NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Monday, December 19

NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Monday, December 19

This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.

Slate Overview

UTA at CLE
Cavs on three-game win streak.
TOR at PHI
Raptors on five-game slide. Sixers on four-game win streak. 
ORL at ATL
Magic on six-game win streak. 
MIL at NOP
Pelicans 12-3 at home, but on overall three-game losing streak. 
SAS at HOU
Rockets 6-7 at home. 
DAL at MIN 
Mavs 3-10 on the road. 
POR at OKC
Trail Blazers 10-7 on the road. 
LAL at PHX
Suns 13-3 at home. 
CHA at SAC
Hornets 3-12 on the road. 

For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There, you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.

Injuries to Monitor  

For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report    

UTA - Kelly Olynyk (ankle): Questionable
Collin Sexton (hamstring) OUT   

CLE - Lamar Stevens (knee): OUT

TOR - Gary Trent (quadriceps): Questionable 
OG Anunoby (hip), Precious Achiuwa (ankle), Otto Porter (toe): OUT     

PHI - Furkan Korkmaz (illness): Questionable
Tyrese Maxey (foot): OUT 

ORL - Gary Harris (hamstring), Jalen Suggs (ankle), Wendell Carter (foot), Chuma Okeke (knee), Jonathan Isaac (knee): OUT     

ATL - John Collins (ankle), Dejounte Murray (ankle: Questionable
Clint Capela (calf): OUT       

MIL - Khris Middleton (knee): OUT   

NOP - Larry Nance (Achilles): Doubtful 
Brandon Ingram (toe): OUT  

SAS - Keldon Johnson (back), Romeo Langford (illness): Questionable
Josh Richardson (personal): OUT  

DAL - Dwight Powell (undisclosed), Tim Hardaway (illness), Davis Bertans (illness), Luka Doncic (quadriceps): Questionable
Maxi Kleber (hamstring), Josh Green (elbow): OUT  

MIN - Taurean Prince (shoulder), Jordan McLaughlin (calf), Rudy Gobert (ankle), Naz Reid (shoulder): Questionable 
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf): OUT     

POR - Josh Hart (ankle): Probable
Jerami Grant (back), Jusuf Nurkic (calf): Questionable 
Gary Payton (abdomen), Nassir Little (hip): OUT     

OKC - Darius Bazley (illness), Josh Giddey (illness), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (back), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (ankle): OUT

LAL - Patrick Beverley (calf): Questionable 
Anthony Davis (foot): OUT  

PHX - Deandre Ayton (ankle), Devin Booker (groin): Questionable
Cameron Johnson (knee), Cameron Payne (foot): OUT   

CHA - Dennis Smith (ankle): Questionable
Cody Martin (knee): OUT    

Elite Players

Guards

De'Aaron Fox, Kings ($8,300) vs. Hornets

Fox is coming off two strong games, including a 27-point, 11-assist double-double with a total of 53.5 DK points. He should continue to excel, facing a Hornets team that gives up the league's third-most points and the sixth-most free-throw attempts per game. 

Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers ($8,900) vs. Jazz 

Mitchell is averaging 32.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists across four games since returning from a two-game absence. He topped 45 DK points twice in that span, including one outing with 41 points on 14-of-24 shooting. He is likely to have an extra spark playing host to his former team, who also give up the league's sixth-most points to shooting guards. 

Forwards/Centers

Paolo Banchero, Magic ($7,700) at Hawks

Banchero continues to impress, averaging 20.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals over the last 10 games. He totaled 42.5 DK points in the last meeting with the Hawks and should be up for more success, as they remain short-handed in the frontcourt and give up the league's fourth-most rebounds per game. 

Christian Wood, Mavericks ($7,900) at Timberwolves

Wood produced more than 50 DK points in back-to-back games and has another chance to stand out, as the Mavs deal with a handful of injuries. He has an advantageous matchup against the Timberwolves, who are short-handed in the frontcourt and give up the league's fourth-most offensive rebounds per game. 

Domantas Sabonis, Kings ($9,600) vs. Hornets  

Sabonis has turned in seven consecutive double-doubles and should continue to stuff the stat sheet against an opponent that gives up the league's second-most rebounds per game. The Hornets also give up the league's fifth-most points per game to centers. 

Expected Chalk 

Joel Embiid, 76ers ($11,500) vs. Raptors 

Embiid is averaging 39.0 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks through five games, with more than 60 DK points in three and a high of 76. He has an advantage as the Raptors are short-handed in the frontcourt, and he recorded 31 points, five rebounds and three assists the last time they met. 

Value Picks

Thomas Bryant, Lakers ($4,200) at Suns 

Bryant passed 30 DK points in the previous two games and is up for another start in place of Anthony Davis. He has a favorable matchup versus the Suns, who give up the ninth-most points and the 10th-most rebounds per game to centers. 

Jalen Williams, Thunder ($4,700) vs. Trail Blazers

Williams is up for a fourth consecutive start as the Thunder are heavily short-handed. He is averaging 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists over the last 10 games and should do well against the Blazers, who allow opponents to shoot an average of 47.4 percent from the field.

Keegan Murray, Kings ($4,500) vs. Hornets 

Murray hit 20 DK points in four of the last five games, including two with 27. He is averaging 14.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in the last 10 games and has chance to stand out against the Hornets' sub-par defense. 

Doug McDermott, Spurs ($3,900) at Rockets

McDermott is averaging 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in the last five games, including a matchup with the Rockets in which he finished with 21.8 DK points. The Rockets give up the league's second-most three-pointers per game, which gives McDermott, who averages 4.8 attempts, a good chance to shine again. 

Isaiah Joe, Thunder ($4,000) vs. Trail Blazers

Joe is up for a second consecutive start after he generated 23 points, three rebounds and a steal for a total of 30.3 DK points in the last outing. He should see considerable playing time as the Thunder are missing their starting backcourt.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dan Bruno plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: duelingdan.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Bruno
Dan has been writing all things NBA for RotoWire since 2014. He is an active fantasy sports player, with a love for DFS. Dan is a certified Coach with the Ontario Basketball Association and is a recreation professional in his home city.
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