DraftKings daily picks: Fantasy basketball lineup-December 23
High Salary C
DeMarcus Cousins-Sacramento Kings (10,400): Cousins had a predictably rough time in Utah on Wednesday finishing with 21-8-3 against “The Stifle Tower” for just 36.5 fantasy points. He went off on Tuesday for a massive 82.25 fantasy points on 55-13-1 with three blocks and a steal against the Blazers in his last home game, and he gets a fun matchup tonight against the Timberwolves as he goes head-to-head with Karl-Anthony Towns. Earlier this season, Boogie had 29-7-4 against Towns before fouling out after 33 minutes. He’ll look to improve those numbers tonight and deliver on his hefty salary.While he definitely can totally carry your team, I thin he’s risk given his price and the other options on the board at center tonight.∗∗
Karl-Anthony Towns-Minnesota Timberwolves (9,000): Towns has been playing well too coming into tonight’s showdown with Cousins. He has at least 42 fantasy points in each of his last five games including a 68.25-fantasy-point game against the Rockets and a 52-fantasy-point-game against the Suns in his last two home games. The Big KAT has been solid at home all season, and he should be able to match Boogie’s output tonight as long as he can avoid foul trouble.∗∗∗
Rudy Gobert-Utah Jazz (7,300): “The Stifle Tower” makes a good play for the under-manned Jazz tonight as they take on the Raptors. Gobert has posted a double-double in nine straight games with over 40 fantasy points in six of those nine contests. He had 17-14-1 with three blocks against the Kings on Wednesday and even posted 45.5 fantasy points on 21-12-0 with three blocks against the Grizzlies on Sunday. He’ll continue to try and help Gordon Hayward carry the load as Utah hosts Toronto tonight. ∗∗∗∗
Joel Embiid-Philadelphia 76ers (7,300): Embiid has been one of the stories of the first part of the NBA season as “The Process” has shown he can be one of the best players in the league when he’s healthy. He exploded for a career-high 33 points to go with ten boards on his way to 58 fantasy points on Sunday against Brooklyn, but he only had 23 fantasy points on 11-6-1 in his next game against the Pelicans on Tuesday. Tonight, he gets a good matchup against the Suns in Phoenix and if he gets 28 or 29 minutes he should be good for over 30 fantasy points. He has potential to be an elite option, but he has been held under 30 fantasy points in three of his last four games.∗∗
Nikola Jokic-Dnever Nuggets (6,200): Jokic got nothing going at all against the Clippers on Tuesday putting up just 19 fantasy points on 9-6-1 with a block. He had a much better and bigger game against the Mavs at home on Monday going off for 59.75 fantasy points on 27-15-9. Tonight, he and the Nuggets how the Hawks who are typically pretty good against big men. Still, he has been playing so well that as long as he stays out of foul trouble, I think he’ll post a nice stat line tonight at home.∗∗∗∗
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