Happy Holidays to you all! The league features five games on what is arguably the best day of the year for NBA action. As usual, we have some injuries to keep an eye on as Kevin Durant, James Ennis III, Tyson Chandler, JaVale McGee, Malcolm Brogdon, Allonzo Trier, Terrance Ferguson, and Wilson Chandler are all listed as the latest batch of superstars who may not play or have already been ruled out. As far as Vegas is concerned, Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State is your projected highest-scoring game of the night (no surprise there) in addition to featuring an anticipated pace of over 105 possessions.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 12/25/18. 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 lineup picks.
Be sure to give me a holler on Twitter @Den_Clausen and say hello. Good luck.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Stephen Curry - PG, vs. LAL ($9,700)
Instead of picking of Russell Westbrook, you can save some cash by picking up Steph Curry, a player who will likely match, or at least come close to matching, Westbrook's production on Christmas day. December has been very good to Curry as he is averaging 28.9 points and shooting a healthy 43 percent from deep. He has also hit at least 60 fantasy points this month, and with a favorable pace of play in this one, there is a good chance that he could hit that mark again.
Khris Middleton - SG, @ NYK ($7,500)
After a rocky start to December and reports that he was in Milwaukee's doghouse, Middleton is averaging a tad over 35 fantasy points over the last four games. His asking price is favorable, and he has a fantastic matchup against a team that isn't very good. If you need to pinch some pennies, look no further than throwing Middleton into your lineup, especially if Malcolm Brogdon is out again.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo - SF, @ NYK ($11,500)
After dropping 30 points against the Celtics on Friday, Antetokounmpo slowed down the following night against the Heat, finishing the night with only nine points. Though his performance wasn't a total sham, as he was able to throw in 13 rebounds and two blocks, it was a disappointing performance considering his asking price. Antetokounmpo will likely bounce back against the Knicks on Tuesday afternoon, a team with the second-worst defensive rating in the league. Look for the freak to put on a memorable performance on Christmas day.
LeBron James - SF, @ GSW ($11,400)
It wouldn't be Christmas unless LeBron was playing at some point throughout the day, right? The king is sporting an impressive 26.8 points, 7.2 boards, 6.8 assists, and 1.6 steals on Christmas day. He flourishes on the big stage, and it would be shocking if he weren't able to deliver, even against the defending champs.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Ivica Zubac - C, @ GSW ($3,500)
Even though Zubac has played 32 minutes in each of his last two games and is averaging 38.25 fantasy points during that same span, he is still very generously priced on Tuesday. With JaVale McGee already ruled out with a respiratory infection and Tyson Chander's availability in question while he deals with multiple ailments, the door is open for Zubac to get in his minutes. Ownership for him will likely be high, but it doesn't matter because, at an asking price of only $3,500, it will allow you the opportunity to put even more big names in your lineup.