DraftKings NBA Lineup Advice: Wednesday (12/26)

I hope everyone had a great holiday and enjoyed some of the NBA action on Christmas Day. It was an interesting slate of games yesterday, as the Thunder and Rockets dueled it out in a classic, the Celtics and 76ers went to OT in what felt like a playoff preview, and the short-handed Lakers blew out the Dubs after LeBron James left the game early into the second half with a groin injury.

Today in the Association, we have 10 games on the slate, and all of them should be fairly close. With the exception of Pacers/Hawks (IND -8.0) and Cavaliers/Grizzlies (MEM – 10.0), all other games have a point differential of 5.5 or less. The highest over/under this evening is Kings/Clippers at 239, so there will certainly be some players to target in that one. New Orleans/Dallas and Minnesota/Chicago come in next at an o/u of 228.5 each. I’m going to name 10 players to take a look at when setting your lineups today. You won’t be able to play all of them in the same lineup, but any of these players will make fine additions to your DFS rosters. Good luck!

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Point Guard

Victor Oladipo (PG/SG – IND): $8,700 @ ATL
Oladipo has averaged 45 DK points over his last two games while playing 36 minutes in each contest. He’s doing a little bit of everything, averaging 19 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 2.5 steals in those games. Despite a bad offensive performance on Sunday against Washington (12 points, 4-13 FG), Oladipo still turned in a respectable line, dishing out nine assists, his second most on the season. He’s a lock for 30+ minutes playing in a prime matchup with Atlanta’s bottom-barrel defense. He’s worth the price tonight.

Monte Morris (PG – DEN): $4,600 @ SA
Morris has led the Nuggets’ second unit this year, and the solid play of the sophomore from Iowa State is a big reason why Denver has kept its first-place standing in the West despite all of the injuries. Coming off the bench, Morris has averaged 25 minutes per game, so his opportunities will be available tonight. He’s turned it on over his last five, averaging 15 points, 3.6 boards, and 5.o assists which are all better than his season averages. The Nuggets face a below-average Spurs defense in the nightcap, and I like Morris as a value play. 

Also consider: Devin Booker @ ORL, Ryan Arcidiacono vs. MIN

Shooting Guard

Buddy Hield (SG/SF – SAC): $7,200 @ LAC
Hield has been on fire as of late, averaging 31 points in his last three contests and 43 DK points over 36 minutes per game. He’s not a source of assists or steals (2.4 APG, 0.5 STLPG), but the scoring and rebounding (6.7 RPG in his last three) make Hield a valuable player for DFS lineups. I think he stays hot tonight at Staples Center, and his price will only continue to rise (up $1,400 in the last two weeks). At $7,200, Hield offers a lot of upside at a price that isn’t outrageous. The Kings have an implied total of 117 tonight in what should be a fast-paced, high-scoring affair.

Justin Holiday (SG/SF – CHI): $5,300 vs. MIN
Holiday has played 35 minutes per game this season, and he will continue to get a lot of playing time against the T-Wolves tonight, especially with Zach LaVine looking doubtful to take the court. Holiday is coming off a stellar performance on Sunday (27 points on 12-21 shooting, 7 rebounds, 6 assists), and he’ll look to keep it up against Minnesota making for a very affordable play with upside.

Also consider: Reggie Jackson vs. WAS, Reggie Bullock vs. WAS

Small Forward

Danilo Gallinari (SF/PF – LAC): $7,300 vs. SAC
Gallinari has a great chance to keep up his scoring tonight against the Kings after averaging 25.6 PPG in his last five. He’s also stroking it from three, draining 17 shots from beyond the arc in that same stretch. The Clippers have an implied total of 122 in what will most likely be the highest-scoring game of the evening with a 239 o/u. I like Tobias Harris just fine tonight, but Gallinari is $500 cheaper, and I’d like to ride the hot hand until he cools off.

Rodions Kurucs (SF/PF – BKN): $4,600 vs. CHA
With Allen Crabbe out of the lineup, Kurucs has averaged 34 DK points in his last two, including a 16-10 performance on Sunday. Crabbe is out again, and the matchup with Charlotte isn’t scary. He’s still cheap at only $4,600, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him hit over 5x value tonight.

Also consider: Andrew Wiggins @ CHI, Harrison Barnes vs. NO

Power Forward

Lauri Markkanen (PF – CHI): $7,700 vs. MIN
Markannen has been the focal point of the offense as of late, averaging 31.5 PPG on 33-48 shooting in his last two games. With Bobby Portis out indefinitely and Zach LaVine still not ready to return, Markannen should continue to get playing time and lead the team offensively. He’s an excellent play tonight against Minnesota.

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – IND): $6,200 and Thaddeus Young (SF/PF – IND): $5,600 @ ATL
Both are great options tonight, but the call comes down to roster construction and remaining salary. Sabonis has been the better DFS scorer (32.5 DK points to Young’s 25.4), but Young has played more minutes (29.2 per game to Sabonis’ 24.5). Young has the higher ceiling with two games of at least 49 DK points (no such games for Sabonis), but Sabonis has been a steady and reliable. If you’re looking for a cheap play with upside, it’s Young. If you need 25 – 30 DK points with a high floor, it’s got to be Sabonis. Both are strong options against an Atlanta frontcourt battling injuries to John Collins, Alex Len, and Omari Spellman.

Also consider: Montrezl Harrell vs. SAC, Nemanja Bjelica @LAC

Center

Karl-Anthony Towns (C – MIN): $9,400 @ CHI
KAT has been in a bit of a funk recently, averaging just under 16 points and seven rebounds per game in his last two – well below his season averages of 21-11. He’s due for a bounce-back performance, and I think it comes against a depleted Bulls team who will be starting an inexperienced frontcourt of Wendell Carter and Lauri Markannen. Towns is still worth his steep price-tag despite his recent stretch of mediocre games, and he may be underowned because of it.

Myles Turner (C – IND): $8,000 @ ATL
I mentioned Sabonis and Young as quality plays at the PF position, so it’s only right that I include Turner at the C spot. He’s averaging 42.5 DK points in his last five games in large part due to his work on the boards (12 per game, despite a six-rebound clunker against the Knicks) and increased scoring (16 PPG over his last five). Turner faces a banged-up Atlanta frontcourt that won’t be able to contain him. He’s a great play as the eighth highest-priced C, and you could save some cash by starting Turner.

Also consider: Serge Ibaka @ MIA, Willie Cauley-Stein vs. SAC

Dirt Cheap Bonus

Jahlil Okafor (C – NO): $3,300 @ DAL
Okafor has played at least 13 minutes in three straight games, and he’s averaging 21 DK points in that span. He’s been playing more due to some wear and tear on Anthony Davis and Nikola Mirotic continuing to miss games. Mirotic is out tonight, and even with AD and Julius Randle in the starting lineup, Okafor has certainly played well enough recently to earn some minutes off the bench. The former third-overall pick will only cost you $3,300, allowing you to spend up elsewhere.

Zachary Hanshew is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.