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The NBA will close out the work week with six games on the schedule Friday. Some of the matchups aren’t exactly mouthwatering, but one that does stand out will feature the Kings hosting the Suns.
In terms of injuries, the Mavericks are the team that will be the most impacted. When they play the Rockets, they will be without Luka Doncic (quadriceps), Kyrie Irving (heel), Dante Exum (leg), Josh Green (elbow), Maxi Kleber (toe), and Dereck Lively II (ankle).
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 12/22/23. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 pm EST. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Tyler Herro, MIA vs. ATL – PG/SG ($8,400 DK; $8,100 FD)
Jimmy Butler (calf) is out again for the Heat. With him sidelined Wednesday against a good defensive team in the Magic, Herro provided 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists over 36 minutes. The Hawks have played at the fifth-fastest pace and have the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league, leaving Herro with tremendous upside.
Tim Hardaway Jr., DAL at HOU – SG/SF ($6,100 DK; $6,300 FD)
While Doncic and Exum are new names added to the injury report for the Mavericks, they have been playing shorthanded for a while. That has helped Hardaway log an average of 32 minutes over his last seven games. During that span, he provided 19.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 three-pointers per game. Look for him to have one of the highest usages rates on the Mavericks in this game.
Jaden Hardy, DAL at HOU – PG/SG ($4,300 DK; $4,900 FD)
Hardy can score. His problem has been finding enough playing time to make an impact. He logged 23 minutes against the Clippers on Wednesday, scoring 15 points on five three-pointers. When he played 34 minutes versus the Grizzlies a couple of weeks ago, he scored 19 points and hit five three-pointers. He could approach 30 minutes with the Mavericks missing so many players, making him an appealing tournament option.
ALSO CONSIDER: Stephen Curry, GS vs. WAS – PG/SG ($9,600 DK; $10,100 FD), Grayson Allen, PHX at SAC– SG/SF ($5,400 DK; $5,700 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Kevin Durant, PHX at SAC – SF/PF ($9,700 DK; $10,200 FD)
The Suns suffered a disappointing loss to the Trail Blazers on Tuesday, but it wasn’t because Durant struggled. He finished with 40 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals across 38 minutes. He hasn’t scored fewer than 25 points in a game since the Suns’ season opener. Don’t expect a Kings team that has played at the ninth-fastest pace to be the ones to slow him down.
Jonathan Kuminga, GS vs. WAS – SF/PF ($5,600 DK; $5,500 FD)
Draymond Green’s suspension means that there are plenty of minutes up for grabs within the Warriors’ front court. Kuminga has absorbed some of them, averaging 26 minutes over the last six games. That enabled him to put up 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 three-pointers per game during that span. Added playing time against a Wizards team that has played at the fastest pace and has the second-worst defensive rating in the league makes Kuminga an appealing target.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, GS vs. WAS – PF/C ($4,600 DK; $6,100 FD)
Jackson-Davis was selected in the second round of the 2023 Draft. He barely played to begin this season, but with Green out and the Warriors searching for a spark, he has logged at least 18 minutes in both of the last two games. First, he posted 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block versus the Trail Blazers. Then he chipped in 10 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks versus the Celtics. His salary isn’t that appealing on FanDuel, but it’s cheap enough on DraftKings to make him a viable option.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jabari Smith Jr., HOU vs. DAL – PF ($7,100 DK; $6,600 FD), Jaime Jaquez Jr., MIA vs. ATL – SF/PF ($6,300 DK; $5,600 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Joel Embiid, PHI vs. TOR – C ($11,200 DK; $12,900 FD)
Embiid is unstoppable right now. Rudy Gobert is one of the best defensive centers in the league, but Embiid finished with 51 points and 12 rebounds against him and the Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Raptors are going to be fighting an uphill battle to slow him down. In two previous meetings with them this season, Embiid averaged 31.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 7.5 assists.
Bam Adebayo, MIA vs. ATL – C ($9,200 DK; $8,900 FD)
It’s not difficult to make an argument for deploying Adebayo in DFS whenever the Heat are in action. He has been one of the more reliable big men in the league, averaging 22.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. With Butler out and the Hawks struggling on defense, Adebayo carries a high floor into this matchup.
Drew Eubanks, PHX at SAC – C ($4,500 DK; $4,100 FD)
The Suns have ruled Jusuf Nurkic (personal) out, leaving a big hole for them at center. Expect it to be filled by Eubanks, who also served as Nurkic’s backup last season with the Trail Blazers. Over the five games that he has logged at least 20 minutes this season, Eubanks has provided 12.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. At such cheap salaries on both sites, he’s someone to consider if you want to punt the center position to allocate more of your budget to other positions.
ALSO CONSIDER: Clint Capela, ATL at MIA – C ($7,000 DK; $7,200 FD), Onyeka Okongwu, ATL at MIA – C/PF ($5,500 DK; $5,900 FD)
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