NBA Fantasy Projections & Optimizer Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel 12/20

Monday delivers a six-game slate, and with 12 clubs in action, NBA fantasy lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel will be flush with high-level talent and value plays. The Awesemo NBA Starting Lineups page will provide breaking news when starters are announced as well as a full injury report on players who might be missing in action. Below are some NBA daily fantasy options that stand out for tonight’s slate using Awesemo’s Boom/Bust Tool and NBA DFS projections.

NBA Fantasy Projections & Lineup Optimizer Picks Tonight

Boom: Tyrese Haliburton: $7,000 DraftKings/$7,700 FanDuel

33.9% DraftKings Boom/25.2% FanDuel Boom

Haliburton is a near must-play with De’Aaron Fox (health protocols) and Davion Mitchell (health protocols) sidelined. With these two guards missing the past two games, Halliburton has started at point for the Kings and delivered 50.5 DraftKings points in 37.3 minutes per game, including two double-doubles. In the 96 minutes Haliburton has played with Fox and Mitchell off the floor this season, his usage has risen 4.7 percentage points and his assist rate has skyrocketed 21.8 percentage points to a team-high 47.5%. With this immense role, Haliburton scores 1.23 DraftKings points per minute. Tonight he will be facing a Warriors’ defense that leads the league in efficiency, but both these clubs rank inside the top 12 in pace, and this game’s total is the third highest on the slate (221.5 points).

Haliburton’s impressive play should continue in this fast-paced setting, and Awesemo’s Boom/Bust Tool is giving him a ceiling above 40 fantasy points for both DraftKings and FanDuel.

Latest NBA DFS Content

Boom: DeMar DeRozan: $9,300 DraftKings/$8,900 FanDuel

24.3% DraftKings Boom/29.9% FanDuel Boom

With Zach LaVine (health protocols) missing his first game of the season last night, DeRozan erupted for 52.5 DraftKings points across 34.2 minutes in the win over the Lakers. In the 315 minutes he has played with LaVine off the court, DeRozan has watched his usage vault 6.5 percentage points to a team-best 36.5%. Additionally, his assist rate has seen a 1.8-percentage-point boost, helping DeRozan produce 1.35 DraftKings points per minute. LaVine will remain inactive tonight when the Bulls host the Rockets.

This season Houston ranks fourth in pace and 24th in defensive efficiency. Vegas is giving Chicago the third-highest implied team total on the slate (114.75 points), and this game’s total is the second largest on the board (222.5 points). DeRozan has huge upside in this juicy matchup, and at $9,300 on DraftKings, he is the best value above $8,000 for this six-game slate, according to Awesemo’s projections.

Boom: Dillon Brooks: $6,400 DraftKings/$6,700 FanDuel

29.4% DraftKings Boom/20.9% FanDuel Boom

Brooks is underpriced for life without Ja Morant (knee) on both DraftKings and FanDuel. In the 11 games Brook has suited for with Morant inactive this season, he has averaged 36 DraftKings points per game, including a season-high 49.25 DraftKings points last night against the Trail Blazers. This season Brooks leads the Grizzlies with a 30.5% usage rate with Morant off the floor, and hosting the Thunder tonight, Memphis has the fifth-highest implied team total on the slate (110.75 points). Brooks brings similar upside to last night and is an outstanding mid-tier target at sub-$7,000 price tags on both sites.

Update: Morant has been upgraded to questionable for tonight. If the point guard returns, Brooks would see a notable hit to his value and be a tournament play only.

Bust: Shia Gilgeous-Alexander: $8,600 DraftKings/$8,700 FanDuel

55.9% DraftKings Bust/60.8% FanDuel Bust

Gilgeous-Alexander is a stud to avoid tonight. As one of the only clubs in the NBA that is not dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, the Thunder have a very clean injury report on the road facing a Grizzlies defense that has led the league in defensive rating since they lost Morant 11 games ago. Gilgeous-Alexander has been 2.1 DraftKings points per game worse on the road this season, and the Thunder’s implied team total is the lowest of the 12 teams competing Monday night (101.75 points).

In this brutal matchup, Gilgeous-Alexander’s prop lines on BetMGM are set at 21.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds, which lead to only 32 DraftKings points before defensive stats and bonuses. With Awesemo projecting him for decent ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Gilgeous-Alexander is a sharp fade at these inflated price tags.

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