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NBA DFS picks December 28: Harden and the seven dwarfs

ByMike Marteny|
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 10: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 10, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 10: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 10, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – OCTOBER 11: A detail view of official Spalding NBA logo basketball on the floor during a preseason game between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 11, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the Bulls 105-87. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

NBA DFS picks December 28: Harden and the seven dwarfs

We have a smaller five game NBA DFS slate tonight. That doesn’t mean we don’t have talent to choose from. Harden is on here. So are the Lakers, but they are in the second night of a back to back. Portland takes on said Lakers. We also have the Nets on the tail end of a back to back as well. Now let’s check out who we know is sitting. Beware of others with teams on back to back sets again.

Out: John Wall (coronavirus), Blake Griffin (rest), Jaren Jackson (knee), Derrick Rose (rest), Eric Gordon (coronavirus), DeMarcus Cousins (coronavirus), Carmelo Anthony (contact tracing), Edmund Sumner (non-COVID illness), Ben McLemore (coronavirus), JaMychal Green (calf), Kris Dunn (ankle), Zach Collins (shoulder), De’Anthony Melton (coronavirus), Tony Snell (foot), Kenyon Martin Jr. (coronavirus), Onyeka Okongwu (toe), Killian Tillie (hamstring), Jontay Porter (knee), Xavier Tillman (knee), Justise Winslow (knee), Chris Clemons (Achilles), Greg Whittington (knee), Mason Jones (coronavirus), Nassir Little (coronavirus).

Questionable: Anthony Davis (calf), LeBron James (ankle), Kevin Durant (rest), Spencer Dinwiddie (knee), Danilo Gallinari (foot), Trevor Ariza (personal), Jahlil Okafor (ankle), Jeff Green (face), Alex Caruso (hand), Ty Jerome (ankle).

The Lakers sat Davis last night with his tender calf. Most people say he’s playing tonight. As far as LeBron, the Lakers want to monitor his minutes. Although this game is important to Portland. the Lakers don’t really care about a regular season game in the first week.

The Nets have been mum about the status of both KD and Kyrie. The two are playing very well together, but the Nets don’t want to peak in December. They want to peak in April. They could take it easy with one or both of their stars.

Like the Rockets, the Pistons are barely fielding a team. Unlike the Rockets, Detroit is doing it mostly by choice.

I started doing the trifecta last year where at the request of a reader I tried to predict the top three scorers of the night. I got all three right twice, but they were never in the right order. I’m not one to give up that easily, so I’ll do it again.

Tonight I’m going with Harden, Jokic, and Kyrie. I forgot to change this for last night, but I would have had Anthony Davis, who didn’t play, at the top anyway.