NBA Fantasy Projections & Optimizer Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel 12/22

Wednesday delivers a five-game slate, and with 10 clubs in action, NBA fantasy lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel will be flush with high-level talent and value plays. The Awesemo NBA Starting Lineups page will provide breaking news when starters are announced as well as a full injury report on players who might be missing in action. Below are some NBA daily fantasy options that stand out for tonight’s slate using Awesemo’s Boom/Bust Tool and NBA DFS projections.

NBA Fantasy Projections & Lineup Optimizer Picks Tonight

Boom: Tyrese Haliburton: $8,200 DraftKings/$8,100 FanDuel

28.7% DraftKings Boom/25.2% FanDuel Boom

With De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell remaining out due to health protocols, Haliburton is very tough to ignore. Operating as the Kings’ primary ball handler with these two guards inactive for the last three contests, Haliburton has flourished with straight double-doubles resulting in 50.8 DraftKings points per game. Over this stretch, Haliburton has seen 38.7 minutes a night, which is a huge increase from Halliburton’s season average of 33.4. Furthermore, in all the minutes he has played with Fox and Mitchell off the court, Haliburton’s usage has risen 6.2 percentage points, and his assist rate has nearly doubled to a massive 47.6%. He produces 1.22 DraftKings points per minute in this situation and will be competing in the second-highest total on the slate against the Clippers (219 points).

Haliburton’s third consecutive effort of over 50 DraftKings points is certainly possible in this setting, and he is without question one of the best high-end targets on the board.

Boom: Gorgui Dieng: $3,100 DraftKings/$3,700 FanDuel

56.3% DraftKings Boom/40.8% FanDuel Boom

Tonight the Hawks will be without Trae Young, Lou Williams, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Clint Capela and Danilo Gallinari due to health protocols. This will be the first time this season that Capela has been inactive, and as of late Gallinari has been Capela’s primary backup. With the two players now unavailable, Dieng should see a solid role, possibly as the Hawks’ starting center. Awesemo is projecting Dieng for 21.2 minutes tonight against the Magic, which is more than enough time for him to smash value at his near minimum price tags on both DraftKings and FanDuel.

Dieng is supplying 1.05 DraftKings points per minute this season and 25.75 DraftKings points per game in the last 10 in which he has logged a minimum of 20 minutes. Just like the Hawks, the Magic are very short-handed right now, and for the season they rank 27th in defensive efficiency. Despite missing many key pieces, Atlanta’s implied team total is the fifth highest of the night (108.25 points). Dieng is rating as a top-three value on the slate for both sites according to Awesemo’s projections and is an attractive punt play for all formats.

Boom: Cam Reddish: $3,700 DraftKings/$4,500 FanDuel

58% DraftKings Boom/32.6% FanDuel Boom

Reddish is another outstanding value from the Hawks that needs to be utilized. While he might not start, Reddish should see a large opportunity off the bench with the Hawks short on ball handlers. Specifically when Young and Williams have been off the floor since the start of last season, Reddish has a 26.1% usage rate, which ranks second on the team for this situation.

Reddish provides 0.95 DraftKings points per minute with this role, and Awesemo is forecasting Reddish for 29.6 minutes tonight. He is averaging 24.5 DraftKings points per game when he has surpassed the 25-minute mark this season, and at only $3,700 on DraftKings Reddish is not only a top-three value, but he has a top-three boom score in Awesemo’s Boom/Bust Tool.

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Boom: Robert Williams: $5,500 DraftKings/$5,600 FanDuel

22.5% DraftKings Boom/22.7% FanDuel Boom

Williams (personal) will return from a one-game absence, but Al Horford will remain sidelined due to health protocols. When Horford has been out of the lineup this season, Williams thrived as the Celtics’ primary big man, contributing 35 DraftKings points in 30 regulation minutes per game. Grant Williams and Josh Richardson have also been ruled out due to health protocols, and in the 154 minutes Williams has played with these three off the court, his usage has seen a 1-percentage-point boost and his rebound rate has jumped 2.5 percentage points, resulting in 1.12 DraftKings points per minute.

As for his matchup, Williams is facing a Cavaliers team that is extremely understaffed, especially in their frontcourt, with Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Ed Davis out due to health protocols. Williams is underpriced for his upside in this spot, and while he is a strong option on both sites, Williams is extremely appealing on DraftKings, where Awesemo is projecting him for single-digit ownership.

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