DraftKings NBA Lineup Advice: Monday (12/30)

The six-pack of NBA action lined up for Monday night will require keeping a close watch of the injury news leading up to tipoff. There is a plethora of players who carry questionable or game-time decision tags as of Monday morning including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bradley Beal, Andrew Wiggins, and Aaron Gordon. The question marks around the high-end options on this slate have pushed me to focus on building a balanced lineup without a high-priced stud, at least for now.

Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom defense versus position (DvP) calculations that combines data from the season and last five games along with blending similar positions production allowed together.

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Core Plays

Jimmy Butler (SG/SF – MIA): $7,800 @ WAS
I love attacking the mid-priced range on small to medium-sized slates with players that have a solid floor and plenty of upside potential. Butler fits that mold most nights as he does on Monday in a juicy matchup against the Wizards. The game features the second-highest Vegas total on the slate and the Wizards have surrendered increased production in points (+11.3%) and assists (+12.2%) to small forwards. Butler posted a triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in a previous meeting with the Wizards this year.

Devin Booker (PG/SG – PHO): $7,500 @ POR
Booker has been heating up from the field shooting over 54 percent in each of his last two games while pouring in 34 and 32 points receptively and that is while shooting just 1-for-10 from beyond the arc in those games. Look for Booker to keep a hot hand and start knocking down some of those three-pointers on Monday in the game with the highest Vegas total on the board against the Blazers.

Bam Adebayo (C – MIA): $7,600 @ WAS
Adebayo’s production can be a little bit inconsistent at times, but his minutes are not with at least 34 minutes of court time in nine of his last 10 games. He put up 24 points and 14 rebounds on his way to 52 DraftKings points in a previous matchup with the Wizards, who now have an injury-depleted frontcourt which should allow Adebayo to dominate in the paint. The Wizards have allowed an increase in points (+11.5%) and rebounds (+11.1%) to opposing big men this season.

Hassan Whiteside (C – POR): $7,100 vs. PHO
Outside of one dud performance in Utah, Whiteside has produced a double-double in 12 of his last 13 games while averaging 16.2 points and 14.5 rebounds per game during that stretch. He put up a double-double in a previous meeting with the Suns and has feasted at home this year with 15.3 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game for 46 DK points a night. There should be plenty of opportunities for Whiteside on Monday in an up-tempo matchup with the highest Vegas total on the slate.

Value Plays

Ersan Ilyasova (PF/C – MIL): $5,600 @ CHI
The use of Ilyasova is dependent on the status of Giannis Antetokounmpo for Monday’s game in Chicago. In the last two games with Giannis out, Ilyasova has averaged 17.5 points and 15.5 rebounds per game. He’ll get another strong matchup to produce if Antetokounmpo is out, against a Bulls team that allows the fourth-most points and fifth-most rebounds to power forwards this season.

Carmelo Anthony (SF/PF – POR): $5,300 vs. PHO
Look to get some additional exposure to the Blazers/Suns matchup with a fairly inexpensive Carmelo Anthony. Anthony put up 23 points and eight rebounds for 46 DK points in a game against the Suns earlier this season and has the potential for a similar line on Monday which would blow away his meager $5,300 salary.

Goran Dragic (PG – MIA): $5,200 @ WAS
Since returning from injury four games ago, Dragic has seen his minutes climb as high as 35 in his last game. He has scored at least 14 points in each of those four outings while adding 5.5 assists and 3.0 boards per game. Dragic’s salary hasn’t caught up to his current minutes and production since returning from injury and he draws a favorable matchup against the Wizards to keep the production going.

Terrence Ross (SG/SF – ORL): $4,200 vs. ATL
There could be some extra playing time and usage available for Ross on Monday night if Aaron Gordon misses the game. In three games with Gordon out this season, Ross has seen his minutes bump about slightly and his scoring goes with it by putting up 15.0 points per game in three games. Add in a plus matchup against the Hawks who have given up increased points (+15.0%) to wings this season and Ross could be on his way to a big night for the price.

Christian Wood (PF/C – DET): $3,800 @ UTH
Blake Griffin sounds like he is doubtful to play on Monday night which should open up more minutes for Christian Wood with Markieff Morris also out. Wood has played at least 23 minutes in the last two games which included one strong outing with 22 points and seven rebounds and one dud with just four points and six boards. Look for something in between on Monday against the Jazz but more than enough to make his $3,800 salary worth paying.

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