NBA DFS Cheat Sheet: Picks, Predictions for NBA Games Tonight
Tonight, we have a solid six-game slate before the NBA Cup Final takes place on Tuesday night. The NBA’s best-record Cleveland Cavaliers head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets, who kicked off the trade season by sending Dennis Schroder to the Warriors.
We have two games that are expected to bring tons of firepower which should open up plenty of opportunities for NBA DFS. Below we will take a look at previews for both games, giving you the best NBA DFS picks and predictions for PrizePicks tonight.
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 Picks, Predictions for PrizePicks Today
Find game previews, NBA DFS projections, and PrizePicks NBA picks below for the Monday NBA games. You can find today’s full NBA DFS Projections on the PrizePicks app.
Bulls vs. Raptors: Preview & How to Watch
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
How to Watch: NBA League Pass
A shootout is expected in Canada tonight with two of the league’s worst teams in points allowed and defensive rating taking to the court in the Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors. Both teams are in the bottom six in points per game allowed and bottom 10 in defensive rating. This coupled with the Bulls ranking second in the league in pace could make for a shootout.
The Raptors are riddled with injuries with Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and Bruce Brown all ruled out for the game already. Chicago has a handful of players who are currently designated as game-time decisions but are expected to play, such as Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
With the Bulls struggling horribly against opposing backcourts, this could be the matchup for RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick to thrive in.
Barrett is taking over at the point guard position with Quickley and Barnes out, and the Bulls allow the third-most fantasy points to opposing point guards. Against shooting guards, the Bulls allow the most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards so this could be the perfect matchup for either Barrett or Dick to feast in.
PrizePicks NBA Pick: Raptors G Gradey Dick 19.5 Points — More
Nuggets vs. Kings: Preview & How to Watch
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: NBA League Pass
Two of the league’s best centers face off in this matchup as Nikola Jokic goes up against Domantas Sabonis. Similarly to the Bulls vs. Raptors game, this game is expected to be a shootout but for different reasons.
This game has two of the league’s best offenses, with Denver fifth and Sacramento eighth respectively in points per game. Their offensive ratings are also in the top 10 of the league, with the Nuggets sixth and the Kings one spot behind them.
Both teams are right in the middle of the pack when it comes to defensive rating, showcasing that anything could happen in this matchup scoring-wise. If the Nuggets — fifth in the NBA pace — want to run, expect Sacramento to run with them as well to try and keep up.
PrizePicks NBA Pick: Nuggets G Jamal Murray 21.5 Pts+Rebs— Less
NBA DFS Picks Today for PrizePicks
Below, you’ll find the top NBA DFS picks today for PrizePicks on Monday, December 16, for the six-game NBA slate.
Nets F Cameron Johnson vs Cavaliers: 20.5 Points — More
These two teams already met once this season in Cleveland with the Cavs just squeaking by the Nets, 105-100. In that game, the Nets both had Cam Thomas and Dennis Schroder, both of whom will not be a factor in this game.
Thomas is out for a significant amount of time with a left hamstring strain. Schroder on the other hand was traded to the Golden State Warriors. Johnson cleared this projection in that last game, with both of the aforementioned guys playing and chipping in 20+ points themselves.
Now with both of them gone, Johnson will be the primary scorer on the Nets offense in the starting lineup. Ben Simmons is not known for scoring, while Dorian Finney-Smith and Nic Claxton get horrendous matchups in the front court with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen as their primary defenders.
That leaves Cam and Keon Johnson as the two most likely guys to chip in points. Cam Johnson is expected to start at the small forward position, where the Cavs give up the ninth most points and seventh most threes to opposing small forwards.
Cam Johnson gets a plus matchup at home, where he has better shooting splits and scores more, and no Schroder and Thomas to make this the ideal setting for him.
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Raptors G-F RJ Barrett vs Bulls: 6.5 Assists — More
In 12 games without Scottie Barnes this season, RJ Barrett has hit more than 6.5 assists in half of those games. Without Barnes in the lineup for most of November, Barrett averaged just over 11 potential assists in that span but that number rocketed up to 16 in their last game.
Now Barrett gets the best matchup possible against the Bulls who have given up the most assists to opposing point guards this season. This game is expected to have a lot of scoring and possessions since Chicago ranks second in the league in pace.
Barrett’s usage increases over six percent without Barnes, Bruce Brown, and Immanuel Quickley, bumping up from 27 to 33 percent. He has ffar and away the highest usage rate of the potential starters at 38 percent when they’re all on the floor together. He should have plenty of opportunities to set up his teammates to clear this mark.
Clippers G James Harden vs Jazz: 9 Assists — More
Clippers guard Harden’s assist totals have dipped each month since his hot start to the season where he averaged over 11.5 assists per game. He now gets an amazing matchup against the Jazz who up the second-most assists to opposing point guards.
These two teams already met once this season with Harden soaring over 8.5 assists and finishing with 11. He finished with 22 potential assists in that game.
Both of these teams aren’t toward the top of the league in pace. However, Utah does allow the third most points and fifth most field goals attempted. The Clippers should see enough volume to potentially get Harden’s assists in what could be a slower-paced game.
Kings C Domantas Sabonis vs Nuggets: 13 Rebounds — More
Since joining the Kings, Sabonis has averaged over 13.5 rebounds against Jokic and enjoyed his best spell against him last year. In four games, he averaged 13.8 rebounds and finished with over 22 potential rebounds in those games against Denver.
The two teams have not faced off this season, but last season, Denver was in the middle of the pack in terms of rebounds allowed to opposing centers. Sabonis, however, was still quite dominant on the glass against them.
Denver is currently fifth in the league in pace and allows the second-most field-goal attempts to their opposition so far this season. Additionally, the Nuggets are allowing the most rebounds to opposing centers, this should once again be a matchup he thrives in.
Lock In Your NBA Lineups on PrizePicks
We have a nice six-game slate on the cards tonight before the NBA Cup Final tomorrow, and PrizePicks is the easiest way to play NBA DFS.
On PrizePicks, you can make real money with your NBA takes. Just choose more or less on at least two player projections like the ones above and build your squad.
Be sure to try out different combinations of Demons on 6-Pick Power lineups — payouts on all demons can be up to 1000x.
Use PrizePicks to build a Lineup of your NBA picks and check out the Playbook daily for more NBA DFS picks for PrizePicks all season long.
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