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DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (12/31/18): NBA DFS Lineups

We have a five-game slate to kick off our NBA week and there are some great options at every position. You can go stars and scrubs build, you can go balanced tonight, there are soo many options across the board it should be a fun night to build lineups.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/31/18. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on DraftKings.

You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. As always, don't set your lineups to early and check player statuses prior to opening tip. Give me a follow on Twitter @DFS_Tom with questions or comments. Good luck everyone.

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DraftKings DFS Guards

Stephen Curry - PG, GS @ PHO (DK - $9,600)

Curry and the Warriors are having a bit of a weird season, but they can end the calendar year on a high note since they are facing off against the Suns in a game where the over-under is set at 227 points. He comes in with a 32.4% usage rate, along with producing 1.38 fantasy points per minute this season, both of which are second highest on the team. The Suns are giving up 49 DraftKings points per game to point guards this season, which seventh worst in the league, making this an ideal to spot roster, Curry.

Austin Rivers, - SG, HOU vs MEM (DK - $4,900)

It was announced yesterday that Rivers is going to be getting the start for the Rockets tonight due to the injured Eric Gordon. He has posted 21 or more DraftKings points in each of his last two games with his new team, but those are both far below one fantasy point per minute. We know that he will always give up offensive usage to James Harden, so we are looking at Rivers as being a solid salary saver, who should be viable in cash games tonight.

 

DraftKings DFS Forwards

Robert Covington - SF, MIN @ NO (DK - $6,500)

Covington has posted 25 or more DraftKings points in eight of his last 10 games and is now facing off against the Pelicans, who are giving up 43 DraftKings points per game to small forwards, which is fifth worst in the league. We don't have an over-under yet for this game, but we should be looking at one that is higher than 220, so a spot to target with all of it's potential fantasy goodness. He should be good for any format tonight, due to the up pace and high-scoring nature of this game.

Jaren Jackson Jr. - PF, MEM @ HOU (DK - $5,300)

Jackson has produced at or above one fantasy point per minute in seven of his last 10 games and comes in under $6K tonight. It should be noted that his minutes have been fluctuating a bit, everywhere from 22 minutes up to 31. Generally, you want to avoid that type of randomness in cash games, so look to have him in your GPPs lineups tonight versus the Rockets, who are giving up 46 DraftKings points per game to power forwards.

 

DraftKings DFS Centers

Deandre Ayton - C, PHO vs GS (DK - $7,300)

Ayton has been absolutely balling as of late, with 48 DraftKings points or more in four of his last six games. Love seeing that level of production out of a rookie and now has another chance to replicate those numbers against the Warriors, in a game where the over-under is set at 227 points. He's probably not the best cash game option, but with the double-double upside he is showing recently, you should be looking to have him in your GPPs tonight, or even do a bit of a game stack here.

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis




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Cooper Flagg

Kon Knueppel Headline All-Rookie Team
De'Aaron Fox

is Ruled Out for Game 2 on Wednesday
Jiri Kulich

Aims to Return Next Season
Jeremy Lauzon

Not Expected to Play Wednesday
Brock Bowers

Klint Kubiak Calls Brock Bowers a "Football Robot From Heaven"
Mark Stone

Likely to Remain Out Wednesday
Scott Wedgewood

Starting Western Conference Finals for Avalanche
Sam Malinski

Set to Return Wednesday
Artturi Lehkonen

Expected to Play Wednesday Night
Cale Makar

Will Miss Game 1 Against Golden Knights
Malachi Fields

Appears Well-Positioned for Rookie Year Breakout in New York
Aaron Rodgers

Plans to Retire Following 2026 Season
Anthony Richardson Sr.

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DJ Giddens

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AJ Barner

Enters 2026 as a Dynasty Sell-High Candidate
Josh Jacobs

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CFB

Lincoln Riley Believes USC is Ready for Playoff Run
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Notre Dame-Stanford Rivalry Renewed Through 2028
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Ahmad Hardy Says He's "Back to the Road to Success"
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Texas Tech Graduate Judge Recuses Himself from Brendan Sorsby Case
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UCLA Tackle Jordan Davis Officially Eligible for 2026 Season
CFB

Bret Bielema Supports Significant College Football Playoff Expansion
Michael Wilson

Cardinals Interested in Inking Michael Wilson to a Long-Term Extension
Kyle Williams

Bulks Up, Ready to Make Year 2 Leap
Deshaun Watson

the First QB Up During OTA Drills on Wednesday
Quinshon Judkins

Taking Part in 11-on-11 Drills
Xavier Legette

Fighting for His Future in Carolina?
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jaguars Not Expected to Trade Brian Thomas Jr.
Rashod Bateman

Future in Baltimore is Bleak
Mark Andrews

Poised to Bounce Back in 2026?
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Is Tyrone Tracy Jr. a Sneaky Dynasty Buy?
Chimere Dike

Dynasty Managers Compelled to Hold Chimere Dike?
Michael Thorbjornsen

Brings High Upside to CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Luke List

Carrying Poor Form Into CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Tom Kim

Hoping to Build on Strong Myrtle Beach Finish
PGA

Sungjae Im Brings Upside to TPC Craig Ranch
Billy Horschel

Looking for Turnaround at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Jameson Williams

a High-Ceiling Buy for Risk-Tolerant Dynasty Managers
Adam Hadwin

Difficult to Trust at TPC Craig Ranch
Chase Brown

a Short-term Dynasty Buy Whose Value Could Extend Beyond 2026
Tony Finau

Looking for Consistency at TPC Craig Ranch
J.K. Dobbins

Becoming an Underpriced Starting Running Back
Luke Clanton

Searching for Form at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Rome Odunze

Has Ambiguity Among Bears WRs Created Buying Opportunity for Rome Odunze?
Aaron Rai

Withdraws From CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Wyndham Clark

Can Wyndham Clark Find Form at CJ Cup?
Si Woo Kim

Looks To Stay Hot at CJ Cup
James Harden

Struggles in Eastern Conference Finals Opener
Evan Mobley

Bags Second Consecutive Double-Double
Donovan Mitchell

Produces Top Two-Way Performance in Game 1 Loss
OG Anunoby

Plays Key Role in Comeback Win
Mikal Bridges

Remains Efficient in Game 1 Against Cavaliers
Karl-Anthony Towns

Extends Double-Double Streak to Four Games
Jalen Brunson

Leads Knicks to Historic Comeback Win
Scottie Scheffler

to Defend CJ Cup Byron Nelson Title This Week
Jordan Spieth

Looking For Victory at TPC Craig Ranch
PGA

Matti Schmid Looks to Keep Recent Momentum Going at TPC Craig Ranch
Brooks Koepka

a High-Upside Play at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Yandy Díaz

Yandy Diaz Exits Early on Tuesday After Being Hit By Pitch
Dean Wade

Returns to Starting Unit Tuesday
OG Anunoby

Starting on Tuesday
Tobias Harris

May Remain in Motown
Jalen Duren

Pistons Eager to Keep Jalen Duren
Chris Kirk

Continues Search For Putting Form at TPC Craig Ranch
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Jason Kidd Fired as Mavericks Head Coach
De'Aaron Fox

Officially Listed as Questionable for Game 2 Against Thunder
Rasmus Hojgaard

Looking to Shake Off Poor Major Showing at TPC Craig Ranch
Joel Dahmen

is of No DFS Consideration This Week in Dallas
Pierceson Coody

is Not The Fun DFS Play He Used to Be
Gerrit Cole

to Make Season Debut on Friday Against Rays
Drake Baldwin

Braves Place Drake Baldwin on Injured List With Oblique Strain
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Ezavier Crowell has Immediate Opportunity at Alabama
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Mark Bowman a Day 1 Impact Player for USC?
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Bill Belichick Says Relationship with First North Carolina Team "Wasn't Great"
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Kemario Taylor a Breakout Candidate at Quarterback
Jalen Williams

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Trinidad Chambliss the Undisputed Top SEC Quarterback Entering 2026?
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Records First Double-Double of Postseason
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Rocco Becht The "Unifier" of Penn State's Roster
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Opens Conference Finals With Double-Double
Dylan Harper

Makes Outstanding Two-Way Impact in Game 1 Win
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Dominates Game 1 Against Thunder
Mattias Samuelsson

Picks Up an Assist in Season-Ending Loss
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Extends Road Point Streak
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Scores Series-Clincher in Overtime
Jackson Holliday

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Ronald Acuña Jr.

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Going on Injured List With Back Injury
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Can Match Franchise Record With Another Multi-Point Game
Nick Suzuki

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Lane Hutson

Riding a Five-Game Assist Streak Into Game 7
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Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Reinstated and Starting on Monday Against Twins
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Arnold Allen

Bounces Back
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Transfer Running Back Arnold Barnes Visiting Iowa State on Monday
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Gets Split-Decision Win
Jhostynxon Garcia

Expected to Join the Pirates on Tuesday
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Joel Eriksson Ek

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Sits Out Round 2 Due to Toe Injury
Colt Emerson

Mariners Promoting Top Prospect Colt Emerson to Major Leagues
Munetaka Murakami

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Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Dazzles With 13-Strikeout Complete Game on Saturday
Blake Snell

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Clay Holmes

Could Miss Around Three Months
Jose Altuve

Exits After Swing
Corey Seager

Absent With Back Spasms on Saturday
Trevor Story

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Kyle Schwarber

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Jeremiah Smith Aiming For Ohio State Receiving Records
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Keshaun Singleton Projects as Auburn's WR1
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Jeremiah Cobb Impresses New Auburn Staff
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Alberto Mendoza Very Likely to Start for Georgia Tech
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Charles Woodson Jr. Commits to Michigan
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Dohoo Choi Returns At UFC Vegas 117
Juan Diaz

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