NBA DFS Primer: Sunday (12/12)

We end the weekend with a satisfying five-game slate. This amount is more appealing because of the smaller player pools and less news to dissect, naturally leading to less chaos. In addition, it’s often less difficult to identify the optimal plays. So without further ado, let’s jump into the game totals and injury report before digging into the meat and potatoes of today’s players that stand out.

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Schedule and Odds

• BKN @ DET (+8.5) O/U: 213
• DAL @ OKC (+4.5) O/U: 210
• NO @ SA (-2.5) O/U: 220
• MIN @ POR (-1.5) O/U: 220.5
• ORL @ LAL (-10.5) O/U: 221

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros

Injury Report

• Paul Millsap (personal) OUT
• James Harden (rest) OUT
• Joe Harris (ankle) OUT
• Kyrie Irving (personal) OUT
• Jerami Grant (thumb) OUT
• Kelly Olynyk (knee) OUT
• Chris Smith (knee) OUT
• Sterling Brown (foot) questionable
• Willie Cauley-Stein (personal) OUT
• Luka Doncic (ankle) OUT
• Zion Williamson (foot) OUT
• Kira Lewis Jr. (knee) OUT
• Daulton Hommes (leg) OUT
• Zach Collins (foot) OUT
• D’Angelo Russell (ankle) questionable
• Damian Lillard (abdomen) questionable
• Cody Zeller (patellar) OUT
• CJ McCollum (lung) OUT
• Markelle Fultz (knee) OUT
• E’Twaun Moore (knee) OUT
• Jalen Suggs (thumb) OUT
• Michael Carter-Williams OUT
• Jonathan Isaac OUT
• LeBron James questionable
• Anthony Davis (knee) questionable
• Kendrick Nunn (knee) OUT
• Trevor Ariza (knee) OUT

Core Plays

Kevin Durant (SF/PF – BKN): $11,000 DraftKings, $10,800 FanDuel
The Nets already ruled out James Harden (rest) for today’s contest against the Detroit Pistons, paving the way for Durant to eat early and often. Brooklyn is also down Kyrie Irving (personal) and Joe Harris (ankle). That’s three of the team’s top-four scorers, which should lead KD to take 30-plus shots today. Durant is in the MVP race while sharing the court with Harden, so it’s scary to think about what he’ll do with 40 minutes and a 35% usage rate. This 22nd-ranked Detroit defense is in for a long day. Durant is in a beautiful spot today and is my favorite play on the slate.