NBA DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups, Injuries & More Today: Friday Playbook
Published: Dec 13, 2024
Happy Friday, December 13th, FAmily! We have a six-game NBA DFS main slate on DraftKings and eight games on FanDuel. We have a very interesting slate with how many players are listed on the injury despite having a lot of time off this week because of the Emirates NBA Cup. We have elite options such as Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis, and James Harden taking the floor.
Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.
- News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
- Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
- Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
- NBA DFS Projections
- Lineup Generator
- NBA Ownership
NBA DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, December 13th
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Pre-Lock Update
This section will be used for anything that changes from the morning until right up to roster lock.
Injury updates, players we’re higher on than we were in the morning and so much more.
6:15 pm ET
- Evan Mobley has been ruled OUT. Dean Wade & Isaac Okoro are starting.
- Jarrett Allen sees a 3.4% USG increase, 1.21 FP/min
- Caris LeVert 1.13 FP/min, mid 20s minutes off bench
- Donovan Mitchell & Darius Garland are GPP plays
6:25 pm ET
- Nikola Vucevic has been ruled OUT. Patrick Williams is IN (20-24 min limit). Josh Giddey & Zach LaVine are IN.
- Jalen Smith should start and play massive minutes (barring foul trouble) / 1.2 FP/min w/o Vuc
- Zach LaVine added to core plays (GPPs) 1.46 FP/min, 28.5% USG w/o Vuc
6:30 pm ET
- Justin Champagnie starting for Washington. Adding to player pool.
NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 12/13
- Anthony Davis - IN
- LeBron James - OUT
- Kevin Durant - IN
- Evan Mobley - OUT
- Nikola Vucevic - OUT
- Jamal Murray - QUEST
- Zach LaVine - IN
- Lauri Markkanen - PROB
- Josh Giddey - IN
- Miles Bridges - IN
- Deandre Ayton - QUEST
- Kyle Kuzma - OUT
- Stephon Castle - OUT
- Malcolm Brogdon - OUT
- Christian Braun - PROB
- Aaron Gordon - PROB
- Austin Reaves - IN, Starting
- Jordan Clarkson - PROB
- Keldon Johnson - OUT
- Lonzo Ball - PROB
- Zach Collins - OUT
- Robert Williams - QUEST
- Max Strus - OUT
- Derrick Jones - OUT
- Corey Kispert - OUT
- Tidjane Salaun - IN
- Caleb Martin - OUT
- Zach Edey - OUT
- Donovan Clingan - QUEST
- Bradley Beal - QUEST
NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews
With the NBA season just kicking off we don't have data yet for teams regarding pace of play and defensive matchups. In the section below, I’m listing the most notable things we need to look at in Las Vegas, including notable O/U and spreads.
Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
- Total: 232.5
- Spread: CLE -17
- Wizards are 4th in pace, Cavaliers are 8th in pace
- Wizards are 30th in DRtg, Cavaliers are 10th in DRtg
- Total: 231.5
- Spread: PHX -8
- Suns are 20th in DRtg, Jazz are 29th in DRtg
Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls
- Total: 231
- Spread: CHI -6
- Hornets are 28th in pace, Bulls are 1st in pace
- Hornets are 21st in DRtg, Bulls are 27th in DRtg
Brooklyn Nets vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- Total: 230.5
- Spread: MEM -11
- Nets are 30th in pace, Grizzlies are 2nd in pace
- Nets are 25th in DRtg, Grizzlies are 7th in DRtg
Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
- Total: 227
- Spread: PHI -6.5
- Pacers are 6th in pace, 76ers are 29th in pace
- Pacers are 24th in DRtg, 76ers are in 12th in DRtg
NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks
Here are the core players I’m looking at for my NBA DFS picks tonight. You can see the full analysis of tonight’s NBA DFS projections and player pool below or skip ahead to building the best lineups possible by locking these into the aforementioned lineup generator now.
High
Mid
- Cameron Johnson (GPPs), Norman Powell, Julius Randle, Nic Claxton, Chris Paul (FD), Zach LaVine, Jarrett Allen, Coby White
Value
- Jordan Miller, Aaron Gordon, Vasilije Micic, Jared Butler, Jusuf Nurkic (FD), Jalen Smith, Caris LeVert
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