We have a five-game slate to kick off our NBA week and there are some great options at every position. You can go stars and scrubs build, you can go balanced tonight, there are soo many options across the board it should be a fun night to build lineups.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/31/18. 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 prior to opening tip. Give me a follow on Twitter @DFS_Tom with questions or comments. Good luck everyone.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Stephen Curry - PG, GS @ PHO (DK - $9,600)
Curry and the Warriors are having a bit of a weird season, but they can end the calendar year on a high note since they are facing off against the Suns in a game where the over-under is set at 227 points. He comes in with a 32.4% usage rate, along with producing 1.38 fantasy points per minute this season, both of which are second highest on the team. The Suns are giving up 49 DraftKings points per game to point guards this season, which seventh worst in the league, making this an ideal to spot roster, Curry.
Austin Rivers, - SG, HOU vs MEM (DK - $4,900)
It was announced yesterday that Rivers is going to be getting the start for the Rockets tonight due to the injured Eric Gordon. He has posted 21 or more DraftKings points in each of his last two games with his new team, but those are both far below one fantasy point per minute. We know that he will always give up offensive usage to James Harden, so we are looking at Rivers as being a solid salary saver, who should be viable in cash games tonight.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Robert Covington - SF, MIN @ NO (DK - $6,500)
Covington has posted 25 or more DraftKings points in eight of his last 10 games and is now facing off against the Pelicans, who are giving up 43 DraftKings points per game to small forwards, which is fifth worst in the league. We don't have an over-under yet for this game, but we should be looking at one that is higher than 220, so a spot to target with all of it's potential fantasy goodness. He should be good for any format tonight, due to the up pace and high-scoring nature of this game.
Jaren Jackson Jr. - PF, MEM @ HOU (DK - $5,300)
Jackson has produced at or above one fantasy point per minute in seven of his last 10 games and comes in under $6K tonight. It should be noted that his minutes have been fluctuating a bit, everywhere from 22 minutes up to 31. Generally, you want to avoid that type of randomness in cash games, so look to have him in your GPPs lineups tonight versus the Rockets, who are giving up 46 DraftKings points per game to power forwards.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Deandre Ayton - C, PHO vs GS (DK - $7,300)
Ayton has been absolutely balling as of late, with 48 DraftKings points or more in four of his last six games. Love seeing that level of production out of a rookie and now has another chance to replicate those numbers against the Warriors, in a game where the over-under is set at 227 points. He's probably not the best cash game option, but with the double-double upside he is showing recently, you should be looking to have him in your GPPs tonight, or even do a bit of a game stack here.