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It’s great to be back in the swing of things in the NBA, RotoBallers. In these articles, I focus on the top plays, traditionally geared toward cash games. However, with over a decade of NBA DFS experience under my belt—and as someone who rarely dives into cash formats—I'm selecting picks that also typically come with high upside. That means they offer the steady floor needed for cash games while packing the high ceiling we need for tournaments.
We have another six-game slate on tap in the NBA tonight, and I'm excited to dig in after my Nikola Jokic (90.5 DK points) and Justin Champagnie (42.5 DK points) calls smashed last night. The Grizzlies-Wizards game holds the highest implied total and fasted projected pace, so that's the game we'll want to build lineups around. The Jazz-Kings matchup is the only other genuinely appealing game environment, but we'll have mine out picks from the rest of the games to fill out our lineups.
The key to succeeding in NBA DFS is making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. But it's always essential to have a game plan and zero in on the best players and spots before making those adjustments. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and access our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 12/8/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EST on DraftKings and FanDuel. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Today's NBA DFS Core Picks
Here is a look at some of the higher-priced players we can use as building blocks for cash and GPP contests.
Anthony Davis stands out as the best high-priced option on the slate. He's too cheap for his expected production, and while he has put up some dud games lately, he's just as likely to go off for 70 DK points as anyone on this slate. Portland defends bigs surprisingly well, but they're allowing the third-most fantasy points per game overall.
I will be getting to Victor Wembanyama if he winds up playing tonight. He has missed the past two games due to a back issue, but his upside is tantalizing against a Pelicans frontcourt that has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to Cs this season. We could be in store for a game similar to his 34/14/11/3/1 (80.5 DK points) explosion against the Kings on 12/1.
LeBron James and De'Aaron Fox are the other two expensive players I am interested in tonight. LeBron gets the same advantageous matchup as Davis does against a forgiving Blazers defense, and he's coming off a throwback 83.5 DK point destruction of the Hawks. Fox doesn't possess the same upside as the other three in this group, but he's a high-usage, heavy-shot attempt player against a Jazz defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to PGs this season.
- Anthony Davis, LAL vs. POR - C ($10,600 DK; $10,900 FD)
- Victor Wembanyama, SAS vs. NOP - C ($10,300 DK; $11,500 FD)
- LeBron James, LAL vs. POR - PF ($9,900 DK; $9,800 FD)
- De'Aaron Fox, SAC vs. UTA - PG ($8,900 DK; $9,000 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Value Picks
This is where we talk about saving salary. Whether it's a severely underpriced backup or even as simple as a guy playing like someone who should be priced higher, this is where you'll find guys who make lineups work.
Sorting the best value picks of the day by fantasy points per dollar for players priced at $6,000 or less:
Kyle Kuzma, Malcolm Brogdon, Alexandre Sarr, Corey Kispert, and Kyshawn George are all questionable for the Wizards. Players will look good as value options on this team, but we can't confidently say who that will be until the injury news gets cleared up. We hope to comfortably get to Jonas Valanciunas, Carlton Carrington, and Justin Champagnie, but they won't be as good of plays unless the typical rotational players sit out again.
For now, Kevon Looney, Devin Vassell, and Kevin Porter Jr. are the top value options on DraftKings. Looney is a 1.15 FPTS/min player, so as long as he gets 20 minutes, he should provide value at his salary. He saw 22 minutes and scored 16.75 DK points in this matchup on Friday; I expect him to play more tonight as the Warriors look for answers to Minnesota's size advantage.
KPJ is one of my favorite value picks on the slate. He needs 20.5 DK points for 5x value tonight, and while he has been streaky all season, he finished with 34.25 DK points in 24 minutes his last time out (11/29 @MIN). He looks solid as is, but he would vault into "must-play" territory if we get news that James Harden (Q) and (to a lesser extent) Kris Dunn (Q) have been ruled out.
Vassell is too cheap. He's a key cog in this offense, ranking second on the team in usage rate (28%) and FPTS/min (1.17) behind the big man out of France. He needs 23.5 DK points to hit 5x value tonight, and he has exceeded that mark in six of his last seven games. The Spurs are are somewhat careful with his minutes, but he has upside at his salary against a Pelicans team that struggles defending guards.
Top Value Plays:
- Kevin Porter Jr., LAC vs. HOU - PG ($4,100 DK; $4,400 FD)
- Max Christie, LAL vs. POR - SF ($3,300 DK) DraftKings Only
- Devin Vassell, SAS vs. NOP - SG ($5,300 DK)
- Kevon Looney, GSW vs. MIN - C ($4,000 DK; $4,400 FD)
- Washington Wizards (TBD)
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Fox and KPJ have already been covered, so let's discuss some other PG options I'll prioritize on this slate. Brandon Ingram left Saturday's game with an ankle injury, opening up Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum for additional usage and fantasy production. Murray has finally found his shooting stroke over his last two games, while McCollum has scored over 40 DK points in three of his previous five contests. The Spurs struggle to defend shooting guards, so I'll give the slight edge to the more consistent McCollum in this matchup.
Stephon Castle and Jordan Poole are two additional mid-to-high-priced PGs I like on this slate, but unless we get further news, I will focus on Fox and Porter Jr.
Top PG Options:
- De'Aaron Fox, SAC vs. UTA ($8,900 DK; $9,000 FD)
- Kevin Porter Jr., LAC vs. HOU ($4,100 DK; $4,400 FD)
- CJ McCollum, NOP @ SAS ($7,200 DK; $7,300 FD)
- Jordan Poole, WAS vs. MEM ($7,100 DK; $7,200 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
We can play McCollum, Castle, Vassell, and Poole here, but I'm also interested in taking shots on Jalen Green due to his upside. Green can give you 16.5 DK points or 58.25 DK points any night. I'd lean toward the former being more likely in the worst game environment on the slate, but that type of ceiling can't be matched at his salary.
I will prioritize McCollum, Vassell, and Poole at SG, but Green, Trey Murphy III, and Castle will be rotated.
Top SG Options:
- Devin Vassell, SAS vs. NOP - SG ($5,300 DK)
- CJ McCollum, NOP @ SAS ($7,200 DK; $7,300 FD)
- Jordan Poole, WAS vs. MEM ($7,100 DK; $7,200 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
There is not much to like at small forward tonight. Desmond Bane and Trey Murphy III project well from a points-per-dollar standpoint, but neither player is very appealing for tournaments as they possess uninspiring ceilings. I'm much more likely to pay down at the position, getting to players like Max Christie. Christie stands out due to his $3,300 DK salary, which feels broken since he's averaging 27 minutes and 20.6 DK PPG over his last four outings.
Rui Hachimura gets the same favorable matchup as Christie, so he also profiles well at his mid-range salary. The Blazers allow the most fantasy points per game to SFs this season, and while Hachimura isn't in the best form, this is an elite opportunity for him to post a big game.
Top SF Options:
- Max Christie, LAL vs. POR ($3,300 DK) DraftKings Only
- Trey Murphy III, NOP @ SAS ($6,300 DK; $6,300 FD)
- Rui Hachimura, LAL vs. POR ($5,000 DK) DraftKings Only
- Desmond Bane, MEM @ WAS ($6,700 DK; $6,900 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
Jonathan Kuminga was moved into the starting lineup on 12/3. Since then, he produced games of 32.75 and 46.75 DK points before a 20 DK point letdown against an on-fire Timberwolves defense on Friday. He gets the Wolves again tonight, but the youngster is too cheap for his 30-minute-per-game workload. He's a 1.06 FPTS/min player, so as long as he plays at least 27 minutes tonight, he will crush value.
LeBron James and Santi Aldama are the other two priorities at the PF position. LeBron put up a vintage 83.5 DK point game in a loss to the Hawks on Friday, and no one would be surprised if he had another monster outing in a virtual must-win game against the lowly Blazers at home. As a reminder, Portland allows the third-most fantasy points per game overall and the most fantasy points per game to small forwards.
Santi Aldama has been a steady producer for the Grizzlies all season, and we want to get pieces from Memphis with the Wizards being as forgiving as they are. Aldama has scored at least 32 DK points in six of his last eight games, and the Wizards allow the most fantasy points per game to PFs this season.
Top PF Options:
- Jonathan Kuminga, GSW vs. MIN ($5,200 DK; $5,900 FD)
- LeBron James, LAL vs. POR ($9,900 DK; $9,800 FD)
- Santi Aldama, MEM @ WAS ($5,400 DK) DraftKings Only
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
Anthony Davis is the priority on this slate. We probably won't have enough value to get him and LeBron in the same lineup, so make AD the core piece and build around him. James outshined him against the Hawks on Friday, but Davis still finished with an impressive 67 DK points on a 38/10/8/2/1 stat line. A glorious matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers awaits tonight, so I'm firing up AD everywhere.
This might have to be a "two-center" slate, though. Kevon Looney, Yves Missi, Jonas Valanciunas, Rudy Gobert, and Victor Wembayama are all firmly in play at the position. Although Looney, Missi, and JVal are the value picks, they're vastly different plays. Missi is the safe play, Looney is the cheapest option but has the lowest upside, and JVal is the high-risk, high-reward play.
Gobert hasn't shown any ceiling this season, but he's a great bet to put up 5x value against a Warriors team with underwhelming bigs. Lastly, Wemby could return to action tonight against a rookie center and a team that allows the eighth-most fantasy points per game to the position. Count me in for taking some shots on that.
Top C Options:
- Anthony Davis, LAL vs. POR ($10,600 DK; $10,900 FD)
- Jonas Valanciunas, WAS vs. MEM ($5,300 DK; $5,500 FD)
- Kevon Looney, GSW vs. MIN ($4,000 DK; $4,400 FD)
- Victor Wembanyama, SAS vs. NOP ($10,300 DK; $11,500 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Grizzlies @ Wizards (o/u 240.5)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
Stephen Curry. I like AD, Wemby, and LeBron on tonight's slate, so there is zero chance I'll be getting to any Curry. He's not in good form, either, as he has exceeded 50 DK points once over his last nine games. To top it off, he'll be facing off against the Wolves again tonight, a team he just went 6-for-17 shooting with 31.5 DK points against on Friday night.
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite overall play on the slate: Anthony Davis
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Anthony Davis
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: James Harden / Kevin Porter Jr.
- My favorite value play: Kevin Porter Jr.
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