivica Zubac, LAC at DAL – C ($6,500 DK; $6,900 FD)
Zubac is enjoying a standout season despite the addition of yet another ultra-high-usage option to the Clippers roster in James Harden, as he's averaging a career-high 12.0 points and 1.5 blocks per contest. The big man is averaging a solid 9.0 rebounds as well, and he's coming off having compiled 50 DK/50.7 FD points against the Pacers on Monday, his 11th game with at least 31 DK points and 10th contest with at least that many on FD.
The Mavericks will be short-handed in the frontcourt with rookie Dereck Lively II sidelined with an ankle injury. Dallas has already surrendered the 10th-highest offensive efficiency rating to centers (33.4), along with over 57 DK and over 56 FD points per contest to the position on the season. Dallas is also giving up the fourth-most rebounds (55.0) and fifth-most points in the paint (54.4) per game, while Zubac is scoring a career-high 85.8 percent of his points in the painted area.
Isaiah Jackson, IND vs. CHA – C ($5,700 DK; $5,800 FD)
Jackson is a big man who can take advantage of the Hornets' porous and short-handed frontcourt, and the third-year pro already comes into the favorable matchup trending in the right direction. The 2021 first-round pick is averaging a solid 12.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 blocks across only 18.5 minutes in the last six games.
Jackson even drew the start in his most recent game on Monday against the Clippers and produced 15 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one block in 25 minutes. He's logged at least 20 minutes in three straight games. He now faces a Hornets team allowing the seventh-highest offensive efficiency rating to centers (34.5), along with over 58 DK and over 57 FD points per contest to the position.
ALSO CONSIDER: Nikola Jokic, DEN at TOR - C ($11,500 DK; $12,300 FD)
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