As we wind down the final few days of 2024, the NBA has seven games on Monday’s main DFS fantasy basketball slate on DraftKings. Overall, we’re entering a nice balanced part of the NBA schedule with six to nine games each day until mid-January. Of the 14 teams in action on Monday, none are on the second day of back-to-back games, and only the Cavs and Clippers are in action again on Tuesday. Some injury questions still remain, though, so keep a close eye on the latest news and updates, as the models will adjust to compensate for any availability changes before tip-off.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Tyrese Maxey has the second-highest median and ceiling projection on a star-studded slate of point guards this Monday. Maxey and the Sixers are in a good matchup on the road in Portland, and Joel Embiid (foot, sinus) is once again listed as questionable.
Whether Embiid has played or not lately, Maxey has consistently delivered excellent production. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in three straight games, with over 30 points in each contest. He lit up the Celtics on Christmas for 33 points and 65.5 DraftKings points and followed that up with 48.5 DraftKings points against the Jazz on Saturday.
Maxey has played over 40 minutes in each of his last three games, with a usage rate of at least 29%. He has emerged as an elite option regardless of whether Embiid plays alongside him or carries the load himself.
The Trail Blazers have been torched by opposing point guards this season, allowing the fourth-most DraftKings points to the position. Maxey should be in a good spot to continue his impressive run as he helps the Sixers climb back into a better spot in the standings after a slow start.
Value
The big spot for value on Monday night is the Hornets hosting the Bulls. Charlotte listed LaMelo Ball (ankle/wrist), Brandon Miller (ankle), and Cody Martin (knee) as doubtful, leaving a huge chance for other members of the Hornets to step into larger roles. The top four players in Projected Plus/Minus on Monday’s slate come from the Hornets, and Vasilije Micic has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard since he’ll likely get another start with Ball out.
In Micic’s six games without Ball this season, he has averaged 26.3 DraftKings points in 29.2 minutes per game. In the two games that Miller was also sidelined, he averaged 27.1 DraftKings points in 31.2 minutes with a 26.2% usage rate. Both players were out on Saturday against the Thunder, and Micic produced 26 DraftKings points on 16 points and four assists in 29 minutes.
Against the Bulls, Micic will be an elite value at $4,600 if he gets another start. He brings a good ceiling and plenty of multi-category upside as long as he remains in the starting five.
Fast Break
The point guard tandem of Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook have both been very productive for the Nuggets lately. Since Denver has the highest implied team total of the night, both are strong options to consider on Monday. Murray has exceeded salary-based expectations in five of his last six games and has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus on Monday’s slate at point guard. He has scored at least 24 points in five of his last six games, with at least 49 DraftKings points in four of his last five. Westbrook’s ceiling and salary are lower, but he has at least 27 DraftKings points in seven straight games coming into this smash spot in Salt Lake City.
Jalen Brunson (calf) is questionable for Monday’s game against the Wizards, but he also was on Saturday in the first half of this home-and-home. He played through the injury in that game and went on to drop 55 points and 72.25 DraftKings points in 44 minutes. The injury makes him risky, but his ceiling is remarkably high in the rematch.
If Brunson is limited or out, Miles McBride would have great value potential. Even with Brunson in the projections, McBride has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at both point guard and shooting guard. The fourth-year guard from West Virginia’s production has been inconsistent this month, but he has good bargain potential in this matchup.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
The Cavs lead the Eastern Conference with an impressive 27-4 record this season, coming into Monday’s road game with the 16-15 Golden State Warriors. They’ve been outstanding even though Donovan Mitchell hasn’t been carrying a massive workload since other players have all stepped up and contributed. Lately, though, it looks like Spida is starting to heat up, and he comes into this matchup with some strong momentum of his own.
Mitchell leads the team with an average of 41.1 DraftKings points per game and a 30.7% usage rate in his first 29 games. He has produced a strong 1.31 DraftKings points per minute. Over his last four games, though, he has been even better, producing 1.46 DraftKings points per minute and 43.4 DraftKings points per game.
Mitchell had 33 points and 51.75 DraftKings points while leading the Cavs to a statement win over the Nuggets on Friday, and after a weekend off, he’ll look to help Cleveland get another nice win over the Warriors. He has the second-highest median and ceiling projection of all shooting guards and comes at a cheaper price and better Projected Plus/Minus than Kyrie Irving (discussed below), who is the only shooting guard with higher projections.
Value
One of the exciting new features this year on FantasyLabs this season has been our partnership with ShotQuality. On Monday, they point to Klay Thompson as a great mid-range DFS option since he’ll continue to pick up work while Luka Doncic (calf) and Naji Marshall (suspension) are unavailable. Klay has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards and of all small forwards in the ShotQuality projections.
In his first season in Dallas, Thompson has averaged 24.8 DraftKings points in 27.6 minutes per game. He has a 21.3% usage rate on the season, but that number climbs to 24.1% usage when both Doncic and Marshall are off the floor. Thompson produces 0.95 DraftKings points per minute in that scenario, and he should be in a favorable matchup to possibly exceed even that number against the Kings on Monday.
Thompson has a history of torching the Kings, who have also struggled to defend wings all season. On Saturday, Thompson had just 12 points on 17 shots in the Mavs’ loss to Portland, but he’s positioned to be in a good spot to bounce back with a much better performance on Monday, according to the ShotQuality projections.
Fast Break
Without Luka, Kyrie Irving has had to carry the load for the Mavs. He stepped up with 46 points and 58 DraftKings points against the Blazers, but Dallas still fell short in a four-point loss. With Doncic off the floor this year, Irving has a 30.6% usage rate and has produced 1.22 DraftKings points per minute. In Monday’s matchup against the Kings, he has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection of all shooting guards on the slate in both the FantasyLabs and ShotQuality projections.
Collin Sexton has stepped up for the Jazz while starting PG Keyonte George (ankle) has been sidelined. George is questionable for Monday, but if he misses a fifth straight game, both Sexton and Jordan Clarkson have good upside against Denver. Sexton has exceeded salary-based expectations in five straight games with 35+ DraftKings points in each contest and an average of 1.26 DraftKings points per minute.
While more cheap production could open up leading up to tip-off, Kris Dunn has been one bargain with solid production lately as he continues to find success in the Clippers’ second unit. Dunn has produced 20+ DraftKings points in four of his last five games and was ejected in the only game he failed to reach that number. On Friday, in his last game, Dunn had 13 points, seven rebounds, and 28.25 DraftKings points in a win over the Warriors. While he doesn’t typically score a ton of points, Dunn does chip in across the stat sheet often enough to make him a strong bargain play.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
While Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, and Norman Powell all have strong projections of just over $7,000, I think small forward is a good spot to pay down just a little and go with Trey Murphy III, who has been playing very well lately for the Pelicans.
Murphy has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus and the third-highest median and ceiling projections at small forward in the ShotQuality projections. For as long as Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Brandon Ingram (ankle) are out, Murphy will be asked to carry the scoring workload in the frontcourt, which gives him a very high ceiling.
In his last seven games, Murphy has exceeded salary-based expectations five times, producing 1.08 DraftKings points per minute and 32.3 DraftKings points per game with a 23.3% usage rate. The forward has scored at least 21 points in six of his last seven games and had a strong 35-point performance on Friday that resulted in 48.25 DraftKings points against the Grizzlies.
Value
There really aren’t any ultra-cheap bargain plays that stand out yet on this slate, but more value could open up approaching tip time. Klay Thompson (discussed above) has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position in both sets of projections. Even though he’s a little more expensive than Klay and just a little bit cheaper than Murphy, OG Anunoby has solid value potential and has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward in the FantasyLabs projections.
Anunoby has had a few disappointing scoring games lately, failing to reach double-digit points in three straight games. However, he still has the potential to go off, as he showed last Monday with 31 points and 48.75 DraftKings points against the Raptors.
He always gets plenty of minutes for coach Tom Thibodeau and can fill up the box score when he’s at his best. On Monday, he gets a great matchup against the Wizards, and he could take more of the offensive work if Brunson is limited or ruled out.
Fast Break
The ShotQuality projections give Norman Powell the highest ceiling projection on Monday’s slate at small forward, along with the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position. Powell has exceeded salary-based expectations in five straight games and eight of his last nine. In those nine games, he averaged 1.15 DraftKings points per minute and 38.4 DraftKings points per game.
Bilal Coulibaly has exceeded salary-based expectations in eight straight games for the Wizards and has proven he can stuff the stat sheet. He has 35+ DraftKings points in six straight games, including an impressive 20-point, 12-rebound game against the Bucks that resulted in 51 DraftKings points just over a week ago. The only hesitation I have with Coulibaly for Monday is that Kyle Kuzma (ribs) looks ready to return and could crowd his production and usage a bit.
As a bargain play at the position, Amir Coffey has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards under $5,000 in both sets of projections. He doesn’t typically get much usage but should be able to return decent value in a favorable road matchup against the Pelicans.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
With Ball and Miller out, Miles Bridges has stepped into a very active and productive role for the Hornets, which should continue Monday against the Bulls. He has the top median, ceiling and floor projections in both sets of projections at power forward and the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position in the FantasyLabs Projections.
Bridges has posted over 40 DraftKings points in three straight games. His best game during that stretch was a 22-point double-double last Thursday against the Wizards that earned him 57 DraftKings points. He followed that with another double-double on Saturday, finishing with 47 DraftKings points in the Hornets’ loss to Oklahoma City.
On the season, Bridges has averaged 1.14 DraftKings points per minute with a 25.4% usage rate in his 16 games. In his minutes without Miller, Ball, and Martin, Bridges has a 31.0% usage rate and has produced 1.25 DraftKings points per minute. With more work coming his way again on Monday, he’s a key piece to build around against the Bulls.
Value
Hornets rookie forward Tidjane Salaun has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on the slate in both sets of projections. His salary is under $4,000, so he doesn’t have to do much to return value, but he should have a good chance to far exceed his salary-based expectations.
Salaun had nine points, five boards, and 20.25 DraftKings points on Saturday against the Thunder and played 31 minutes. He gets a huge boost from Martin being doubtful which opens significant time for him.
The 19-year-old from France was the No. 6 overall pick in last year’s draft and has been hit or miss when given opportunities. He has posted over 25 DraftKings points in five games over the last couple of months and is projected to be around that level again on Monday, making him a great option under $4,000.
Fast Break
The Warriors have gotten back-to-back 34-point games from Jonathan Kuminga, who has flashed impressive upside this season despite struggling to find consistency. Kuminga has averaged 28.9 DraftKings points in 26.1 minutes per game on the season but has really picked it up lately, dropping 60.5 and 52.25 DraftKings points in the Warriors’ two games since Christmas. He can be boom or bust, but he is thriving off the bench and should continue to carry a heavy workload even though he’s working in the second unit. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at power forward in the ShotQuality projections and the third-highest in the FantasyLabs projections.
Evan Mobley is another option to consider from the other side of that matchup against Kuminga and the Warriors. Mobley has exceeded salary-based expectations in three straight games with over 44 DraftKings points and has the second-highest ceiling projection at the position in both sets of projections.
As a bargain alternative to Salaun, Patrick Williams has been turning in solid numbers for the Bulls. He has scored at least nine points in five straight games and exceeded salary-based expectations in four straight before coming up just short on Saturday against the Bucks, totaling 19 DraftKings points in 29 minutes. Williams doesn’t typically have huge usage but does get heavy minutes and pile up good counting stats.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
As mentioned above, the Nuggets have the highest implied team total on the slate as they visit the Jazz, and not surprisingly, that means Nikola Jokic is set up in another smash spot. Jokic has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection on the entire slate and has a positive Plus/Minus in both projections.
The Joker is a great place to spend all the savings you can find elsewhere on your roster since he brings such a high ceiling and high floor in most games for the Nuggets. On Saturday, he had 37 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists on his way to 61.25 DraftKings points against the Pistons. That performance gives him over 60 DraftKings points in nine of his 13 games in December. During that stretch, he has averaged 1.77 DraftKings points per minute and 65.1 DraftKings points per game.
He averaged over 60 DraftKings points in his two games against the Jazz this season as well, with 63 DraftKings points in their first meeting and 59 DraftKings points in their second matchup. His consistent production at such a high level makes him worth considering, even though he has the highest salary on the slate by a wide margin.
Value
The Hornets are again the place to go for value on Monday, with Mark Williams bringing the highest Projected Plus/Minus at center in both sets of projections. Williams has exceeded salary-based expectations in four straight games and five of his last six games, and he’s been very solid since returning from a long injury layoff nine games ago.
Williams had his first double-double of the season on Saturday against the Thunder, posting 30.5 DraftKings points. He has over 29 DraftKings points in four straight games and is producing an impressive 1.51 DraftKings points per minute on the season.
His minutes are still ramping up to a full workload, but he has been doing enough to be a very strong mid-range target, especially with usage available on Monday.
Fast Break
While Williams and Jokic stand out at their price points, there are definitely other great options as well. Domantas Sabonis has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position in the ShotQuality projections and continues to be a double-double machine while Joel Embiid always brings a very high ceiling if he plays through his questionable tag.
The Warriors have gotten outstanding production from Trayce Jackson-Davis, who I’ve been hyping for the past several weeks. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in seven straight games, averaging 30 DraftKings points per game and 1.29 DraftKings points per minute. Even though his salary has climbed a little, he’s still a strong option just under $5,000.
Another situation to monitor closely for Monday night is the status of Mavericks center Dereck Lively II. Lively has missed the last two games with a hip bruise and is questionable for Monday in Sacramento. While he was out, Daniel Gafford had two strong showings in an expanded role, producing 27.25 DraftKings points against the Suns and 36.75 DraftKings points against the Trail Blazers. If Lively is out again, Gafford would be a strong value to consider, along with TJD and Williams as strong mid-priced center plays.
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