FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Saturday 12/16/23

Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. numberFire's projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news. numberFire also has player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

In addition to daily projections, numberFire also offers a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Luka Doncic ($12,600): Since the start of December, Doncic has been an absolute beast, recording 1.63 FanDuel points per minute and 66.6 FanDuel points per game while his salary has increased by 5.8% to his second highest point this season. In a matchup versus a Portland Trail Blazers' defense allowing 47.7 FanDuel points per game to point guards, Doncic is second overall with a 59.9 fantasy projection.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,700): At his highest salary this month, Oklahoma City's star is fourth overall with a 50.9 fantasy projection despite a tough matchup against a Denver Nuggets' team ranked seventh in FanDuel points (46.5) allowed per game to his position. In his last five games, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging a team-high 1.65 FanDuel points per minute and a 29.7% usage rate.

Donovan Mitchell ($10,100): After Darius Garland and Evan Mobley were ruled out, Mitchell will need to carry the Cleveland's offense in a great spot versus an Atlanta Hawks' team ranked 27th in defensive rating. In 128 minutes with today's inactives, Mitchell is averaging a robust 1.38 FanDuel points per minute and a 32.8% usage rate.

Trae Young ($10,000): Despite a 3.0% increase to his highest salary this season, Young is fifth among guards with a 46.6 fantasy projection against aCleveland Cavaliers' unit ranked 17th in fantasy production (47.9) allowed per game to his position.

Anthony Edwards ($8,900): If Edwards is able to suit up after he was listed as questionable, "Ant-Man" has an amazing matchup to produce a ceiling outcome against a Charlotte Hornets allowing the second most FanDuel points per game (45.1) to shooting guard this season.

Stephen Curry ($8,700): At his lowest salary this season, Curry is fifth among guards in value with a 5.04 rating and a 43.8 fantasy projection versus a Brooklyn Nets ranked 14th in opposing three point percentage. The future Hall of Famer is averaging 1.17 FanDuel points per minute and a 29.7% in 324 minutes sample size with today's expected rotation.

James Harden ($8,500): If Paul George is inactive after he was given a questionable designation, Harden would see a boost in his production to 1.28 FanDuel points per minute with a 25.2% usage rate.

Tyrese Maxey ($8,500): After three straight lackluster fantasy performances, Maxey's salary has dropped to his lowest point this season against a Charlotte Hornets' team ranked 29th in defensive rating.

Jalen Brunson ($8,300): Despite scoring a season-high 83.7 FanDuel points on Friday, Brunson's salary has only moved up 1.2%. New York's point guard has played well this month, recording 1.26 FanDuel points per minute and 45.4 FanDuel points per contest during this time period.

Anfernee Simons ($8,000): Since his return on December 6th, Simons has been their offensive centerpiece, accounting for team-high 0.79 real-life points and 1.08 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has increased by 26.9%.

Mikal Bridges ($7,600): Even after his disappointing 9.5 fantasy performance in his last contest, Bridges still ranks first among his team's starting unit in fantasy production (1.07 FanDuel points per minute) and scoring (0.79 real-life points per minute) in December.

Caris LeVert ($6,800): In 124 minutes with today's injuries, LeVert is averaging 1.14 FanDuel points per minute and a 27.1% usage rate.

Brandin Podziemski ($6,100): After Andrew Wiggins was sent to the bench on Thursday, Golden State's rookie was moved into their starting lineup and received 34 minutes. The 20-year old has accounted for 0.92 FanDuel points per minute and a 17.5% usage rate with today's inactives.

Collin Sexton ($6,100): In an increased role with three of Utah's normal starters sidelined, Sexton is seventh in value among guards with a 5.02 rating and a 30.6 fantasy projection. Sexton has provided sneaky production with Keyonte George, Jordan Clarkson, and John Collins off the floor, recording 1.27 FanDuel points per minute and a 27.1% usage rate in this split.

Max Strus ($5,900): After a 4.8% decrease to his lowest salary this month, Cleveland's three point specialist is second in value with a 5.40 rating and a 31.9 fantasy projection. Strus is producing 0.86 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.7% usage rate with Saturday's injuries.

Talen Horton-Tucker ($5,600) / Kris Dunn ($4,600): Even at his highest salary this month, Horton-Tucker is third overall in value with a 5.49 rating and a 30.7 fantasy projection while Dunn also rates as a viable value option after producing 1.01 FanDuel points with today's expected rotation.

Forwards

Domantas Sabonis ($9,600): Despite a tough matchup against a Utah Jazz team ranked sixth in FanDuel points (50.2) allowed per game to his position, Sabonis ranks seventh overall with a 47.0 fantasy projection. If De'Aaron Fox were to sit after he was listed as questionable, Sacramento's big man should see an increased role, recording 1.28 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.6% usage rate in this split.

Kawhi Leonard ($9,100): "The Claw" has been on fire in his last four games, recording 1.37 FanDuel points and a team-high 0.90 real-life points per minute. If Paul George is sidelined for his second straight game, Leonard is producing 1.28 FanDuel points per minute and a 27.6% usage rate in a 213 minutes sample size.

Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,600): In a great spot versus a Charlotte team ranked 29th in FanDuel points (53.1) allowed per game to his position, Towns is fifth among forwards with a 40.8 fantasy projection. KAT is recording 1.37 FanDuel points per minute and a 34.0% usage rate if Anthony Edwards were to sit.

Jimmy Butler ($8,500): Miami's star is second among forwards with a 45.6 fantasy projection and third in value with a 5.36 rating in a revenge matchup against a Chicago Bulls' defense allowing 43.0 FanDuel points per game to his position. Butler is averaging 1.20 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.2% usage rate with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro off the floor this season.

Lauri Markkanen ($8,400): In 95 minutes with Saturday's inactives, Markkanen leads his team in fantasy production (1.41 FanDuel points per minute) while accounting for a 26.4% usage rate.

DeMar DeRozan ($7,900): After a 3.6% salary drop, DeRozan rates as a viable mid-salary option with a 4.84 rating and a 38.3 fantasy projection. With Zach LaVine off the floor, DeRozan is producing 1.18 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.8% usage rate.

Jarrett Allen ($7,100): Cleveland's big man is sixth in value among his position with a 5.09 rating and a 36.2 fantasy projection versus a Hawks' defense ranked 27th in points allowed in the paint.

Aaron Gordon ($6,200): At his lowest salary this month, Gordon is ninth among forwards in value witha 5.07 rating and a 31.4 fantasy projection.

Jonathan Kuminga ($5,800): The Warriors' forward could get another start after Draymond Green was suspended. Kuminga has accounted for 0.96 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.8% usage rate with today's inactives.

Isaac Okoro ($3,900): The 22-year old could be an optimal value option if he gets the start after producing 0.72 FanDuel points per minute with Cleveland's injuries.

Centers

Joel Embiid ($12,500): At his second lowest salary in December, Philadelphia's superstar is third overall with a 57.4 fantasy projection against a Charlotte unit allowing 56.9 FanDuel points per game to centers.

Nikola Jokic ($12,300): "The Joker" is today's top option with a 62.0 fantasy projection in an underraetd matchup versus a Oklahoma City Thunder defense ranked 21st in fantasy production (56.0 FanDuel points per game) allowed per game to his position at Jokic's lowest salary point this month.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.