It’s Friday, December 5. The National Basketball Association (NBA) heads into the seventh weekend of the regular season, and we have a total of 12 games on today’s NBA DFS slate. While FanDuel includes all 12 games, DraftKings splits up the evening. There is a 11-game tournament, though, with the 9:30 p.m. game not included.
We have an Amazon Prime doubleheader, as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics meet at 7:00 p.m. ET on the streaming service, while the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder tip-off is at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Here are our top NBA DFS picks and advice for tonight’s slate.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Core Plays
- DraftKings: $10,700
- FanDuel: $10,700
Tyrese Maxey will cost you a pretty penny, but he is a good player to build a DFS roster around. He has averaged 54.9 Fantasy Points Per Game (FPPG), and he is facing a Milwaukee Bucks team which has an OPRK of 24th.
Maxey is on a tear lately, going for 35 or more points in three straight games, averaging 38.0 points per game (PPG), 5.7 assists per game (APG), 4.7 rebounds per game (RPG), 2.0 steals per game (SPG) and 1.0 blocks per game (BPG) in the span. He has also posted four 3-pointers in each of his two games in December.
- DraftKings: $9,700
- FanDuel: $9,400
Karl-Anthony Towns has a very favorable matchup on tap, as the Utah Jazz invade Madison Square Garden. The Jazz allow 124.7 PPG, which ranks 29th in the NBA, while allowing a 48.2 field-goal percentage and 36.3 3-pointer percentage.
The Knicks big man is averaging 46.5 FPPG, with the Jazz posting a 27th OPRK. In two games in December, Towns is averaging 32.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 3.5 APG and 2.5 3PT per game, while shooting 59.5% (25-of-42) from the field.
- DraftKings: $9,300
- FanDuel: $9,500
Deni Avdija, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, is really coming into his own in Portland. He is a budding superstar, and he has managed two triple-doubles in the past eight games.
Avdija gets a crack at the Detroit Pistons, as the road trip continues. He is averaging 26.0 PPG, 10.5 APG, 8.0 RPG and 2.0 3PT per game in two outings in December. He is working on a four-game streak with at least 25 points scored, too, while posting seven or more assists during the span. He also has 11.7 RPG in the past three outings, too.
NBA DFS Cash Game Targets
- DraftKings: $8,500
- FanDuel: $8,600
Pascal Siakam has an ultra-favorable matchup against the defensively-challenged Chicago Bulls at United Center on Friday night. The Bulls have the 30th OPRK, and he is averaging 42.7 FPPG.
Siakam is working on a four-game streak with 23 or more points scored, while averaging 7.5 RPG in that span. He has also chipped in with 10 assists in the past three outings, and he dropped three triples in against Denver on Wednesday.
- DraftKings: $7,800
- FanDuel: $7,800
Josh Hart is a strong play as part of a New York Knicks stack against the leaky defense of the Jazz. The swingman flirted with a triple-double last time out, going for 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, and this matchup is even more favorable.
Hart has scored at least 15 points in five straight outings, and he has seven or more assists in five of the past six outings, while grabbing at least eight boards in six in a row. He does a little bit of everything.
- DraftKings: $7,700
- FanDuel: $7,400
Nikola Vucevic has managed a pair of double-doubles in two December games so far, averaging 18.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG and 2.5 APG with 2.0 SPG and 1.0 3PT per game. He is shooting 48.4% from the field, too.
Be careful, though, as he inexplicably turned it over six times last time out, which is a bit concerning since those are minus points. However, if you’re looking to pick on the struggling Pacers, Vucevic is a good player to target for your lineup.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
- DraftKings: $6,400
- FanDuel: $5,900
Vince Williams Jr. has been seeing plenty of run with Ja Morant on the shelf due to a strained calf. Morant remains day-to-day, so Williams will continue to see plenty of minutes in his stead.
The former VCU Rams standout has played at least 23 minutes in 11 consecutive outings, but his production has been a bit erratic. Still, last time out he had 12 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and a steal with a pair of triples. When he is on, he is a steal at this price point.
- DraftKings: $6,500
- FanDuel: $6,400
The rookie Kon Knueppel has really been a bright spot for the skidding Charlotte Hornets. He is averaging a respectable 32.2 FPPG, and he faces a Toronto Raptors defense with an OPRK of 22nd. The potential for a strong stat line is very much there despite what should be a rather disparate matchup.
The 20-year-old rookie from Duke has scored 12 or more points in four consecutive outings, and he has exactly four assists in each of those games. Since an 0-for-7 shooting night from behind the arc in an NBA Cup game against the Knicks on Nov. 26, Knueppel has at least one trey in four in a row, dropping in 11 triples in the span.
- DraftKings: $6,200
- FanDuel: $6,300
The rookie VJ Edgecombe is worth playing on the road against the Bucks, either by himself, or combined with Knueppel (above) for a nice one-two backcourt punch.
Edgecombe does a little bit of everything, going for 9.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.5 APG and 2.5 SPG in two games in December, while hitting three triples. He did have five turnovers last time out against Golden State, so that’s something he cannot repeat. Still, he contributes a little bit in multiple categories, so enjoy.
NBA DFS Value Plays
- DraftKings: $4,100
- FanDuel: $3,900
Gabe Vincent is a low-cost option who could exceed DFS salary expectations by miles, as he gets a chance to fill the enormous void with Luka Doncic away from the team due to personal reasons.
Vincent and Bronny James figure to try and fill the enormous void. He is averaging 5.0 PPG, 2.8 APG and 1.5 RPG in the past four games, and he has averaged 1.5 3PT in the solid span.
- DraftKings: $3,200
- FanDuel: $3,700
With Victor Wembanyama (calf) sidelined, and without a timetable for a return, a handful of veterans are getting a chance to fill the void. Bismack Biyombo, Luke Kornet and Olynyk are each going to see added run. However, Kornet is is questionable due to an injury of his own, so Olynyk is the most logical DFS option.
Olynyk was limited to just three minutes last time out, so that’s concerning. However, in his final two games in November, Olynyk had a healthy 7.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG and 1.0 3PT, while hitting 5-of-7 from the field. Don’t expect miracles, but he could produce decent stats, while helping to save you plenty of salary for the top stars in your lineup.
- DraftKings: $4,200
- FanDuel: $4,100
Sam Hauser made the start Thursday against the defensively-challenged Washington Wizards with Jaylen Brown sidelined due to illness. Brown carries a questionable tag for Friday in the second end of the back-to-back.
Hauser has been respectable lately, going for 8.7 PPG in the past six outings, and he has knocked down 14 3-pointers in that six-game span, while committing a total of zero turnovers in the six-game stretch.
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