NBA DFS Lineup Picks & Advice: Thursday (12/19)

Welcome to the Thursday NBA DFS slate. I hope you’re having a profitable week and a wonderful season so far as we celebrate the holiday season. Maybe a big cash is on your wish list and I’m here to make it happen.

If you’re going to play NBA DFS, you must keep in mind lineup announcements and stay tuned for late swapping. That is going to be the easiest way to stay ahead of the field and in the money. We have an 11-game slate or 13-game tonight depending on the site you use, so you have quite the ability to get creative. In the end, it’s about making the right choices, and picking your spots, which is why I’m here.

Let’s break down the top plays for this slate.

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Let’s break down the top plays for this 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

Karl-Anthony Towns (C – NYK)

DraftKings: $10,200
FanDuel: $9,700

Karl-Anthony Towns has steadily established himself in New York over the season with his price slowly rising throughout the year. He’s consistently averaged over 50 fantasy points. In his last five games, he’s averaged 56.5 DraftKings points. There’s nothing like a revenge game to play to your ceiling. As someone who is data-driven, I’m not usually a narrative guy, but I make some exceptions in the NBA since players have more control over the game than in baseball or football.

Despite the Timberwolves ranking highly in defensive metrics, I trust Towns to crest the 50-point threshold and offer a solid floor for your lineups tonight. He is a lot more of a GPP play with a bit more value in the center markets given a lot of options tonight with all the games. That makes me want to roster him more as he’s gone over 60 fantasy points in two out of the last three games and seven times overall this season. He has shown a ceiling of 70+ points.

Cade Cunningham (PG – DET)

DraftKings: $9,800
FanDuel: $9,600

With Cade Cunningham’s recent performances, I’m shocked he hasn’t reached the $10,000 threshold on either DFS platform, especially given the matchup. Cunningham has gone over 60 DraftKings points in three of the past four games, with his 71-point outing coming against New York, one of the slowest-paced teams in the league. He’s averaged 51 fantasy points on the year. This matchup almost makes that his floor.

The Utah Jazz have the worst-ranked defense in the league and pace up the Pistons as a top-half-paced team in the league. Utah also has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing point guards this year, so Cunningham really couldn’t be in a better spot. Tobias Harris and Jaden Ivey are both questionable as well. If either is out or limited, Cunningham’s projections will only improve.

Jalen Johnson (PF, SF – ATL)

DraftKings: $8,400
FanDuel: $9,100

There are a lot of solid options in this price range like Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Kevin Durant. However, Jalen Johnson provides the perfect combo with a bit of a price reduction but still a high ceiling. The Hawks forward has tallied 46 points a game per game over his last 10 games. His minutes over his recent games have only continued to increase with higher usage along with it.

The Spurs aren’t as fast-paced as the Hawks but they will keep up with them. The total sits around 233, so there should be plenty of opportunity to go around. Johnson is projected for around 45 fantasy points and has peaked past 60 fantasy points. He’s not as big of a name as some other options but he is still capable of similar high-end fantasy output.

NBA DFS Cash Game Targets

Jayson Tatum (SF, PF – BOS)

DraftKings: $10,100
FanDuel: $10,000

The Boston Celtics are going to be the most highly rostered team on the slate, and it makes sense. They get to face the Bulls. Chicago has allowed the second-most fantasy points to teams this season. It’s honestly surprising that it’s not higher. The Bulls are the fastest-paced team in the league and have been all season. Their defense ranks 25th.

With the game in Boston, it only makes me feel better about rostering Celtics’ across DFS tonight. Last time against Chicago, Jayson Tatum scored 35 points with 14 boards and five assists, tallying 65+ fantasy points. He may not repeat that performance tonight, but he certainly has one of the highest floors and ceilings on the slate here. Even with projected high rostership he makes for a fine GPP play but is even more ideal in your cash lineups.

Alperen Sengun (C – HOU)

DraftKings: $8,800
FanDuel: $8,700

If you’re looking to save a bit of dough at the center spot but still want a ceiling play, Alperen Sengun is your guy. He’s coming off a tough game against Oklahoma City but now gets to face New Orleans, a team that has allowed the third-most fantasy points a game to opposing centers. They have the third-worst-ranked defense.

Sengun should dominate down low and playing at home gives me confidence he can dominate even more. His usage is just shy of 30% in the last week of play. He’s scoring nearly 20 points a game. He has a high ceiling. At a sub-$9,000 price tag, I’m buying the dip in cash games.

Miles Bridges (PF – CHA)

DraftKings: $6,200
FanDuel: $6,800

Considering the low price and friendly matchup, I’m surprised Miles Bridges isn’t projected for higher rostership but he should make a great cash option tonight. He’s averaged 37 fantasy points a game in his last five matchups. Three of those games had both LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in the lineup. Ball is back and Miller is questionable.

Even if they both play, Bridges still projects for around 35 fantasy points. Washington is not only the fourth-fastest team in the league but they’ve allowed the most fantasy points in the league overall and most to power forwards. Bridges should see the floor for around 30 minutes and is in line for a 25% usage rate, which means he is a great option for your lineups tonight.

NBA DFS GPP Targets

LaMelo Ball (PG – CHA)

DraftKings: $9,900
FanDuel: $9,800

After coming off the injury report and only playing 25 minutes last time out, I get why LaMelo Ball is projected at 5-6% percent rostership. But I only imagine that number will grow as we get closer to the slate and reports come out he won’t be limited. I mentioned before how great of a matchup Washington is.

They are fast-paced and have the second-worst defense in the league, which is awesome for any Charlotte player you want to slot in your lineup. Ball is finally back and I imagine he is looking to spread his wings again. Ball has peaked with a 75-fantasy point performance. You can’t say that about many players on the slate. In deep GPP fields, Ball makes for a solid leverage play.

Jalen Williams (PF, SF – OKC)

DraftKings: $8,300
FanDuel: $8,800

It is not the best matchup at all and that’s why rostership is down on Jalen Williams for tonight’s slate. But I’m looking for ceiling here and Williams has exceeded 60 fantasy points multiple times. In his last few games, he’s averaged 35 minutes with a 30% usage rate.

Williams has been as consistent as ever, going over 30 DraftKings points in 17 straight games. I project him for around 40 points tonight. With his remarkably low rostership, he is a solid pivot off higher-owned options to get exposure to a top-five offense over the last 10 games.

Andrew Wiggins (SF, PF – GSW)

DraftKings: $6,600
FanDuel: $6,100

In two of his last three outings, Andrew Wiggins has reached the 40-fantasy point benchmark. Yet, even in a game with a 238-point total, he is still projected for under 10% rostership. Memphis may have a solid defense but they are still nearly the fastest-paced team in the league, and Wiggins will get plenty of opportunities because of it.

The Grizzlies have allowed top-10 fantasy numbers to opposing forwards. There is a clear path to a ceiling performance out of Wiggins tonight. He’s averaging a 24% usage rate over nearly 30 minutes in the past two weeks, so I project the Kansas product for around 33 minutes with a ceiling north of 40 fantasy points tonight.

NBA DFS Value Plays

Jalen Duren (C – DET)

DraftKings: $5,500
FanDuel: $5,800

Considering Utah-Detroit is the first game on the slate some may be opposed to slotting Detroit players into their lineups but they are in one of the best matchups on the slate. Jalen Duren has seen some extra minutes of late and I’m hoping for that against tonight in a pace-up environment against the worst ranked defense in the league. Duren is coming off a 30-plus point effort and I project him for a similar fantasy out put tonight. The Jazz have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers and some of the highest scoring outputs as well. It’s not dirt cheap but if you’re looking to fade some of the bigger centers on tonight’s slate than Jalen Duren is an easy go to, along with Clint Capela, priced in a similar range.

Dillon Brooks (SG, SF – HOU)

DraftKings: $4,500
FanDuel: $4,800

Pick your option between Brooks and Jabari Smith because they are both great options tonight. Brooks just is a bit better pricing so he’s my go to here. In the last two weeks, Brooks has averaged 33 minutes a game with a 17 percent usage rate. The Pelicans are the third-worst defense in the league and have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points a game to opposing small forwards. Playing at home as 10 point favorites means a lot of the lower priced Rockets players will be filled into lineups but with the number of games on today’s slate I wouldn’t be too worried about high ownership to fade him at all.

Devin Vassell (SG, SF – SAS)

DraftKings: $5,200
FanDuel: $5,900

Projected to come off the bench, and coming off a tough game against Minnesota, I expect Devin Vassell to be low owned tonight especially on such a slate. I project him just shy of 30 fantasy points but the Spurs guard is capable of posting 38 fantasy points which he did just a week ago. Against Atlanta is an ideal time to do it. The Hawks are the third fastest paced teams in the league and have allowed the second most fantasy points to opposing small forwards and sixth most to shooting guards. Vassell is averaging 27 minutes a night over his past five games with a near quarter usage rate when he’s on the floor. He’s more of a GPP option than cash but still makes for a solid play.