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With six games on the main slate, you really don't need all that much value tonight. You will need that one sleeper to come in clutch, but other than that, go with the safer, mid-tier priced options. Since Chris Paul is out, look for Brandon Knight to see a ton of minutes tonight. Other than that, you can go in just about any direction. I'd suggest stacking the 76ers-Raptors game because it should be the most competitive, but Hassan Whiteside and Ricky Rubio need to be played. Both players are on the cheaper end given their upside, so if you can find a way to get Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid as well, you will be set for the night.
Look for Markieff Morris to exceed his projected tonight as well and for what it's worth, I will be fading Fred Vanvleet despite his upside. Pascal Siakam is a decent option although his price is a bit higher than I would like. Even then, with Morris, Rubio, Siakam, and Whiteside, you should have no problem rostering Embiid and Butler.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/22/18. 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 before the opening tip. Find me in the NBA Chat Room or @HalfCourtJester on Twitter for questions.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Dennis Schroder - PG, @ UTA ($5,400)
As far as we know, Dennis Schroder is playing. Seeing how he dropped 23 points on 17 shots last time these two teams met in Oklahoma City, I'm confident that playing in Utah won't be enough to keep him from having a similar outing. Ricky Rubio has been more aggressive on defense this season, but that DOES NOT mean he will be able to keep up with Schroder. The Jazz rank near the top in the league against forwards and centers, but since both Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder will be able to get to their spots so easily, players like Steven Adams and Jerami Grant still have upside. The Jazz have been up and down all season when it comes to their offensive production, so while this game will be competitive, the Thunder should and need to win these games versus inter-conference opponents.
Patty Mills - PG/SG, @ HOU ($3,400)
The decision whether to go with Bryn Forbes or Patty Mills is always a tough one. Personally, I love Forbes' upside and ability to have huge games, but Mills is a foundational piece for the Spurs second unit. He will always be the first guard off the bench and that means always get his shots and chances to contribute. Mills has only hit 20 points one time this season, so asking that from him is bold, but the Spurs are on the second night of a back-to-back meaning Mills should see a few more minutes. He has yet to play in a back-to-back this month, but last night he posted a solid stat line in limited minutes. With Chris Paul out, the Rockets are surprisingly going to miss his defense more than anything. Before the injury, Houston was letting up the fourth-fewest points to opposing point guards. Don't expect Brandon Knight to have that same impact, although he might be the sleeper pick of the night.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
O.G. Anunoby - SF/PF, @ PHI ($3,500)
The 76ers have been one of the better teams at defending opposing small forwards, but in a reserve role, O.G. Anunoby should see extended minutes in the frontcourt. The Raptors are still by far the superior team in more than one way and this will be the perfect game for Toronto to allow Anunoby to run free. They have been forced to run with smaller lineups and Kawhi Leonard has been missing games on and off all season as it is. Leonard's minutes don't directly reflect Anunoby's usage, but it allows for the offense to go in a different direction, giving the bench increased chances. Last night he did his own version of "going off" and even though the competition is entirely different, I still like his upside. Philadelphia does not fare well agains't athletic bigs that can hit from the outside or athletic guards that can open up the defense by getting to the rim. Kyle Lowry should have no problems producing this game and it should only increase Anunoby's opportunities.
Richaun Holmes - PF/C, @ WAS ($3,800)
Richaun Holmes has been weirdly consistent lately. He doesn't have any competition for his spot in the rotation, but he hasn't earned a reason to give him usage every night. He will always get his easy chances at the rim and his athleticism gives him upside in rebounds, but without any real range Holmes will be limited. The Suns are looking to develop players and that means letting them take shots and make plays. While Holmes will benefit from playing against one of the weaker frontcourts, he will still rely on Devin Booker, T.J. Warren, and other guards to give him more opportunities. Tonight he will be a safe play, but know that Holmes should continue to be all over the place moving forward.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Mike Muscala - PF/C, vs. TOR ($3,600)
After starting off December strong, Mike Muscala has taken a slight step back over the past week, but he's been able to contribute whenever he get's minutes so there really isn't too much risk here. The 76ers will find a way to play Muscala alongside Joel Embiid, especially since Jonas Valanciunas is out. Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka are more than capable defenders, but they will have to find a way to limit the length of both Embiid and Muscala. In the last game between these two, he played 19 minutes, scoring 12 points and grabbing five rebounds. It's not the most promising stat line I could have used, but it shows how easily he can produce given the chance. He may not be getting close to 30 minutes like he previously was, but his usage has gone consistently up.
