DraftKings daily picks: Fantasy basketball lineup-December 26
High Salary SG
James Harden-Houston Rockets (11,900): Harden had just 16 points in Houston’s last game before Christmas but had 17 assists against Memphis to still end up with 50.25 fantasy points. He’ll need to do better tonight against Phoenix to be worth this price, but he did have 27-5-14 for 49.25 fantasy points against the Suns last week. He has over 50 fantasy points in each of his last ten games and over 55 in seven of his last eight. His best game over that stretch came against Brooklyn when he had 36-8-11 with a pair of steals for 68 fantasy points. Harden will need to go off tonight against Phoenix to be worth this price, but you could definitely build around him as he tries to get his post-Christmas feast on after he and the Rockets weren’t included in yesterday’s festivities.∗∗∗
Nicolas Batum-Charoltte Hornets (7,500): Batum has been excellent for the Hornets over the last couple of weeks with over 44 fantasy points in four of his last five games. He’s coming off his strongest game during his string of success after he posted 56.75 fantasy points against the Bulls with a triple-double of 20-11-10 on Friday. Batum and the Hornets get a great matchup against the Nets tonight who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing SG in the NBA this season.∗∗∗∗
C.J. McCollum-Portland Trail Blazers (6,800): McCollum is a tricky player to consider tonight because he and the Blazers are in a tough spot hosting the Raptors who usually play good defense against opposing backcourts. However, if Damian Lillard is out (as expected, although he’s still listed as doubtful), McCollum gets a ton of usage and has posted monster games when given that chance. The matchup makes him less-than-a-lock, but I love his upside in what should be a high-scoring game in Portland. McCollum has had at least 32 fantasy points in three of his last five games, but he has also been held to 21 and 19 fantasy points in the other two of those contests.. McCollum makes sense if Lillard is out, but he’s still going to be a boom-or-bust play with potential for a huge “boom” if he carries the full weight of the Portland attack. No Lillard-∗∗∗∗ With Lillard-∗∗
Devin Booker-Phoenix Suns (6,700): Booker has at least 42 fantasy points in three of his last four games as he heats up for the Suns. He had a very nice 28-6-7 for 46.5 fantasy points against the Rockets last week, and he’ll face Houston again tonight this time as he and the Suns hit the road. Booker followed that game with another good game on Friday totaling 23-6-6 for 43.5 fantasy points against the 76ers. He has been filling up the non-scoring categries in his last ew games which makes him even more valuable in a great matchup tonight against the Rockets who allow the third-most fantasy points to opposing SG. ∗∗∗∗
Dwyane Wade-Chicago Bulls (6,400): Wade has his best game in the last couple of weeks in the Bulls’ Christmas Day defeat in San Antonio. Wade only played 28 minutes but had 24-3-6 for 39.25 fantasy points. He had been held under 30 fantasy points in three of his previous four games, but I think he’ll have another solid game tonight as the Bulls take on the Pacers who are short-handed in the backcourt due to injuries to Monta Ellis and Rodney Stuckey.∗∗
Next: High Value SG