FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Saturday 12/23/23

Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. numberFire's projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news. numberFire also has player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

In addition to daily projections, numberFire also offers a matchup heat map and a lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

Here at FanDuel Research, we'll also come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Luka Doncic ($12,500): After sitting out on Friday with a quad injury, Doncic's availability is up in the air for the second part of their back-to-back. If he is active for a great spot versus a San Antonio Spurs' unit ranked 24th in defensive rating, Doncic could be due for a big performance after he was rated first overall with a 58.6 fantasy projection.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,800): With Josh Giddey ruled out, Gilgeous-Alexander's production sees a noticeable boost to 1.95 FanDuel points per minute and a robust 40.3% usage rate. In an underrated matchup against a Los Angeles Lakers' defense allowing 50.1 FanDuel points per game to his position, the 25-year old is fourth overall with a 50.8 fantasy projection.

Trae Young ($10,000): Atlanta's point guard has been on fire in his last seven games, recording 1.45 FanDuel points and 0.86 real-life points per minute. At his third highest salary during December, Young is fifth among guards with a 45.8 fantasy projection versus a Memphis Grizzlies' team ranked 28th in fantasy points (51.8) allowed per game to his position.

Ja Morant ($9,700): Since his return on December 19th, Morant has averaged 1.35 FanDuel points per minute and a 34.9% usage rate while his salary has increased by 2.1%.

Stephen Curry ($8,900): At his median salary this month, Curry is sixth among guards with a 43.0 fantasy projection against a Portland Trail Blazers' defense ranked 19th in opposing three point percentage. In two previous meetings versus Portland, Curry is averaging 19.0 real-life points and 28.9 FanDuel points.

Anfernee Simons ($8,300): The 24-year old's salary has spiked to his highest point this season after he produced 1.18 FanDuel points per minute and 41.0 FanDuel points per game in his last eight appearances. Simons has averaged 26.0 real-life points per game against Golden State this season.

Dejounte Murray ($7,700): At his lowest salary in December, Murray is twelfth among guards in value with a 4.86 rating and a 37.4 fantasy projection.

Cameron Thomas ($6,900): In 319 minutes this month, Thomas is averaging 0.90 FanDuel points per minute and a 30.4% usage rate while his salary has increased by 2.9%.

Jalen Williams ($6,700): In 256 with today's inactives, Williams also sees a increase to 1.08 FanDuel points per minute with a 26.3% usage rate.

Caris LeVert ($6,600): Even in a second unit role, LeVert has played a crucial offensive role with today's injuries, recording 0.98 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.7% usage rate in a 109 minutes sample size.

Devin Vassell ($6,300): At his median salary this month, Vassell is fifth among guards in value with a 5.13 rating and a 32.3 fantasy projection.

Malcolm Brogdon ($6,200): After producing 0.91 FanDuel points per minute with today's expected rotation, Brogdon also ranks as an optimal mid-salary option with a 5.11 rating and a 31.7 fantasy projection at his second lowest salary in December.

Dennis Schroder ($6,000): Toronto's veteran has seen his salary decrease by 10.4% after two consecutive underwhelming performances. Schroder is eighth among guards in value with a 5.03 rating and a 30.2 fantasy projection versus a Utah Jazz ranked 25th in fantasy production (51.5) allowed per game to point guards.

Craig Porter Jr. ($5,400): In 149 minutes with Cleveland injuries, the 23-year old rookie ranks first among his team in fantasy production (1.26 FanDuel points per minute) and third in usage (23.4%).

Vince Williams Jr. ($4,900): Since Williams Jr. was given a starting role, the Grizzlies' second-year guard is producing 0.74 FanDuel points per minute and a 11.3% usage rate.

Jordan Clarkson ($3,500): At the lowest possible salary, Utah's veteran is numberFire's top value option with an eye-popping 7.69 rating and a 26.9 fantasy projection.

Forwards

Anthony Davis ($11,200): Despite scoring 54.6 FanDuel points in his last appearance, Davis' salary moved down 2.6% to his lowest point this month. In a matchup against an Oklahoma City Thunder unit allowing 55.3 FanDuel points per game to centers, AD is third overall with a 53.3 fantasy projection.

LeBron James ($10,300): In 250 minutes this month, James has been extremely productive in December, recording an eye-popping 1.52 FanDuel points per minute and a 29.5% usage rate.

Victor Wembanyama ($10,200): Even with some offensive struggles in his last seven games, San Antonio's rookie has produced 1.64 FanDuel points per minute and 49.8 FanDuel points per contest.

Scottie Barnes ($9,500): Toronto's versatile playmaker is fifth among forwards with a 42.3 fantasy projection versus a Jazz team allowing the second most FanDuel points (46.8) to his position.

Pascal Siakam ($8,500): After producing 1.13 FanDuel points per minute in his last nine games, Siakam's salary has increased by 8.9% since December 1st. In a great matchup against a Utah defense ranked 28th in FanDuel points (52.0) allowed per game to power forwards, the Raptors' big man is ninth overall with a 43.1 fantasy projection.

DeMar DeRozan ($8,400): In 384 minutes this month, DeRozan ranks second among his team's starting unit in fantasy production (1.14 FanDuel points per minute) and first in usage (26.0%).

Paolo Banchero ($8,000) / Franz Wagner ($7,600): Orlando's second-year forward is averaging 1.09 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.5% usage rate with today's expected rotation while Wagner is producing 1.0 FanDuel point per minute and a 27.3% usage rate.

Mikal Bridges ($7,500): At his second lowest salary this month, Bridges is eleventh among forwards in value with a 4.92 rating and a 36.9 fantasy projection.

Jerami Grant ($7,200): Since his return on December 16th, Portland's veteran is recording 0.98 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.0% usage rate while his salary has decreased by 4%.

Aaron Gordon ($6,200): Denver's big man is second among forwards in value with a 5.14 rating and a 31.9 fantasy projection after averaging 0.97 FanDuel points and 28.2 FanDuel points per game in his last ten appearances.

Saddiq Bey ($5,900): In his last 13 starts, Bey is producing 27.0 FanDuel points per game and 0.75 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has moved up by 11.3%.

OG Anunoby ($5,600): Toronto's defensive enforcer is first among forwards in value with a 5.31 rating and a 29.8 fantasy projection at his lowest salary this month.

Centers

Nikola Jokic ($12,200): At his lowest salary in December, Denver's center rates a premier play, ranking second overall with a 57.0 fantasy projection in a mouth-watering spot against a Charlotte Hornets' team giving up the third most fantasy points (57.6) per game to his positon.

Nicolas Claxton ($7,100): The 24-year old leads his position in value with a 5.8 rating and a 27.8 fantasy projection in a great matchup versus a Detroit defense ranked 29th in FanDuel points (61.2) allowed per game to centers.

Interested in playing NBA daily fantasy? FanDuel has plenty of contest options to make every moment more. Be sure to check out the NBA betting options, as well.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.