There are five games on the NBA main slate on DraftKings for New Year’s Eve. There are a couple of injuries to keep an eye on including Devin Booker and in the Timberwolves backcourt which could open up some additional value options. There are also a bunch of PF/C-eligible players that I want to roster including a few that didn’t make the cut for my recommendation list including Julius Randle, Draymond Green, DeAndre Jorda, and Al Horford. The Timberwolves/Pelicans matchup comes in with the highest Vegas total on the slate and one of the closer lines. So, set some DFS lineups and ring in the New Year!

Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.

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One Stud

Anthony Davis (PF/C – NO): $11,500 vs. MIN
It is hard to pivot away from James Harden the way he is playing right now with Chris Paul still out, but his matchup is much tougher (Grizzlies) and the game environment much slower (200-point Vegas total) than the one facing Anthony Davis against the Timberwolves. Davis has also been rolling with at least 57 DraftKings points in eight of his last nine outings. He put up 29 points and 11 rebounds for 60.25 DK points in his previous meeting with the Wolves and they have allowed a small increase in points (+4.9%) and rebounds (+2.3%) to PFs this season.

Core Plays

Karl-Anthony Towns (C – MIN): $9,300 @ NO
On the other side of the Pelicans/Timberwolves matchup is a red-hot Karl-Anthony Towns. Over his last three games, he is averaging 28.3 points, 19.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. He has exceeded 70 DK points in each of his last two games. Towns posted 25 points and 16 rebounds in an earlier meeting with the Pelicans and should continue to put up numbers in a game with the highest Vegas total on the slate.

Kyrie Irving (PG – BOS): $8,300 vs. GS
Kyrie Irving has also been playing very well over his last three games averaging 29.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game. He’ll play in a game with the tightest line of the night with the Celtics traveling to San Antonio to face the Spurs. The Spurs aren’t the same team defensively as in year’s past and have given up a small increase in points (+4.1%) to PGs this year.

DeAndre Ayton (C – PHO): $7,300 vs. GS
DeAndre Ayton isn’t the most consistent option, but he has shown his tremendous upside recently reaching 60 DK points twice in his last four games. He fared well against the Warriors in a previous matchup this season when he posted 20 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. Ayton gets an increase in rebounds (+6.3%) and assists (+11.6%) with the matchup and could see the ball go through him more on Monday night if Devin Booker doesn’t play.

Dennis Schroder (PG/SG): $5,400 vs. DAL
Dennis Schroder has been getting some extended run the last three games averaging over 35 minutes per night while posting 16.3 points, 5.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game during that stretch. He should be able to fill up the box score on Monday against the Mavericks who have given up increased production in points, assists and steals to SGs this season.

Value Plays

J.J. Barea (PG/SG – DAL): $4,600 @ OKC
J.J. Barea could get a few extra minutes if Wesley Matthews misses Monday’s game against the Thunder. Even if the extra playing time doesn’t come Barea’s way, he is very efficient with the court time he does receive as he has posted 29.5 DK points in just over 21 minutes per game in two outings against the Thunder this year. The Thunder are generous to opposing SGs giving up increased production across the board.

Danuel House (SF/PF – HOU): $4,300 vs. MEM
With Eric Gordon expected to miss Monday’s game against the Grizzlies, Danuel House should get some extra run. House has averaged over 28 minutes in his last four games which could bump even higher with Gordon out. His per game numbers aren’t eye-popping at 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds during his last four outings but with all of the defensive attention focused on James Harden, House should get some open looks and doesn’t need to produce much to pay off his salary.

Mikal Bridges (SG/SF – PHO): $4,200 vs. GS
Mikal Bridges has been playing big minutes for the Suns over the last eight games. He has played at least 30 in each game during that stretch and has posted decent numbers with 9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per night. His ability to stuff the stat sheet gives him multiple ways to reach value for his low salary and gives him some upside in a matchup with the Warriors who allow an increase in points (+6.8%) to SFs this year.

Kevon Looney (PF/C – GS): $3,700 @ PHO
Kevon Looney has tallied at least 22 minutes in five straight games for the Warriors including reaching double-digit points three times during that stretch. He draws a favorable matchup against the Suns who have been generous to opposing big men in points (+7.0%), rebounds (+4.1%) and assists (+11.1%) this year. Looney is a way to get some cheap exposure to the Warriors, while you can also consider Draymond Green if you can spend up into the mid-range.

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Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.