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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on December 28, 2023. Dawn Tepper provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
We have a larger slate than usual for a Thursday night, as we have eight games tonight due to NBA scheduling over the holidays. We also have an extra 30 minutes to tweak and update our rosters, as DraftKing's main slate starts at 7:30 pm ET.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 12/28/23. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:30 pm ET.
Good luck, RotoBallers!
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Coby White, CHI vs. IND – PG ($8,100 DK; $8,000 FD)
With no Nikola Vucevic or Zach LaVine, the Bulls will be popular tonight against a Pacers team allowing 125 points per game for the season and 24.2 points per game to guards. White has over 30 fantasy points per game in his last four games, and before that, he had six games in a row with over 40 fantasy points per game and two with over 50.
From the Chicago Sun-Times: In the last two seasons, White has averaged 11.7 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 96 games with DeMar DeRozan and 10.1 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 88 games with LaVine. In that same time period, White averaged 21.7 points, 5.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 18 games without LaVine and 15.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 10 games without DeRozan.
Tyrese Haliburton, IND at CHI – PG ($10,300 DK; $10,600 FD)
With so much Chicago chalk, a pivot to Haliburton with low ownership is the way to go for tournaments or otherwise. Chicago is only allowing 106 points per game this season and 21 points to guards. But without some of their top players, their defense might give up a few more points, especially to a player like Hali, who is averaging 21.2 points, 12.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in his last five games.
He thrived while being guarded by trash-talking Dillon Brooks last night in Houston, scoring 33 points, his first 30-point game since November 30.
Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. DAL – SG ($9,300 DK; $9,500 FD)
Dallas has been generous to guards this season, allowing an 83.5 FT%, 8.4 assists, and almost two steals per game. In his last five games, Edwards has scored 29 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. With Karl-Anthony Towns questionable for tonight, Edwards could find himself with extra minutes at home, giving him further opportunity to make an impact against the Mavericks.
ALSO CONSIDER: LeBron James, LAL vs. CHA - PG/SF ($9,800 DK; $9,900 FD - SF/PF)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Kristaps Porzingis, BOS vs. DET – PF/C ($7,800 DK; $8,400 FD)
Boston could be missing Jayson Tatum tonight, and with Jaylen Brown out with a back injury, it could be Porzingis' time to shine tonight at TD Garden. Even with at least one of those two out tonight, Porzingis will still be lower-owned because, well, he's Porzingis, even as he goes up against the 2-26 Detroit Pistons, who are allowing 23.5 points per game to power forwards.
DeMar DeRozan, CHI vs. IND – SF/PF ($8,300 DK; $8,800 FD)
Zach LaVine is out tonight, which means that it's DeRozan SZN. DeRozan is scoring 41.5 points per game when LaVine is off the court, compared to 38.3 when he's on the court. I will be using both Coby White and DeRozan in my lineups tonight, as they have proven to be a great team on the court while LaVine has been out, as I wrote above about Coby White.
Jerami Grant, POR vs. SAS – PF ($6,900 DK; $7,100 FD)
Portland goes up against the Spurs tonight, a game that has an over/under of 235.5 (at this time). If it stays competitive (it should), Grant and the Blazers should be able to score at will against a Spurs team allowing 129 points per game over the last three days and over 10 rebounds per game this season to power forwards.
ALSO CONSIDER: Player, TOR at WAS - PF/C ($8,000 DK; $8,600 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Duop Reath, POR vs. SAS – C ($3,800 DK; $5,500 FD)
Deandre Ayton is out again tonight, opening the door to another start by Reath. With Ayton and Shaedon Sharpe off the floor, Reath is scoring 1.13 fantasy points per minute and with 32 minutes played in his last game, there is room for that number to go up. Reath had a huge game earlier this week, putting up 25 points, nine rebounds, one block, and one steal in his 32 minutes played in the Blazers' 130-113 win over the Sacramento Kings the day after Christmas.
Andre Drummond, CHI at IND – C/PF ($7,300 DK; $8,000 FD)
When Dan speaks, we listen! Drummond will face the Pacers tonight, who have allowed the most points in the paint this season and are allowing 13.8 rebounds per game versus centers. The Pacers have been allowing 125 points per game this season, giving Drummond and the rest of the Bulls ample opportunity to increase their season averages.
Zion Williamson, NOP vs. UTA – C/PF ($7,700 DK; $7,900 FD)
I expect Zion to be lower-owned tonight with so many other options at the center position. This makes him a favorite tournament play tonight and at $7,700, a great value pick. Utah is allowing 13.1 rebounds to centers this season and 119 points per game overall. The over/under for tonight's game versus the Jazz is (currently) 240 points and even with all of the Pelicans' starters projected to play, I expect Zion to remind everyone what he can do, even if he only does it from time to time!
ALSO CONSIDER: Bam Adebayo, MIA at GSW - C/PF ($8,800 DK; $9,000 FD);
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