RADIO
The 12th Friday of the NBA season is upon us. While 20 teams are in action, there are not too many marquee matchups. The most intriguing game on the docket appears to be the Trail Blazers at the Thunder. The Thunder (24-13) are second in the Western Conference, a game-and-a-half behind the conference-leading Nuggets, while the Blazers (22-16) are in tied for fifth in the conference, two-and-a-half games in back of the Thunder. Both teams come into the contest on two-game winning streaks and 7-3 over their last 10. However, Portland is just 8-10 on the road. Meanwhile, OKC is one of the best teams in the league at home with a 13-4 record.
This is the first of four meetings between the Thunder and Trail Blazers. There are a few interesting matchups within the game, starting at the point guard position where Damian Lillard will go head-to-head against Russell Westbrook. The two are among the top-four point guards in efficiency with Westbrook being No. 2 and Lillard being No. 4, per Hoopstats. Westbrook is coming off a horrid shooting night in his last outing versus the Lakers as he made just three of 20 shots from the field, although he still managed to register his 11th triple-double of the campaign. In fact, Westbrook is having the worst scoring efficiency season of his career as he is averaging only 1.07 points per shot. On the other hand, Lillard has scored at least 20 points 13 times since Dec. 1 and while he struggled from long distance in his last outing against the Kings (1-for-9), he made 3.4 threes a game in December at a 46.4 percent clip. The other intriguing matchup is Steven Adams versus Jusuf Nurkic. Paul George, who continues to play the best basketball of his life, could have another big day against Maurice Harkless and the rest of the Blazers' small forwards.
The Hawks versus the Bucks and the Clippers versus the Suns could be two of the most entertaining games from a fantasy perspective as both games have over/under of 230 points. For the rest of the article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 01/04/19. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on DraftKings. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. As always, don't set your lineups to early and check player statuses before the opening tip.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Malcolm Brogdon: PG/SG vs. ATL ($5,800)
Brogdon is a value play here and he has an excellent matchup against the Hawks. The third-year pro has been very efficient this year and is putting up career numbers almost across the board. He has scored in double-figures in each of his last six outings, although he has shot the ball better over the past four games where the 6-foot-5 combo guard is averaging 15.8 points, five rebounds, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 three-pointers as well as two turnovers while shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from beyond the arc.
The 26-year-old is averaging 29.3 DK fantasy points over his last four contests and has surpassed the 30-point mark in three of his last six games. Brogdon, who is Razzball 13th rated fantasy point guard, shoots significantly better at home than he does on the road as he is maki g 52.9 percent of his shots overall and 49.3 percent of his three-pointers at the Fisery Forum.
The Hawks are allowing the second most points and the third worst shooting percentage to opposing backcourts. Atlanta has been better at holding opposing backcourts in check recently, although they still rank in the bottom third of the league over D'Angelo Russel and Mike Conley are higher end guards who could have big games tonight. I also like Brandon Ingram, Justise Winslow and Zach LaVine. In addition, Eric Bledsoe, Josh Hart and Terry Rozier could be strong play. There is a caveat with Rozier and that is if Kyrie Irving doesn't play.Tomas Satoransky, Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Johnson,Dennis Smith Jr., and D.J. Augustin are good cheap options.
Josh Richardson: SG/SF vs. WAS ($6,800)
Richardson's production across the board was up-and-down all December, although he did record 4.6 assists for the month, which is his highest total to date. Richardson is coming off a strong performance against the Cavs on Wednesday, finishing with 24 points as he knocked down nine of 16 shots from the field and four of seven from beyond the arc. He also had five assists, two rebounds and two turnovers.
The 25-year-old wing is averaging 32.4 DK fantasy points over the last four outings and has tallied at least 30 fantasy points in eight of his last nine games with a floor of 28 points and a ceiling of 41.3. Richardson has been excellent against the Wizards in the first two games this year, producing 26 points along with five assists, 3.5 triples, and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 45.7 percent from the floor as well as 53.8 percent from long distance. He is a top-35 play according to Razzball. I also like Luka Doncic and Khris Middleton here. Kevin Huerter and Josh Okogie are value plays here as well.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Danilo Gallinari: SF/PF @PHO ($7,000)
Giannis Antetounmpo is the top play here, but he is a little expensive. Plus Gallinari is currently playing the best basketball of what is a career year. The 30-year-old has scored at least 20 points in two straight games and seven of his last nine. He also has doled out three assists and grabbed seven or more boards in four of his past five outings. Overall, the 6-foot-10 forward has compiled 20.5 points along with 2.3 three-pointers, 6.4 boards, and 2.7 assists since Dec. 1.
Gallinari is a top-five play tonight at the small forward position tonight. He is averaging 35.1 DK fantasy points over the last four games and has topped the 30-point mark in eight of the last 10 contests, tallying at least 40 points on three occasions. Gallinari, who has been better on the road than at home, has been tremendous against the Suns this year. The 10th-year pro has racked up 26.5 points and 45.6 fantasy points in two previous games against Phoenix. Tobias Harris and Harrison Barnes are strong options. Kyle Kuzma is also a viable play if he is able to go against the Knicks as he currently has a questionable designation. Kyle Anderson, DeMarre Carroll and Jae Crowder are value options here.
Trevor Ariza: SF/PF @MIA ($5,800)
Ariza is a value play and has played extremely well since joining the Wizards. Since joining the Wizards, the 33-year-old is averaging 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.3 steals in nearly 40 minutes a game over eight contests. He has scored in double-figures in seven of eight games and has topped 30 DK fantasy points on four occasions during this period.
While Ariza has been pretty good at filling the stat sheet in nearly every category since being acquired by the Wizards, he has struggled shooting from the field. That was the case when he faced the Heat earlier this year with the Suns as he compiled 10 points, two three-pointers, seven rebounds along with six assists. Lauri Markkanen, Noah Vonleh, and Larry Nance Jr. are options. Luke Kornet and Wendell Carter Jr. are solid value options.
DraftKings DFS Centers
DeAndre Jordan: C @BOS ($6,400)
There are several attractive high-priced options at center tonight such as Karl-Anthony Towns, Marc Gasol, Nurkic and Rudy Gobert. But I decided to focus on a cheaper option in Jordan.
Jordan's offense has been all over the map this year and he has tallied just 31 points over his last four games. But, the 6-foot-11 center has hauled down seven or more rebounds in every game, which includes grabbing double-digit rebounds on 33 occasions. He has totaled at least 20 rebounds six times. He has compiled 23 double-doubles on the season. I also like Steven Adams,Deandre Ayton, Brook Lopez and Jarrett Allen. Myles Turner and/or Domantas Sabonis could be a good play as well as Tristan Thompson. Turner is a little inconsistent while Sabonis has struggled in previous matchups against Chicago. Thompson is just coming off an injury so his minutes could be restricted.
