NBA DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups, Injuries & More Today: Sunday Playbook
Published: Dec 08, 2024
Happy Sunday, December 8th, FAmily! We have a six-game NBA DFS main slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel today. Both main slates kick off at 7:00 pm ET despite games being played ALL DAY today. We have three teams on back-to-backs and a LOT of star power showing up on the injury report as Victor Wembanyama, LeBron James, and James Harden are all questionable. Let's dive into the NBA DFS Playbook for today!
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 8th
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.
3:10 pm ET
- The same exact Wizards team is playing today. A few things to consider: it's a back-to-back. They're 11-point dogs. Minutes could be lighter on starters, some backups could be extended in blowout. There's a LOT to like about Washington's starters, and if you're thinking game theory, a lot to like about some backups/younger players like Carlton Carrington, Jared Butler, Marvin Bagley.
6:20 pm ET
- Ja Morant & Desmond Bane are OUT.
- Marcus Smart 1.4 FP/min, 28% USG w/o them + Edey, Kennard & Williams
- Scotty Pippen 1.17 FP/min w/o them + Edey, Kennard & Williams
- Santi Aldama 1.15 FP/min w/o them + Edey, Kennard & Williams
8:00 pm ET
- LeBron James has been downgraded to DOUBT. It's very hard to ignore Anthony Davis. Rui Hachimura & Dalton Knecht become two plays that are also considered tier-1 options.
- James Harden is OUT. Norman Powell gets a 10% USG bump & 1.47 FP/min. Kevin Porter gets a 4% USG bump & 1.26 FP/min.
- Fred VanVleet is OUT. Amen Thompson is starting in his place. 1.24 FP/min without Eason/VanVleet out.
NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 12/8
- Anthony Davis - PROB
- Victor Wembanyama - IN
- LeBron James - DOUBT (downgrade)
- James Harden - OUT
- Brandon Ingram - OUT
- Fred VanVleet - OUT
- Lauri Markkanen - IN
- Andrew Wiggins - OUT
- Kyle Kuzma - OUT
- Austin Reaves - DOUBT
- Malcolm Brogdon - OUT
- Jordan Clarkson - OUT
- Alex Sarr - OUT
- Tari Eason - OUT
- Scoot Henderson - QUEST
- Toumani Camara - QUEST (upgrade)
- Corey Kispert - OUT
- Kris Dunn - IN
- Kyshawn George - OUT
- Mo Bamba - OUT
- Moses Moody - IN
- Ja Morant - OUT
- Desmond Bane - OUT
- Luke Kennard - OUT
- Daniel Theis - OUT
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.
Memphis Grizzlies @ Washington Wizards
- Total: 240
- Spread: MEM -11.5
- Grizzlies are 2nd in pace, Wizards are 4th in pace
- Grizzlies are 7th in DRtg, Wizards are 30th in DRtg
- Total: 232.5
- Spread: SAC -12
- Jazz are 27th in DRtg, Kings are 14th in DRtg
New Orleans Pelicans @ San Antonio Spurs
- Total: 226.5
- Spread: SAS -5.5
- Pelicans are 29th in DRtg, Spurs are 17th in DRtg
Portland Trail Blazers @ Los Angeles Lakers
- Total: 224.5
- Spread: LAL -8.5
- Trail Blazers are 12th in pace, Lakers are 19th in pace
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Golden State Warriors
- Total: 216.5
- Spread: GSW -1
- Timberwolves are 24th in pace, Warriors 6th in pace
Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Clippers
- Total: 215.5
- Spread: HOU -3
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
- Anthony Davis, Victor Wembanyama, Alperen Sengun
Mid
- De'Aaron Fox, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Jordan Poole, Jaren Jackson, Amen Thompson, Norman Powell
Value
- Jonas Valanciunas, Justin Champagnie, Carlton Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Scotty Pippen Jr., Marcus Smart, Santi Aldama, Kevin Porter, Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura
Stacks
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