NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Wednesday (12/20)

It always blows my mind how quickly each year passes. We’re just a few days from Christmas and just over a week before entering 2024. Hearing “2024” doesn’t even sound like a real thing, but here we are! Time always flies when you’re having fun, though, and that’s undoubtedly the case when playing DFS. It can be frustrating at times, but it’s also a blast at the same time! With that in mind, let’s look at this Wednesday card!

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

• UTA at CLE (CLE -6.5) O/U: 227.5
• CHA at IND (IND -9.5) O/U: 248.5
• MIA at ORL (ORL -5.5) O/U: 219
• MIN at PHI (PHI -3.5) O/U: 226.5
• NYK at BKN (NYK -1.5) O/U: 233.5
• DEN at TOR (DEN -4.5) O/U: 228
• LAL at CHI (LAL -4.5) O/U: 224
• ATL at HOU (HOU -3.5) O/U: 233.5
• LAC at DAL (LAC -3.5) O/U: 238
• BOS at SAC (SAC -2.5) O/U: 235

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

Injury Report

• Keyonte George (foot) Questionable
• Jordan Clarkson (bicep) OUT
• Darius Garland (face) OUT
• Evan Mobley (knee) OUT
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Myles Turner (legs) Questionable
• Markelle Fultz (knee) OUT
• Wendell Carter Jr.(finger) Probable
• Mitchell Robinson (ankle) OUT
• Ben Simmons (back) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) Doubtful
• Anthony Davis (ankle) Questionable
• LeBron James (calf) questionable
• Zach LaVine (foot) OUT
• Kyrie Irving (foot) OUT
• Jimmy Butler (calf) OUT
• Kristaps Porzingis (calf) Questionable
• Al Horford (B2B) Questionable
• Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) Questionable
• Dereck Lively (ankle) OUT

Core Plays

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $10,900 DraftKings, $10,700 FanDuel
Haliburton has developed into the best point guard in the NBA, establishing one of the highest floors around. Hali has scored at least 38 DraftKings points in all but two games this season, generating a 52-point average. That’s no surprise since he’s the playmaker for the fastest-paced team in the NBA, making him an easy option against Charlotte. The Hornets rank 25th in points allowed and 28th in defensive efficiency. In their one matchup, Haliburton had 43 points and 12 assists!

Terry Rozier (PG/SG – CHA): $8,900 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
Scary Terry has taken over this Hornets offense in the absence of LaMelo Ball. That’s allowed Rozier to score at least 44 DraftKings points in eight of nine games since taking in this expanded role. That should continue as long as he has the 35-40 minutes and 20 shots we’ve become accustomed to. The matchup couldn’t be much better because the Pacers rank 29th in defensive efficiency ratings.

Donovan Mitchell (PG/SG – CLE): $10,000 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
Mitchell is amid an All-Star season in Cleveland, and he will only get better with Darius Garland sidelined. That should make Mitchell a 35 percent usage rate player, averaging 48 DraftKings points per game. That will be his floor with Garland out, especially since Utah allows the most fantasy points to opposing guards. Not to mention, it’s a revenge game for the man who spent most of his career in Utah!

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,500 DraftKings, $12,300 FanDuel
The Joker has been the safest option in fantasy for five years now. He’s established a 50-point floor in that span, averaging 62 DK points per game this year. We don’t care who he plays, but Joker has a 54-point average in four matchups with Toronto over the last two years. If you’re looking for a guaranteed 50-60 DK points, Jokic is the best option on every slate.

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,200 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel
Doncic has always been one of the best players in DFS, but he’s even better with Kyrie Irving injured. That has his usage rate close to 40 percent, scoring at least 59 DraftKings points in nine consecutive outings. He’s also got at least 66 DK points in all but two of those, posting a 62-point average for the year. That’s even more terrifying with how he’s clobbered the Clippers, averaging nearly 70 fantasy points per game against them over the last three years.

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,600 DraftKings, $12,900 FanDuel
Embiid has been incredible this season. The big man has taken over this offense in the absence of James Harden, leading the NBA with over 64 DraftKings points per game. He’s been even better recently, scoring at least 67 fantasy points in nine of his last 10 fixtures. You know he’ll be motivated against the bigs that Minnesota possesses, dropping 62 DK points across just 28 minutes in their previous matchup.

GPP Targets

PJ Washington (PF/C – CHA): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
We’ve always loved Washington’s game, but his role in Charlotte has been volatile. In any case, that’s why he’s a GPP player because he has a massive upside. We saw that in his most recent outing, registering 40 DK points across 39 minutes of action. We rarely see this guy play 35-40 minutes, but it’s more likely since Mark Williams is expected to miss this game. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with Indiana allowing the most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

Alex Caruso (PG/SF – CHI): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
Caruso has always been a great option when he can stay on the floor, but that inability has affected his fantasy value. We’re willing to take the risk at $5K, though, because AC averages 31 DK points per game when he plays at least 26 minutes. That’s more likely with Lavine out, and we certainly don’t mind that he has a revenge game against an LA defense that owns an 18th OPRK against opposing wings.

Isaiah Jackson (C – IND): $5,700 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
I-Jax is impossible to use when Myles Turner is playing, but he’s an excellent GPP player when Turner is out. That looks like it might happen here, with Jackson scoring 25 DK points across 25 minutes in a start for him on Monday. This guy has been an elite per-minute producer in the past, and he can be a 40-point guy in a 30-minute role. We can’t overlook the matchup because Charlotte sits 28th in defensive ratings.

Value Plays

Caris LeVert (PG/SG – CLE): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
Here we are with another player stepping up because of some injuries. Garland’s absence has put more on LeVert’s plate, averaging nearly 30 DraftKings points per game this season. He also had 54 DK points in his one start and can be an $8K player in this newfound role. The matchup is wonderful, too, with Utah ranked 24th in defensive efficiency and 25th in points allowed.

Ivica Zubac (C – LAC): $6,500 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
Centers always thrive whenever they play with James Harden, and that’s been the case for Zubac. The big man has scored at least 26 DraftKings points in 11 of his last 12 games, posting a 35-point average in that span. He’s also coming off a season-high 50 fantasy points in his most recent outing and should destroy a Dallas team that’s missing their starting center.

De’Anthony Melton (PG/SG – PHI): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
We love to use Melton in this $6K price range. The Philly guard has been stuffing the stat sheet in the absence of Harden, averaging 31 DK points per game over the last month. That’s no surprise since he’s being asked to do more, dropping 30 DK points across 30 minutes in his previous matchup with Minnesota.

Advantageous Pricing

• Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,600 DraftKings, $12,900 FanDuel
• Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,400 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
• Tyler Herro (PG/SG – MIA): $8,800 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
• Jaime Jaquez (SF – MIA) :$7,100 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
• Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts