Luka Doncic and the Best NBA DFS Picks at DraftKings for Thursday (12/14/23)
My NBA DFS picks were fire last night. I could have stopped at Giannis Antetokounmpo (over 90 fantasy points!), but all of my other players also would have helped you out.
I am back at it again on Thursday, pointing you to my favorite NBA DFS plays at DraftKings.
Tonight’s 7-game slate seems fairly straight forward, but like I said yesterday, just be sure to maintain flexibility for injury news. With that, let’s dive into my top NBA DFS picks for tonight.
Luka Doncic, PG, Mavericks ($11.9k)
Doncic is expensive, but on a slate where Nikola Jokic also exists, you need to pay for raw points via one of these two studs.
I prefer Doncic, as Kyrie Irving is again already ruled out.
There are other Dallas players who are iffy for this one, and Doncic has been playing minutes into the 40s lately. The matchup with a stellar Timberwolves defense isn’t ideal, but we know by now that Luka is matchup proof.
You can pivot to Jokic with Doncic likely to be the chalky spend on this slate, but I’ll gladly pay for him, ownership be damned.
Collin Sexton, SG, Jazz ($5.7k)
Ideally Sexton would be a bit cheaper, but he’s honestly a terrific price for the role he’s likely walking into tonight. He’s already got a decent role, but now Keyonte George is sidelined.
George joins Jordan Clarkson on the bench, so Sexton should be a smash play on this slate. He logged 30 minutes and churned out 42 fantasy points yesterday, and I’d expect more of the same tonight.
His matchup with Portland also looks fine on paper, and he’s done well against them (25.9 fantasy points per game) in a lesser role across three meetings this season.
Utah is going to be down bad in this spot, so basically any Jazz bodies are viable here.
Julian Strawther, SF, Nuggets ($4.6k)
Perhaps (or hopefully) more value presents itself before lineups lock, but at the moment, one of the better value plays figures to be Strawther.
The rookie has certainly been feeling it, popping off for 16 and 22 real points in his last two games. He’s getting good burn off the bench, but his role could be cemented with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out for this one.
I like Strawther’s talent and price, and on a slate absent of obvious value (outside of Utah guys), he looks pretty interesting. A date with the Nets (19th in defensive efficiency) also looks good on paper.
Jonathan Kuminga, PF, Warriors ($5.4k)
Kuminga has been getting good burn lately (28 and 29 minutes) and he’s turned that into solid fantasy production. We can probably bet on more of the same, seeing as Draymond Green will be out indefinitely.
Kuminga does a little bit of everything, while the struggling Dubs could use a jolt of energy. He’s a good price for what should be a pretty reliable role.
Kelly Olynyk, C, Jazz ($5.3k)
Are we just loading up on Utah players? It sure seems so. Walker Kessler appears to be the only healthy big for the Jazz right now, and here we have Olynyk, who has started the team’s last two games.
He’s coming off of a 30+ minute game, and he’s simply too cheap if he’s going to maintain this kind of role on a depleted squad.
A matchup with Portland – especially if Deandre Ayton is out – is pretty appealing, too. You can probably feel good about 2-3 Utah players in your NBA DFS lineups tonight, and I wouldn’t blame you for stuffing in 1-2 more, either.
Other NBA DFS Picks for Thursday Night
- James Harden, PG, Clippers ($7.8k)
- Kawhi Leonard, PF, Clippers ($8.7k)
You can’t cram in everyone that makes my NBA DFS picks post, but you should certainly consider trying.
Two more guys that stand out as great plays are Harden and Leonard – and perhaps some cheap L.A. guys – seeing as Paul George is a good bet to sit out tonight.
I’d prioritize them if you find enough value, although working both in with Luka may prove difficult.
Overall, I am starting off my NBA DFS lineup building process with Doncic, and then trying to fit in whatever Jazz guys make sense. Beyond that, let injury news and starting lineups guide you the rest of the way.
Thanks for stopping by, and good luck!
Writer at Daily Fantasy Fade
DFS Keanu has been covering fantasy sports, DFS, and props for the better part of a decade, all while fighting The Matrix and a litany of assassins.
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