RADIO
Happy New Year's Eve, Rotoballers! We've almost had three different seasons played in the last 365 days, but it's given us a lot to think about as DFS players. Hopefully, 2021 will bring us some stability, and the NBA season will continue to run smoothly. However, before we get to that, there are seven games on the schedule to close out the year, with the first game starting at 3 pm eastern.
DraftKings is removing the first two games for today's slate and treating us with a five-game slate. It removes some high-scoring offenses and terrible defenses (I'm looking at you, Chicago, and Washington) for DFS players to fill their lineups. However, there is still plenty of opportunities in the five late games. Vegas has the Sacramento Kings-Houston Rockets game as the highest-scoring contest this evening (229.5 points). Those teams also have two of the three highest implied totals, even with the Toronto Raptors (112.75 points) wedged between them. James Harden will be a trendy play this evening, and he may be good chalk in any type of contest to end the year.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/31/20. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor globally, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
James Harden - PG/SG, HOU vs. SAC ($11,000)
As previously mentioned, it's going to be incredibly difficult to avoid Harden on tonight's slate. The Beard is averaging 67 fantasy points per game (FPPG) this season and is involved in the highest projected total of the night (229.5 points) versus the Kings. The superstar has only played two games, but he's already attempted 22 three-pointers and shots 25 free throws. This man is made for DFS basketball, and you'll have to be extremely confident in your other selections to fade him, especially on New Year's Eve.
This seems to be Harden's favorite game of the year. Over the past four seasons, the Rockets have played a New Year's Eve game every campaign, and Harden goes out with a bang. In those four games, the 31-year old averaged 42.75 points, 7.8 rebounds, 11.8 assists, and 6.5 made three-pointers. He also racked up a triple-double in two contests. Wave goodbye to 2020 with a massive performance from the Beard as he helps you win one final contest of the year.
Elfrid Payton - PG, NY at TOR ($5,900)
Austin Rivers and Alex Burks are both battling injuries for the New York Knicks, and it's opened the door for Elfrid Payton to flash some major fantasy upside. The 2014 first-round pick is coming off consecutive season-highs with 29 and 36 minutes of action, and he is rewarding the faith the Head Coach Tom Thibodeau is placing in him. It should continue tonight against the Raptors as they rank 30th in fantasy points allowed to opposing point guards.
In the last two contests, Payton is averaging 20.5 points, seven assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 three-pointers. It's added up to 43.25 and 33 DK points, respectively. Rivers hasn't played this season, so even if he returns, it will likely be in a limited role. It would cap Payton's upside, but he's still a great play on Thursday night, especially if his backcourt teammates miss another game.
Seth Curry - SG, PHI at ORL ($5,400)
Curry is having an impressive start with his new team in Philadelphia. The sharpshooter is averaging 13.8 points, 3.8 assists, and one steal per game. The key for the shooting guard is how many minutes he sees on the court. Through four games, the 30-year old has seen at least 30 minutes on three of four games. In those three contests, he is averaging 29.16 FPPG. The Orlando Magic is a nice matchup for shooting guards because they allow the third-most fantasy points to the position. 58 percent of Curry's shot attempts are coming from behind the three-point line. That kind of variance boosts him in tournament contests in a smaller than usual five-game slate.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Julius Randle - PF/C, NY at TOR ($8,800)
It's hard to ignore back-to-back sixty-point outings for any player, and Julius Randle is no exception. There was a lot of preseason chatter about how good he would be in season-long leagues, and it's also translating to daily fantasy. The seventh-year forward is averaging 24.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 50.8 fantasy points on the season. He's coming off his seventh-career triple-double and has a fantastic matchup to close out the year. The Raptors have the fourth-worst rebounding percentage in the league right now, and Randle should have a field day on the boards. Fire him up as your second stud to pair with Harden, and you'll have a rock-solid foundation to fill out the rest of your lineup.
Harrison Barnes - SF/PF, SAC at HOU ($5,400)
Barnes' salary is listed at $5,400 tonight, and he is averaging 31.2 FPPG this season. He seems like a lock to return at least five times his value on New Year's Ever. The Rockets are ranked as the sixth-toughest defense versus small forwards, but that shouldn't sway lineup decisions too much. Houston is allowing a league-high 126 points per game. There will be opportunities to earn many fantasy points in this game, and Barnes stands to benefit as one of the lower-cost options available on the slate.
Hamidou Diallo - SG/SF, OKC vs. NO ($4,300)
In his third season, Hamidou Diallo is becoming an important member of the Oklahoma City Thunder rotation. Last season, the 22-year old saw less than 20 minutes per game, but he's up to 20.7 MPG through three contests this season and making valuable fantasy contributions. This year, the 2018 draft pick has scored at least 19.5 fantasy points in every game, but it spiked in his last outing to 27.5 points against the Magic. Diallo is in a great spot to return five-times his salary at a dirt-cheap cost. He will definitely slide into a couple of my lineups as a low-cost, steady-production play.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Richaun Holmes - C, SAC at HOU ($5,200)
Another Sacramento King that should rack up up some fantasy numbers is Richaun Holmes. He has outscored his previous point total in four-straight games this year. Tonight, he'll face the 30th-ranked Houston defense as he attempts to make it five for five this year. He scored 36.25 points against the Denver Nuggets, so this Rockets team should give him a much easier challenge. The center is averaging 11.3 points and 8.5 rebounds through four games, and his 26.8 FPPG would be an excellent return on his $5,200 salary.
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