DraftKings daily picks: Fantasy basketball lineup-December 26
High Salary C
DeMarcus Cousins-Sacramento Kings (10,900): Cousins had a solid game on Friday in Minnesota with 32-7-7 with two blocks and four steals for 62.25 fantasy points. He had an even better game last Tuesday with 55-15-1 for 83.5 fantasy points against the Blazers, and he gets another similarly soft matchup tonight against the 76ers. The Sixers have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing centers this season which makes Cousins a great play to take a long look at tonight if you can get his almost-11K salary under your salary cap.∗∗∗∗
Joel Embiid-Philadelphia 76ers (7,500): Embiid is still playing about 28 minutes a night, but he has produced over 40 fantasy points in two of his last three games highlighted by his 33-10-1 for 58 last Sunday against the Nets. He had 27-7-1 for 40.25 fantasy points against Phoenix on Friday, and he is a boom-or-bust play tonight since he’ll be in a good matchup but still on his minutes limit tonight in Sacramento against Cousins and the Kings. ∗∗
Marc Gasol-Memphis Grizzlies (7,200): Gasol had a massive 57.75 fantasy points last Wednesday in Detroit on 38-5-4 with a pair of blocks and a pair of steals, but he calmed down with just 16-5-4 for 32.75 fantasy points against the Rockets on Friday. He has over 43 fantasy points in two of his last three games and eight of his last 12. He is getting more help as the Grizz get healthier, but he’s still a solid play since he is such a central part of the Memphis attack.∗∗
Nikola Jokic-Denver Nuggets (6,000): Jokic seems to have just one thing between him and fantasy greatness–foul trouble. Since the Nuggets moved him into the starting lineup, Jokic has played limited minutes in four of his last five contests. The one game where he avoided foul trouble he posted a monster 27-17-9 stat line for 64.25 fantasy points against the Mavericks. He put up a dud in a rout at the hands of the Clippers last Tuesday with just 9-6-1 in 21 minutes, but he should fare better against LA tonight since the Clippers won’t have Chris Paul and (possibly) J.J. Redick making a runaway much less likely. He has huge upside, but he is still boom-or-bust since there are some nights he can’t stay on the floor.∗∗
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