NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Friday, December 23

NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Friday, December 23

This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.

Slate Overview

SAS at ORL 
Magic 7-3 in last 10.
LAC at PHI 
76ers on six-game win streak. 
DET at ATL 
Pistons 2-8 in last 10. 
MIN at BOS
Celtics on three-game slide.
TOR at CLE
Cavs 16-2 at home.
MIL at BKN 
Nets on seven-game win streak. 
CHI at NYK
Knicks 8-2 in last 10.
DAL at HOU
Mavs 4-11 on the road.
IND at MIA
Heat 9-7 at home. 
NOP at OKC 
Thunder on three-game win streak. 
POR at DEN
Nuggets 10-3 at home.
MEM at PHX
Suns 14-4 at home. 
WAS at SAC
Wizards 1-9 in last 10. 
CHA at LAL
Lakers on two-game slide. 

For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There, you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.

Injuries to Monitor  

For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report    

SAS - Keldon Johnson (hamstring): Questionable    

ORL - Gary Harris (hamstring), Wendell Carter (foot): Questionable 
Jalen Suggs (ankle), Chuma Okeke (knee), Jonathan Isaac (knee): OUT  

LAC - John Wall (ankle): Questionable

PHI - Tyrese Maxey (foot): OUT 

ATL - Clint Capela (calf): Questionable

MIN - Kyle Anderson (back), Rudy Gobert (ankle): Questionable 
Taurean Prince (shoulder), Jordan McLaughlin (calf), Karl-Anthony Towns (calf): OUT      

BOS - Marcus Smart (illness), Robert Williams (illness): Questionable

TOR - Gary Trent (quadriceps), Khem Birch (illness): Questionable 
Precious Achiuwa (ankle), Otto Porter (toe): OUT     

CLE - Lamar Stevens (knee), Evan Mobley (knee): Questionable  

MIL - Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee): Probable
Khris Middleton (knee): Doubtful 

BKN - Yuta Watanabe (hamstring): Questionable 

CHI - Goran Dragic (ankle): Probable 
Javonte Green (knee): Doubtful 
Derrick Jones (ankle), Alex Caruso (concussion): OUT    

NYK - Obi Toppin (leg), Quentin Grimes (ankle): Questionable      

DAL - Maxi Kleber (hamstring), Josh Green (elbow), Dorian Finney-Smith (hip), Kemba Walker (knee): OUT  

HOU - Garrison Mathews (illness): Questionable
Eric Gordon (thumb): OUT

IND - Tyrese Haliburton (wrist), Aaron Nesmith (ankle): Questionable

MIA - Dewayne Dedmon (foot), Jimmy Butler (illness): Probable 
Caleb Martin (ankle), Gabe Vincent (knee): Questionable 

NOP - Zion Williamson (COVID-19), Larry Nance (Achilles): Questionable 
Brandon Ingram (toe): OUT  

OKC - Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (ankle): OUT

POR - Jusuf Nurkic (calf), Josh Hart (ankle), Damian Lillard (wrist), Drew Eubanks (hip): Probable
Justise Winslow (ankle): Doubtful 

DEN - Jeff Green (back): Probable 
Jamal Murray (knee): Questionable 

MEM - Desmond Bane (toe): Questionable  

PHX - Josh Okogie (hip): Questionable
Cameron Payne (foot), Devin Booker (groin), Cameron Johnson (knee): OUT   

WAS - Deni Avdija (back). Kristaps Porzingis (illness), Delon Wright (hamstring): Questionable 

CHA - Dennis Smith (ankle), Terry Rozier (hip): Questionable
Cody Martin (knee): OUT  

LAL - LeBron James (ankle), Russell Westbrook (foot): Probable
Austin Reaves (ankle): Questionable 
Anthony Davis (foot): OUT   

Elite Players

Guards

Trae Young, Hawks ($10,200) vs. Pistons 

Young is averaging 26.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 10.7 assists in his previous 10 outings and topped 50 DK points in four with a high of 61.3. He faces a favorable matchup against the Pistons, who give up the league's second-most points, including the sixth-most to point guards.

Bradley Beal, Wizards ($8,000) at Kings

In three games since returning from a 10-day absence, Beal is averaging 28.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists while going over 40 DK points over his last two appearances. He should keep it rolling against the Kings, who allow opponents to shoot an average of 48.2 percent from the field and give up the league's third-most points to shooting guards. 

Forwards/Centers

Jayson Tatum, Celtics ($10,800) vs. Timberwolves 

Tatum recorded 41 points last time out, which marked the third time he exceeded 40 in the last 10. He has another good chance to shine against the Timberwolves, who allow opponents to shoot an average of 37.4 percent from long range and also give up the league's sixth-most free throw attempts per game. 

Paolo Banchero, Magic ($8,100) vs. Spurs 

Banchero continues to impress by averaging 20.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals across 10 games, including five with more than 40 DK points. He should flourish against the Spurs, who give up a league-high 119.7 points per game and allow opponents to shoot an average of 50.4 percent from the field. 

Bam Adebayo, Heat ($8,600) vs. Pacers

Adebayo is coming off a 51 DK outing and is averaging 21.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists from his last 10. He should do well against the Pacers, who give up the league's fifth-most points and second-most rebounds per game to opposing centers. 

Expected Chalk 

Luka Doncic, Mavericks ($12,500) at Rockets

Doncic has delivered more than 50 DK points in eight of the last 10, including three over 60, while averaging 29.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.2 steals. He has a great chance to shine against the Rockets, who give up the league's most points to opposing point guards and the second-most three pointers. 

Value Picks

Jalen Duren, Pistons ($5,000) at Hawks  

In seven consecutive starts, Duren is averaging 9.3 points, 13.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists, including five with at least 25 DK points. He has another opportunity to excel against the Hawks, who give up the league's seventh-most points and fifth-most rebounds to centers. 

Kenyon Martin, Rockets ($3,700) vs. Mavericks 

Martin is expected to pick up the start in place of Eric Gordon and should benefit from extra playing time. He's averaging 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists over the last 10 games and generated 31.3 DK points Wednesday.

Saddiq Bey, Pistons ($4,200) at Hawks 

Bey is averaging 13.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in his previous 10 games, with one effort totaling 42 DK points. He should do well against the Hawks, who give up the league's second-most points to small forwards. 

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nuggets ($4,400) vs. Trail Blazers

Caldwell-Pope is averaging 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals from his last 10 games, and went over 23 DK points in four of the last five. He should keep the momentum going against the Trail Blazers, who allow opponents to shoot 47.3 percent from the field. 

Immanuel Quickley, Knicks ($4,900) vs. Bulls 

Quickley has surpassed 20 DK points in six of the last 10 outings, including a prior meeting with the Bulls where he managed 26.8. He could also be up for extra opportunity if Quentin Grimes remains sidelined. 

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dan Bruno plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: duelingdan.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Bruno
Dan has been writing all things NBA for RotoWire since 2014. He is an active fantasy sports player, with a love for DFS. Dan is a certified Coach with the Ontario Basketball Association and is a recreation professional in his home city.
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