We have a massive eleven-game NBA DFS main slate on tap today. Multiple stars like Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Ja Morant, and Devin Booker have already been ruled out, and we have several others like Trae Young, Damian Lillard, and Jimmy Butler who also have injury designations. Also noteworthy, we have two game totals that exceed 240 total points in Memphis-Atlanta and Boston-Chicago.  

With that said, let's dive into it all and find our top plays for Saturday, December 21st!

 

 

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 21st

Be sure to like and subscribe to the Fantasy Alarm YouTube channel!

 

 

 

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.

UPDATE 2:24 PM ET

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed questionable on the injury report, Damian Lillard has been ruled OUT, and Khris Middleton is probable. 
    • Obviously a situation to monitor. If Giannis can't go, there would be multiple pieces from the Bucks in play. Bobby Portis would become a top value play on the slate. 
    • Andre Jackson and AJ Green are viable value plays with Lillard ruled out. Huge bump to their value if Giannis is ruled out as well. 

UPDATE 6:05 PM ET

  • Trae Young - OUT
    • I already loved Jalen Johnson and De'Andre Hunter because of the game environment, but with Young out they are now two of the best plays on the entire slate.
    • Boosts with Trae Young off the floor this season include: 
      • Johnson - 27.0% usage rate (+4.4%)
      • Johnson  - 28.8% assist rate (+7.6%)
      • Hunter - 31.1% usage rate (+7%) 
      • Bogdan Bogdanovic - 19.8% assist rate (+8%)

UPDATE 6:30 PM ET

NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 12/21

 

 

NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews

Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic 

  • Spread: Magic -3
  • Total: 206

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Atlanta Hawks

  • Spread: Grizzlies -1
  • Total: 241.5

Utah Jazz vs. Brooklyn Nets

  • Spread: Nets -2.5
  • Total: 220.5

Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls

  • Spread: Celtics -12.5
  • Total: 242

New York Knicks vs. New Orleans Pelicans

  • Spread: Knicks -8
  • Total: 225

Washington Wizards vs. Milwaukee Bucks

  • Spread: Bucks -11.5
  • Total: 221.5

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Spread: Cavs -11
  • Total: 220

Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

  • Spread: Wolves -3
  • Total: 215.5

Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs

  • Spread: Spurs -7
  • Total: 226.5

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks 

  • Spread: Mavs -3.5
  • Total: 221

Detroit Pistons vs. Phoenix Suns

  • Spread: Suns -6
  • Total: 225
 

 

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

Value

 

 

 

Stacks

{{stack.team.name}} {{player.name}}
DraftKings {{player.fantasy.price.value[8]}}-
Fanduel {{player.fantasy.price.value[6]}}-