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DraftKings NBA picks December 17: Clippers get Ayton alive

By Mike Marteny

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 23: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns warms up prior to the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 23, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 23: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns warms up prior to the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 23, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DraftKings NBA
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 15: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic stands on the court during a NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on December 15, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Centers:

Best Bets:

Domantas Sabonis ($8,000): I’m really only interested in Sabonis if Davis sits. Sabonis will still put up solid numbers if he has to deal with A.D. all night, but the upside would be practically zero with the price this high. I can’t say with certainty that Sabonis hits 40 with A.D. in there. In fact, I would lean towards him not. This is a pick only if Davis is out.

Deandre Ayton ($7,400): It may seem crazy to try and use Ayton in his first game back, but it’s not like he was injured or anything. Ayton has been practicing and running with the team the entire duration of his suspension. He’s in shape and I think he’ll be a little torqued about this suspension. He’s going to take it out on the Clippers.

Nikola Vucevic ($7,300): Vucevic racked up 36.25 DraftKings points in just 29 minutes against the Pelicans. There seems to be no lingering issues with the ankle. Opposing centers have smoked Gobert for most of the season. I would expect that trend to continue tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Montrezl Harrell ($6,900): Harrell is capable of posting big lines, but he doesn’t do so with consistency. So why run him against Phoenix? Because no one can handle a beast like Harrell in that interior. Harrell put up 43.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting in only 32 minutes. 5x value is the floor, and I would bet he clears 6x tonight.

Jarrett Allen ($6,400): Allen put up 34 DraftKings points in 30 minutes against the Pelicans the first time around. Allen had trouble with Philly and Toronto, but the Pelicans wont provide a lot of resistance here. I would think that Allen is back up to at least 30 minutes again here. There’s a slight risk with Jordan in the fold, but Allen has all the upside.

Dark Horses:

Cody Zeller ($5,400): Charlotte ran both Zeller and Bismack out there at times against the Pacers and it went pretty well. Maybe that was a byproduct of Indiana’s size. Maybe not. At any rate, the modest success of that lineup will probably result in more minutes for Zeller. Zeller was churning out good numbers with regularity anyway. He could be even better in this scenario. For the price, it’s worth finding out.

Alex Len ($4,600): How long will this last? We’ve seen Len flash his talent before, only to have it evaporate with no warning. There’s always a chance that happens again. I have a feeling that it could be different this time. Len put up good numbers against the Lakers, Pacers, and Heat. There is good potential here against the Knicks.