RADIO
It was a fantastic day throughout the National Basketball Association on Saturday. The Nuggets and Knicks got things rolling out at Madison Square Garden. Yet, Nikola Jokic was too much, as Denver handed New York its third consecutive loss. The Bucks, sans Giannis Antetokounmpo, took care of business by decisively taking down the Heat, 124-102. DeMarcus Cousins made his second appearance for the team, and he played relatively well, scoring 11 points, thanks to an efficient 7-for-8 shooting from the charity stripe.
However, Bobby Portis, not Khris Middleton or Jrue Holiday, benefited the most without Antetokoumpo by finishing with a high-end double-double while adding two steals and two blocks. And, and of course, the Bulls, just a day after beating the Knicks, picked up another win by defeating the Nets to move within a half-game of the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel's "Main Slate" on 12/5/21. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. You can also check out today's DraftKings NBA DFS lineup picks. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s injury news to stay up to date before lineups are locked. Also, please give me a follow on Twitter @DennisMClausen, and feel free to say hello. Good luck!
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FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Eric Gordon, SF/SG - vs. NO ($5,200)
The Rockets currently own a five-game win streak. However, Houston will have a rough time keeping it going as it will be without Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. against the Pelicans. While Porter was in the lineup on Friday during the win over Orlando, he didn't last long and played only 18 minutes because of a thigh issue. His departure allowed several others to step up, specifically Gordon, who had a team-high 24 points while shooting 10-for-14 from the field and 4-for-6 from deep. Nonetheless, while the veteran is well beyond his prime, the 32-year-old likely has plenty of effective outings up his sleeve moving ahead.
Ish Smith, PG - @ ATL ($5,000)
The Hornets will be without several players on Sunday because of health and safety protocols. Included amongst the group is LaMelo Ball, the team's top producer. As a result, the team will likely turn to Smith to fill the void, at least some of it. The journeyman has started 166 games throughout his 12-year career, averaging 12.7 points, 5.9 assists, and 3.6 boards. With only three games to choose from, you can bet Smith will get a lot of attention from the DFS community. However, keep an eye on James Bouknight, who was recalled from the G-League on Saturday.
Also Consider: Bradley Beal ($8,500), Fred VanVleet ($7,900), Gary Trent Jr. ($5,900), Cody Martin ($5,400-questionable), Armoni Brooks ($4,100), D.J. Augustin ($3,600-GPP only)
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FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Miles Bridges, SF, @ ATL ($8,600)
Unquestionably, Bridges is in the midst of his best season to date. He's currently second on his team in scoring, only .1 behind LaMelo Ball, second in rebounding, and leads the way with 36.2 minutes per game. Last season, the former first-round pick averaged 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists without Ball, doing so while shooting a fantastic 44.4 % from deep. Without a doubt, he is the favorite to be the primary contributor until Ball returns, starting with the Hawks on Sunday night.
Kelly Oubre Jr., SF/SG - @ ATL ($6,600)
Certainly, the absence of LaMelo Ball stings, pun intended. Fortunately, the team still has Oubre, who has had a fantastic year, mainly from off the bench. The 25-year-old projects to get a noticeable bump in usage without the youngest Ball boy, and while Miles Bridges will undoubtedly get more chances offensively than usual, Oubre is a better choice from a value standpoint.
P.J. Washington, PF/C - @ ATL ($6,000)
Yes, another Hornet. Mason Plumlee also won't play against the Hawks while adhering to the league's health and safety protocols surrounding COVID-19, opening the door for Washington to continue to get a heavier than usual workload. Plumlee already had already missed time because of a calf injury throughout the last four games, allowing Washington to average nearly 29 fantasy points during that span. Nonetheless, the third-year man out of Kentucky appears to be back to 100% after missing time because of an elbow injury, and the Hornets will need him to contribute if the team hopes to lessen the blow caused by the multiple absences moving ahead.
Also Consider: Christian Wood ($8,700), Pascal Siakam ($7,800), Brandon Ingram ($7,700), Gordon Hayward ($7,600), Jae'Sean Tate ($7,400), Danilo Gallinari ($4,800), Garrison Mathews ($4,700)
FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Clint Capela, C - vs. CHA ($8,200)
The Hornets have struggled all year against the center position, allowing the second-most fantasy points per game, narrowly trailing behind the Sacramento Kings, who occupy the top spot. Things may change after meeting Capela on Sunday, who has averaged a double-double against Charlotte during his tenure in the league. The big man already put a hurtin' on the Hornets earlier in the year, scoring 20 points on an efficient 10-for-11 shooting from the field while adding 15 rebounds and two blocks for good measure.
Also Consider: Jonas Valanciunas ($8,000), Alperen Sengun ($4,600)
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