Strategy and Stats for 12/20/24 NBA Daily Fantasy Slate

Welcome to tonight’s thrilling NBA fantasy slate, featuring three electrifying games starting at 08:00 PM EST. The spotlight shines brightest on the Milwaukee Bucks as they clash with the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, tipping off at 08:30 PM EST. With an Over/Under set at a robust 222.0, fantasy managers should brace for a high-scoring affair. This marquee matchup not only promises fantasy fireworks but also sets the stage for standout performances across the board. As we dive deeper into tonight’s games, keep an eye on the top-projected players at each position, who are poised to turn in game-changing performances. Stay tuned as we break down each game, providing you with the insights needed to dominate your daily fantasy contests.

Top PG Picks for Today’s DFS Slate

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10300), Oklahoma City Thunder – Projected 51 pts

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to be a dominant force for the Oklahoma City Thunder, showcasing his prowess as a top-tier point guard in the league. Over his last five games, Gilgeous-Alexander has maintained an impressive average of 55.0 daily fantasy points, underscoring his elite status in DFS circles. His scoring ability remains robust with an average of 33.4 points per game, complemented by 5.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds. Notably, his shooting efficiency from the field is a remarkable 63.6%, although his three-point shooting has dipped slightly to 30.3%. Despite a slight decrease in assists and rebounds compared to his previous five-game stretch, Gilgeous-Alexander’s increased field goal attempts per game (22.0) indicate his aggressive offensive role. Facing the Miami Heat, ranked #21 defensively against point guards, presents a favorable matchup for him to exploit. With a DraftKings salary of $10300 and a projected point tally of 51.0, his DFS value score stands at 5.0, marking him as a strong value pick for today’s games.

Shooting Guard Spotlight: Daily Fantasy Analysis

Kelly Oubre Jr. ($6100), Philadelphia 76ers – Projected 29.0 pts

Kelly Oubre Jr. has been making waves as a shooting guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, especially in his recent performances. Over the last five games, Oubre Jr. has averaged 29.9 daily fantasy points, a notable increase from his previous five-game stretch where he averaged 25.0 points. His scoring has seen a significant uptick to 13.2 points per game, up from 9.5, complemented by robust rebounding numbers at 7.8 per game, showing an improvement of 1.8 rebounds. His shooting efficiency is impressive, with a 50.0% success rate from the field and an exceptional 52.4% from three-point range, a dramatic increase from 23.1% in earlier games. Despite a slight decrease in assists and a drop in field goal percentage compared to his phenomenal 68.4% in previous games, Oubre Jr.’s increased court time, now averaging 34.1 minutes, and higher shot volume at 9.4 per game, underline his critical role in the lineup. With a DraftKings salary of $6100 and a DFS value score of 4.8, Oubre Jr. represents a core value pick in today’s slate against the Hornets, who rank #10 in defense against SGs. His recent surge and high involvement make him a player to watch and consider for your DFS lineup.

Top Small Forward Picks for Today’s DFS Slate

Kelly Oubre Jr. ($0), Philadelphia 76ers – Projected 29.0 pts

Kelly Oubre Jr. has been a revelation for fantasy managers, especially over his last five games, where he’s averaged 29.9 daily fantasy points. His scoring ability has seen a noticeable uptick, with an average of 13.2 points per game during this stretch, up from 9.5 in the previous five games. His rebounding has also improved, pulling down 7.8 boards per game recently, compared to 6.0 in earlier games. While his assists slightly dipped to 1.8 from 2.0, the minor decrease is more than compensated by his impressive shooting efficiencies; 50.0% from the field and an exceptional 52.4% from three-point range. Oubre’s increased court time, now averaging 34.1 minutes per game, up from 26.5, gives him more opportunities to rack up fantasy points. Facing the Hornets next, who rank 10th in defense against SFs, might seem challenging, but Oubre’s current form suggests he can overcome tougher matchups. With a DraftKings salary mistakenly listed at $0 and a projected point tally of 29.0, he’s an indispensable pick for today’s fantasy lineup, offering an infinite DFS value score.

Power Forward Analysis for Today’s DFS Slate

Jalen Williams ($8300), Oklahoma City Thunder – Projected 42 pts

Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder continues to be a significant figure in daily fantasy sports, especially looking at his recent performances and upcoming matchups. Over his last five games, Williams has averaged 34.5 fantasy points per game, a slight dip from his previous set of games where he averaged 44.8 points. His scoring has seen a decrease from 24.8 points to 19.2 points per game, and his assists have slightly dropped from 5.5 to 4.6. However, his rebounding remains steady, showing a minor increase to 5.2 per game. Despite a decrease in his shooting efficiency from the field (45.2% down from 51.1%) and beyond the arc (34.6% down from 42.9%), Williams is still managing to put up significant numbers. He’s taking more shots now, averaging 17.6 per game, up from 15. This indicates a high usage rate which is a positive sign for fantasy potential. Facing the Miami Heat next, who rank #5 in defense against PFs, presents a challenging matchup. However, given his ability to maintain solid minute loads (33.9 per game) and his slight uptick in shot attempts, Williams holds a 5.1 DFS value score, positioning him as a strong value play in today’s slate.

Center Position Daily Fantasy Analysis

Joel Embiid ($9500), Philadelphia 76ers – Projected 50 pts

Joel Embiid’s recent performances have shown a dip compared to his explosive output in previous games. Over the last five games, Embiid has averaged 39.2 daily fantasy points, a significant decrease from the 61.7 points in the games prior. His scoring has dropped to 21.8 points per game from 33.8, and his assists and rebounds have similarly seen declines. Despite a slight improvement in field goal accuracy (53.1% up from 50.0%), his three-point shooting has plummeted to 15.0% from a robust 40.9%. The decrease in minutes per game to 29.9 from 43.2 might be contributing to these reduced numbers. However, looking ahead, Embiid faces the Hornets, ranked #25 against centers, suggesting a potential bounce-back opportunity. With a DraftKings salary of $9500 and a projected point total of 50.0 for the upcoming slate, Embiid holds a DFS value score of 5.3, marking him as a strong value pick despite recent fluctuations in his performance.