FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Saturday 12/2/23

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 a lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

Here at FanDuel Research, we'll also 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 ($12,100): The Mavericks' superstar is ranked second overall with a 55.1 fantasy projection versus a Oklahoma City Thunder allowing 47.0 FanDuel points per game to point guards. If Kyrie Irving is held out, Doncic is producing 1.53 FanDuel points per minute and a 36.9% usage rate.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,900): Despite averaging 1.63 FanDuel points per minute and 58.8 FanDuel points per game in his last six contests, Gilgeous-Alexander's salary has moved down 2.6% since November 18th. The Thunder star is ranked third among guards with a 48.0 fantasy projection versus a Dallas Mavericks allowing 50.6 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Tyrese Haliburton ($10,600): If Haliburton is able to play after he was listed as questionable, Indiana's guard ranks fourth overall with a 51.5 fantasy projection in a tough spot against a Miami Heat defense allowing 45.5 FanDuel points per game to his position. If Haliburton is ruled out, Andrew Nembhard should see an increased role while recording 0.94 FanDuel points and a 21.8% usage rate in this split.

De'Aaron Fox ($10,200): Since November 22nd, Fox has been on a roll, producing 47.8 FanDuel points per game and 1.33 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has increased by 5.1% to his highest point this season.

Donovan Mitchell ($10,000): Cleveland's leading scorer has found his vintage form in his last two appearances after producing 1.73 FanDuel points per minute and 59.0 FanDuel points per game. In a favorable matchup versus a Detroit Pistons' team ranked 21st in FanDuel points (42.7) allowed per game to his position, Mitchell is seventh among guards with a 44.3 fantasy projection.

Trae Young ($9,900): After an impressive 74.8 fantasy point performance on Thursday, Young's salary has jumped to his highest point this season in a good spot against a Milwaukee Bucks' unit allowing 49.5 FanDuel points per game to point guards. In their first meeting, Young accounted for 40.1 FanDuel points at a salary 6.4% lower than today's.

Damian Lillard ($9,000): In great matchup against an Atlanta Hawks' defense ranked 26th in defensive rating, Lillard is eighth among guards with a 43.0 fantasy projection. Since November 15th, Lillard is averaging 47.8 FanDuel points per appearance and 1.33 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has increased by 11.1%.

Desmond Bane ($8,200): At his lowest salary since November 3rd, Bane is tenth among guards in value with a 4.9 rating and a 40.2 fantasy projection versus a Phoenix Suns' team allowing 42.7 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Malcolm Brogdon ($7,800): In 275 minutes with today's inactives, Brogdon ranks first among his team's starting lineup in fantasy production (1.17 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (28.4%). Since his return on November 21st, the 30-year old is averaging 1.23 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.9% usage rate.

Fred VanVleet ($7,700): After a 3.7% salary drop, VanVleet ranks seventh among guards in value with a 4.95 rating and a 38.1 fantasy projection versus a Los Angeles Lakers' defense giving up 50.7 FanDuel points to his position.

Darius Garland ($7,200): At his lowest salary this season, the 23-year old is fifth overall in value with a 5.32 rating and a 38.2 fantasy projection against a Detroit Pistons ranked 29th in FanDuel points (53.4) allowed per game to point guards.

Spencer Dinwiddie ($6,800): Brooklyn's veteran has provided underrated production in his last eight appearances, recording 1.06 FanDuel points per minute and 37.9 FanDuel points per game.

Keyonte George ($5,600): After Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson were ruled out, Utah's rookie should see an increased offensive role, recording a 27.9% usage and 0.76 FanDuel points per minute in this split.

Dyson Daniels ($4,900): In a potential increased role with C.J. McCollum unlikely to play, the 20-year old ranks third among guards in value with a 5.29 rating and a 25.9 fantasy projection.

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,700): "The Greek Alphabet" is second overall with a 54.3 fantasy projection against a Hawks' defense ranked 27th in FanDuel points (51.7) allowed per game to power forwards. Since November 18th, the Bucks' superstar has produced a team-high 1.68 FanDuel points per minute and a 32.0% usage rate.

Anthony Davis ($11,200): In his last two games, AD has averaged 1.87 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has jumped by 5.6%. Davis is fifth overall with a 50.2 fantasy projection against a Houston Rockets giving up 52.3 fantasy points per game to centers.

Kevin Durant ($10,300): If Devin Booker is ruled out, Durant's production would see an increase to 1.44 FanDuel points per minute with a 37.5% usage rate.

LeBron James ($9,800): Despite recording 1.28 FanDuel points per minute in his last six games, James' FanDuel salary has dropped by 6.6% to his second lowest point this season.

Domantas Sabonis ($9,400): After a 5.0% decrease to his lowest salary this season, Sabonis ranks ninth among forwards in value with a 4.96 rating and a 46.6 fantasy projection.

Jimmy Butler ($8,600): In 168 minutes with today's injuries, Butler leads his team in fantasy production (1.35 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (30.9%). Miami's star forward is sixth overall with a 48.5 fantasy projection against an Indiana Pacers' unit allowing 42.4 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Brandon Ingram ($8,000): If C.J. McCollum were to sit, Ingram would likely see a lead offensive role on Saturday after he produced 1.16 FanDuel points and a 32.3% usage rate in this split.

Paolo Banchero ($7,600): Orlando's second year forward has been a solid option, producing 1.10 FanDuel points and a 26.7% usage rate in 460 minutes with today's inactives.

John Collins ($6,000): In 78 minutes with Utah's inactives this season, Collins is averaging 0.78 FanDuel points per minute and a 22.2% usage rate.

Centers

Nikola Jokic ($12,500): Since his return on November 29th, Jokic has produced a robust 1.85 FanDuel points per minute and a 31.0% usage rate. Despite a difficult matchup versus a Sacramento Kings' unit ranked fifth in FanDuel points (49.7) allowed per game to centers, "The Joker" is today's top option with a 61.6 fantasy projection.

Jarrett Allen ($6,600): Even at his second highest salary in the past week, Allen is sixth among his position in value with a 5.0 rating and a 33.0 fantasy projection.

Interested in playing NBA daily fantasy? FanDuel has plenty of contest options to make every moment more. Be sure to check out the NBA betting options, as well.

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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.