RADIO
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to everyone and their respective families. We hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season!
The holiday is a great way to reflect on your family, give to others and watch some quality NBA basketball. We have a five-game slate with stars galore and a few key matchups of title contenders. Let's take a look at some players who could potentially help you win big.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/25/19. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Russell Westbrook - PG, HOU @ GS ($8,900)
This matchup is projected to be the highest point total on Christmas Day and many DraftKings players will revolve their lineups around this game. Enter Westbrook who has been nothing short of spectacular as of late. Westbrook has not scored less than 23 points since December 5th, yet he has his lowest price tag since this same date. Westbrook has put up less than 47 DraftKings fantasy points just once in his past 10 games. The Golden State defense has been better as of late, but when you are the worst-ranked defense in the league, all you can go is up. Westbrook is an elite option here and should be priced higher.
Jamal Murray - PG/SG, DEN v. NO ($7,100)
The New Orleans Pelicans give up the most DraftKings fantasy points to opposing guards this season. This is baffling considering Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday are considered to be elite defenders. Murray and the Nuggets are also at home for this contest, where Murray shoots 1.6 percent better from the field and accumulates 5.7 more DraftKings fantasy points per game. Murray has also scored at least 25.0 DraftKings fantasy points per game in each of his past five home games. Murray has a high floor on Christmas Day.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Jayson Tatum - SF/PF, BOS @ TOR ($7,800)
Coming off a career-high in scoring, Tatum enters Christmas with career-high averages across most counting stats. Tatum and the Celtics travel to face the Toronto Raptors who are missing some key stars due to injury. Since Pascal Siakam (groin) and Marc Gasol (hamstring) went down, the Raptors went from the fourth-best defense to the 16th overall defense in the league. Surprisingly, over this span the Raptors are allowing less points in the paint, but are getting worked on the outside. The Raptors have given up 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists to Tim Hardaway Jr. and 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists to T.J. Warren. Tatum will have a good opportunity to follow suit.
Damion Lee - SG/SF, GS v. HOU ($5,400)
As mentioned earlier, this game is likely to be a higher-scoring affair though may be lopsided in Houston's favor. Lee has started and played quality minutes in each of the past four games. Over this span, Lee averaged 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 three-points in 30.5 minutes per game. Houston is second in the league in pace and gives up the eighth-most points to opponents this season. Lee should get quality minutes regardless of the final score and we need to find value somewhere during this slate.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Nikola Jokic - C, DEN v. NO ($9,400)
With a triple-double in two of his past games and nine double-doubles this month alone, it is head-scratching to see Jokic's price tag not higher. Jokic also has played much better at home this season. Jokic averages 1.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 8.7 DraftKings fantasy points more at home than on the road. Jokic also has the luxury of facing the sixth-worst ranked Pelicans defense who give up sixth-most DraftKings fantasy points to opposing centers this season. Jokic has the best matchup on the night for the centers in this slate and usually does not disappoint.
