The top DraftKings daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for 12/18/16 by Justin Bales. Expert NBA DFS advice, sleepers & player recommendations for DraftKings.

Sunday is the day for football, but we have a basketball slate that can be played tonight. That means we need some recommendations, right!? Keep in mind, it's a bit of a short slate, which means some guys that are generally tournament only options can also be used in cash games tonight.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/18/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @BalesSJustin.

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DraftKings DFS Guards

Isaiah Thomas – PG, @MIA ($7,300)

Thomas returned from injury in his last game, and he scored 37.25 fantasy points in 35 minutes. He has been a great scorer the entire season, and he showed that he is the focal point of the Celtics offense in his first game back. He will continue to play big minutes, and he will be taking around 20 shots tonight. He’s entirely too cheap, as his price tag represents his injury rather than his production. He gets a tough matchup against the Heat, but Thomas can be used in all leagues on the small slate.

Goran Dragic – PG, vs BOS ($7,200)

Goran Dragic is surprisingly cheap for how well he has been playing. Over the last 10 days, he’s averaging 21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.1 steals (39.4 fantasy points) in 35.3 minutes per game. He gets a solid matchup against the Celtics tonight, and he scored 58 fantasy points against them in their only matchup. Dragic does come with a bit of risk, but he’s cheap enough to be used in all leagues tonight.

T.J. McConnell – PG, vs BKN ($3,700)

Sergio Rodriguez is the starting point guard for the Sixers, but T.J. McConnell has been playing well enough for consideration. He has scored at least 20 fantasy points in four of his last five games, including a huge 44 fantasy point performance against the Pistons. He has the upside when he is given big minutes, but he’ll likely be playing 20-25 minutes tonight. He gets a solid matchup against the Nets, who have struggled defensively this season, and McConnell is cheap enough to be used in all leagues.

DraftKings DFS Forwards

Kawhi Leonard – SF, vs NO ($8,400) 

Leonard has really struggled at times this season, but he has been heating back up recently. Over the last 10 days, he’s averaging 25.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals (44.1 fantasy points) per game. Leonard is a huge part of the Spurs offense, but he has failed to add peripheral stats to his lines at times this season. He gets a good matchup against a fast paced Pelicans team, and Leonard can be used in all leagues tonight.

Joel Embiid – PF/C, vs BKN ($7,200)

Embiid is now eligible at power forward and center, which makes him an even more valuable piece on DraftKings. He has struggled in each of his last two games, but he is playing nearly 30 minutes per game, and he gets an elite matchup against the Nets. The Sixers could punish Nerlens Noel for his recent comments to the media. Embiid is a bit too risky for cash games, but he’s a great tournament option.

Justise Winslow – SF, vs BOS ($4,400)

Winslow recently returned from injury, and he played 29 minutes in his last game. He could see more than 30 minutes tonight, which will be more than enough time for him to hit value at his current price tag. He’s a player that can contribute in multiple categories, and he has good upside. He also gets a great matchup against the Celtics, who have struggled against the small forward this season. It’s a short slate, which means you’ll have to get a little risky in cash games, and Winslow can be used in all leagues.

DraftKings DFS Centers

Rudy Gobert – C, @MEM ($6,900) 

Gobert has been enjoying a great season, and he has double doubled in eight of his last 10 games. He’s a walking double double, but he gets his upside from his elite blocking rate. He has been locked into big minutes for the Jazz, and he gets a matchup against the Grizzlies tonight. It’s far from an ideal matchup, but Gobert isn’t very expensive, and he has been extremely consistent recently. He can be used in all leagues.

Pau Gasol – C, vs NO ($5,600)

Gasol hasn’t been playing his usual big role this season, as the Spurs have really been limiting his minutes. That has been the case over the last 10 days, but it hasn’t limited his production. Over that span, he’s averaging 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists (33.3 fantasy points) in only 27.5 minutes per game. He has scored at least 28 fantasy points in each of his last four games, and he gets a great matchup against the Pelicans tonight. He still comes with a fairly cheap price tag, and Gasol has been playing well enough to be used in all leagues.

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