NBA DFS Cheat Sheet: Picks for NBA Today, December 26
The NBA Christmas games brought us thrillers and high-quality basketball being played throughout the day. Teams who enjoyed a nice few days off are back in action today.
After seeing some of the league’s superstars take center stage on Christmas, others who didn’t get that opportunity to shine yesterday, such as Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be in action tonight.
In the NBA DFS Cheat Sheet for the NBA Thursday games, we’ll go through the top picks to add to your Lineups on PrizePicks, and the best games to target for NBA DFS.
PrizePicks is the easiest way to get paid for your NBA takes. Just pick more or less on player stat projections, lock in your Lineup, and win up to 1000x your money on 6-Pick Lineups if your picks are correct.
NBA DFS Cheat Sheet for Thursday: Picks for PrizePicks
Find game previews, NBA DFS projections, and PrizePicks NBA picks below for the Thursday NBA games. You can find all of today’s NBA DFS Projections on the PrizePicks app.
- Games to Target for NBA DFS
- NBA DFS Picks for PrizePicks Today
Bulls vs. Hawks: How To Watch, Preview
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: NBA League Pass
These two teams have played twice already, and both were high-scoring affairs. The Bulls dropped at least 125 points in both their wins against the Hawks, while Atlanta dropped 110 in those losing efforts.
This game has scoring written all over it just like their previous head-to-head. Both teams sit second and fourth in terms of points allowed per game and are second and third in pace. With both teams running up and down the floor, you should expect another high-scoring affair between these two.
PrizePicks NBA Pick: Hawks G Dyson Daniels 12.5 Points — More
Thunder vs. Pacers: How To Watch, Preview
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: NBA TV
The best in the West returns to action after a couple of days off. This matchup will feature Indiana’s offense who is just outside the top-10 in points per game against the top defense in the league.
Even with the top defense in the league, this game has the potential to boast a good amount of points. Both offenses are in the top-11 in points-per-game and seventh and ninth respectively in pace. Both are also in the top-10 in offensive rating.
The big key in this game will be whether or not the Pacers can crack that Thunder defense. Indiana has looked like a shell of themselves after playing some exciting, fast-paced basketball last year.
A lot of their struggles boil down to the struggles of PG Tyrese Haliburton. Their star guard has seen a drop off in points, assists, and field goal percentage despite making more three-pointers this year. If he can figure it out today, this has the makings of a good game.
PrizePicks NBA Pick: Pacers G-F Bennedict Mathurin 5.5 Rebounds — More
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NBA DFS Picks Today for PrizePicks
Below, you’ll find the top NBA DFS picks today for PrizePicks on Thursday, December 26.
Hawks G Trae Young vs. Bulls: 11.5 Assists— More
The league leader in assists gets the best matchup possible facing the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are tops in the league in allowing assists to opposing point guards. Young has already hit this projection in both their matchups with 13 and 16 assists respectively.
This season, Young is averaging 12 assists per game and has a ridiculous 21.2 potential assists per game on top of that. Against Chicago, those numbers get even better. He averages 14.5 assists against them with 24.5 potential assists.
With two of the league’s fastest and highest-scoring teams, opportunities will be plenty for Young to hit this projection.
Bulls G Zach Lavine vs Hawks: 22.5 Points — More
With this Hawks-Bulls game being so fantasy-friendly, we’re going to attack this game a second time in today’s picks. LaVine has hit this projection in one of their two meetings but had less volume in their first meeting where he missed this. In that first meeting, he finished with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 1-of-5 from three.
That game had a balanced attack from Chicago’s starters, with every starter scoring double-digit points, and LaVine was in a three-way tie as the joint-highest scorer for starters with 18. Sixth man Ayo Dosunmu led the team in scoring that game.
In the second game, LaVine finished with 26 and attempted more shots. The Hawks currently give up the fifth-most points to opposing small forwards this year. LaVine has better metrics in nearly all aspects of shooting against the Hawks so with the proper volume, there is a good chance he hits this projection.
Thunder G-F Jalen Williams: 41.5 Fantasy Score — More
Jalen Williams is the projected starting power forward for the Thunder in this matchup against the Pacers and will get a great matchup against Pascal Siakam. The Pacers are currently allowing the second-most fantasy score to opposing power forwards.
They are allowing the second-most points and fifth-most steals and are in the top half of the league in terms of rebounds, assists, and blocks allowed. This game features two teams who are also in the league’s top-10 in pace so there will be plenty of opportunities for Williams to get involved.
NBA fantasy score on PrizePicks involves all aspects of the game — find how it’s calculated here. The biggest factor in fantasy score is the three points for defensive stats such as steals and blocks as well as the extra decimal points for rebounds and assists. Racking up those extra points via rebounds and assists and having an elite defensive performance can really help if someone has a potential off-shooting like Williams.
Hornets G LaMelo Ball vs. Wizards: 44.5 Pts+Reb+Asts — More
This Wizards-Hornets matchup provides contrasting styles with the Wizards toward the top of the league in pace and the Hornets toward the bottom. Both teams also are towards the bottom of the league in points per game as well. However, the Wizards boast the league’s worst defense so Charlotte will look to take advantage of that.
LaMelo Ball has the best matchup possible going up against opposing Washington point guards who give up the most fantasy points to their opposition. They currently allow the most points and rebounds as well as the fifth-most assists to point guards.
Ball finished with 51 PRA in their meeting just last week. That came on wildly inefficient shooting (11-of-32 from the field and 3-of-18 from three. The Charlotte guard should be able to chip in with more rebounds in this effort and should shoot even better from the field in this ideal matchup.
Lock In Your NBA Thursday Lineups on PrizePicks
Even with the Christmas day games ending, there are still plenty of hoops to enjoy on Thursday night. There are nine games on the slate with exciting players like LaMelo Ball, Giannis, and Gilgeous-Alexander all in action tonight.
PrizePicks is the easiest way to cash in on your NBA knowledge; just pick more or less on at least two player stat projections and get paid if you’re correct. The more you pick, the more you stand to win.
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