NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Monday (12/18)

The Monday cards always tend to be big, and we’re in for another one here. We have 11 games making up this Monday slate and some incredible matchups to dissect. There’s a ton to discuss, so let’s get into it!

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer:

Schedule and Odds

• HOU at CLE (CLE -5) O/U: 214.5
• LAC at IND (LAC -2.5) O/U: 249
• CHI at PHI (PHI -10.5) O/U: 228
• DET at ATL (ATL -10.5) O/U: 244.5
• MIN at MIA (MIA -1) O/U: 219
• CHA at TOR (TOR -10.5) O/U: 227.5
• MEM at OKC (OKC -10) O/U: 229.5
• DAL at DEN (DEN -7) O/U: 239
• BKN at UTA (BKN -3.5) O/U: 231
• WAS at SAC (SAC -11.5) O/U: 245
• NYK at LAL (LAL -4.5) O/U: 227.5

Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.

Injury Report

• Tyrese Haliburton (knee) Questionable
• Darius Garland (face) OUT
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Anthony Davis (groin) Questionable
• LeBron James (calf) Questionable
• De’Aaron Fox (shoulder) Questionable
• Ja Morant (suspension) OUT
• Anthony Edwards (hip) Questionable
• Kyrie Irving (foot) OUT
• Evan Mobley (knee) OUT
• John Collins (illness) Questionable
• Zach LaVine (foot) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (illness) Questionable
• Jordan Clarkson (bicep) OUT
• Clint Capela (knee) Questionable
• Keyonte George (foot) OUT
• Jalen Duren (ankle) OUT
• Ben Simmons (back) OUT
• Mark Williams (back) Doubtful

Core Plays

Donovan Mitchell (PG/SG – CLE): $9,900 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
Mitchell is having an All-Star season, and he will be impossible to fade as long as Darius Garland remains out. That should guarantee Mitchell 40 minutes, 20-25 shots, and a 30 percent usage rate. He was already going off with Garland anyway, averaging 48 DraftKings points per game. Mitchell has also scored at least 52 DraftKings points in four of his last six games, taking over this offense!

Kawhi Leonard (SF/PF – LAC): $8,600 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
It took Kawhi some time to get going with James Harden, but he’s cruising right now. The Claw has scored at least 44 DraftKings points in eight of his last 10 outings, scoring at least 56 DK points in three of his last five fixtures. That’s the superstar we love, and he should keep that incredible form going against Indiana. The Pacers play at the fastest pace in the NBA while ranked 29th in defensive efficiency ratings.

Collin Sexton (PG/SG – UTA): $7,000 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
Injuries have obliterated this Jazz team, but it’s allowed Sexton to take over. With Jordan Clarkson and Keyonte George sidelined, Sexton has scored at least 33 DraftKings points in four consecutive outings. He’s also averaging 40 DK points per game in that span and is nearly guaranteed for 35 minutes and 15-20 shots with how shorthanded this team is right now. Not to mention, Brooklyn owns a 24th OPRK against opposing guards.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,700 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel
The Joker might be in this section for the next decade. The big man is ranked second in the NBA with 63 DraftKings points per game. He’s also established a 50-point floor because he flirts with triple-doubles on a nightly basis. He will also destroy Dallas, collecting 33 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists in their only matchup this season.

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,100 DraftKings, $12,600 FanDuel
Don’t be surprised to see Jokic and Doncic trade-off fantasy points all game long. These two are close friends, and you know Luka will want to show out against the two-time MVP. That’s what he’s been doing without Kyrie Irving, averaging nearly 70 DraftKings points per game without the All-Star. He also had 34 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in that one matchup with Denver, and that looks like his floor since he’s locked into a 40 percent usage rate.

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,500 DraftKings, $12,800 FanDuel
It’s hard to believe, but Embiid is better than what we saw in his 2022-23 MVP season. The big man is leading the NBA with 64 DraftKings points per game. He’s also scored at least 62 fantasy points in 10 straight outings, thriving as the primary playmaker with Harden out of town. We certainly don’t expect Chicago to slow him down, posting a 19th OPRK against opposing centers.

GPP Targets

Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
Claxton has been all over the map this season, but we love his upside in a matchup like this. Let’s start there because Utah ranks 27th in total defense while posting a 26th OPRK against opposing centers. That should lead to Clax collecting 10-15 rebounds at ease, especially since he’s averaging 32 DraftKings points per game. He’s also got a 50-point upside, dropping 44 fantasy points in his most recent outing.

Tyus Jones (PG – WAS): $6,600 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
Tyus was terrible in his first month for the Wizards, but he’s been crushing it recently. The Washington point guard has set season-highs in his two most recent outings, scoring 54 and 61 DK points in those gems. That’s hard to find from a sub-$7K player, but it’s less surprising since he averaged 35 DK points per game when starting for Ja Morant last season. Sacramento is a sensational matchup, too, surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards.

Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
It’s been frustrating watching OO come off the bench for this team the last two years, but they finally moved him to the starting lineup this week. Playing him with Clint Capela was shocking, but we saw Okongwu total 31 DK points across 33 minutes in his first start. He’s been an elite per-minute producer throughout his career and can provide a 40-point average in a 30-minute role. There’s also a chance Capela sits here, which would make OO one of the best plays on the board. We also like that Detroit is posting a 28th OPRK against opposing big men.

Value Plays

Ivica Zubac (C – LAC): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
Harden always makes centers excel when he’s on the floor, and that’s been the case with Zoo. The big man has scored at least 26 DraftKings points in 10 of his last 11 games, posting a 32-point average in that span. That’s what you want to see from a $6K center, especially since the Pacers have been the most fantasy-friendly matchup all season.

De’Anthony Melton (PG/SG – PHI): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
We figured Melton would step up in the absence of Harden, and that’s what we’ve seen recently. The stat-stuffing guard averages 32 DraftKings points per game across his last 16 contests. That’s far from shocking since he’s regularly playing 30-35 minutes a night because a diminished workload has been the only thing holding him back in the past.

Isaiah Hartenstein (PF/C – NYK): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
The Mitchell Robinson injury is devastating for the Knicks, but it will make Hartenstein a great DFS option off the bench. The big man has played at least 27 minutes in all five games since that injury, scoring at least 28 DK points in four of those. He has at least 34 fantasy points in two of those and will have to play big minutes to oppose Anthony Davis. We didn’t even mention that LA allows the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Advantageous Pricing

• Kawhi Leonard (SF/PF – LAC): $8,600 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel
• Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,500 DraftKings, $12,800 FanDuel
• Andre Drummond (C – CHI): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Miles Bridges (SF/PF – CHA): $8,500 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
• James Wiseman (C – DET): $6,000 DraftKings, $4,100 FanDuel
• Tyler Herro (SG – MIA): $8,300 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,500 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
• Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $6.100 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel

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