Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has three 30-point games in four tries in December.
It’s Tuesday, December 10th and it’s time for the Knockout Rounds in the Emirates NBA Cup! Two quarterfinal matchups, one from each conference, on the NBA slate tonight.
The TNT doubleheader tips off at 7 p.m. ET with the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks battling at the Fiserv Forum. The evening wraps up at 9:30 p.m. ET with the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder.
NBA DFS Core Plays
- DraftKings: $11,300
- FanDuel: $11,800
Luka Dončić is coming off a triple-double last time out Saturday in Toronto, finishing with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists with four steals in 38 minutes. He also hit six 3-pointers. Dončić has managed three or more 3-pointers in seven straight outings.
He has yet to face Oklahoma City this season, but he averaged 34.0 points per game (PPG), 13.5 assists per game (APG), 11.5 rebounds per game (RPG), 1.0 blocks per game (BPG) and 1.0 steals per game (SPG) in two games against the Thunder in the 2023-24 campaign.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC)
- DraftKings: $10,000
- FanDuel: $10,800
Trying to get Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in your lineup is always worthwhile when you can, especially so when there are just two games.
He has three 30-point games in four tries in December. He has gone for 30+ points in six of the past seven contests. Gilgeous-Alexander averages 29.8 PPG with 5.3 APG, 5.0 RPG, 1.8 SPG, and 1.8 3-pointers per game in four December outings. He has not missed more shots than he has made in five consecutive outings.
- DraftKings: $8,700
- FanDuel: $8,900
Jalen Williams has been enjoying a red-hot December. You’ll want to spend a little extra on him. He has gone for 20+ points in each of his four December games, averaging 24.3 PPG with 5.0 RPG, 4.8 APG, and 2.0 SPG, while hitting a total of nine 3-pointers.
NBA DFS Cash Game Targets
- DraftKings: $8,300
- FanDuel: $8,400
Kyrie Irving might not be a recommended play with a full slate, as Dallas’ offensive ranking is just fourth for this matchup. However, there are only so many options in this middle area.
Irving has been hot lately, going for 27.0 PPG in the past two games, hitting 19-of-30 shots while making nine of his 14 3-pointer attempts. He is also averaging 5.0 RPG and 3.5 APG with 2.0 SPG during this span.
Isaiah Hartenstein (C/F – OKC)
- DraftKings: $7,100
- FanDuel: $7,700
Isaiah Hartenstein struggled last week, going for just six total points in 50 minutes across two games on Tuesday and Thursday, including NBA Cup play against the Utah Jazz.
However, he picked up the pace with 12 points and 12 rebounds on 5-of-8 shooting against the Pelicans on Saturday, while adding five assists and a steal. He also has 12+ points in five of the past six games.
- DraftKings: $7,300
- FanDuel: $7,200
The Orlando Magic might be in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, but the team has been victim to injuries this season. Paolo Banchero has been on the shelf for a while and Franz Wagner has joined him. The big man recently suffered a torn oblique muscle, so he will be sidelined indefinitely.
Jalen Suggs will be relied upon as the No. 1 scoring option, so we’ll see if he can fulfill that role. At this price, though, it will be fun finding out.
Suggs has been good the past two games, averaging 24.0 PPG while hitting 16-of-37 shots with four 3-pointers in each of the past two contests. He also collected five rebounds, five assists, and four steals in the two-game span.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG – ORL)
- DraftKings: $4,400
- FanDuel: $4,400
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a good bargain at this price. Temper expectations, though, as he is a low-cost option who you hope will catch fire like he did on December 1st in Brooklyn, scoring 16 points and knocking down four 3-pointers.
He has recorded single-digit points in four straight games, but the Magic need scoring with Franz Wagner sidelined. Caldwell-Pope could give the team some good perimeter scoring.
- DraftKings: $4,900
- FanDuel: $5,300
Daniel Gafford is a strong play, at least at this salary. He is working on a 16-game streak with 10+ points, which is pretty impressive. In addition, he is good for four or more rebounds in 18 straight outings, while blocking six shots in the past three contests.
- DraftKings: $5,400
- FanDuel: $6,200
Goga Bitadze is a much better value on DraftKings but is still a decent play at either site. Bitadze is another big in Orlando who will be tasked with stepping up with Wagner out of the mix.
Bitadze blew up for 21 points with 16 rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes against the Phoenix Suns last time out on Sunday. If he can come anywhere close to that kind of production he is a strong play.
NBA DFS Value Plays
- DraftKings: $4,400
- FanDuel: $4,900
Luguentz Dort is a low-cost guy who can give you some decent production, while also allowing you to free up some salaries to spend on some stars up top.
Dort got hot in New Orleans last time out on Saturday, going for 14 points with five rebounds, two steals, a blocked shot, and a steal in 31 minutes while hitting four 3-pointers. Do it again, Dort!
- DraftKings: $3,900
- FanDuel: $4,700
Cason Wallace is a spectacular starting option, especially on DraftKings, as he was in the starting five last time out. He didn’t crush it against the Pelicans on Saturday, but he had five points, seven rebounds, three steals, two assists, and a 3-pointer, which is great production at this price point.
- DraftKings: $3,800
- FanDuel: $4,000
Gary Trent Jr. has given the Bucks a nice bump in scoring lately, averaging 14.5 PPG in four games this month, while posting three 3-pointers in each outing. He will also chip in with occasional boards and steals.
