NBA DFS Preview – First Look (12/7)

Tuesday’s three-game NBA DFS slate isn’t the most exciting of the season, but we do need to pay attention to a few news items. Be sure to continue using the FTN NBA Optimizer and monitor the updates throughout the day.

NBA Vegas Data for December 7 | NBA DFS First Look

Brooklyn Nets @ Dallas Mavericks

BKN -3.5, total: 215.5
Pace: BKN (11th), DAL (26th)

Situations to monitor:

• Luka Doncic (ankle) is questionable, as is Tim Hardaway with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis is listed as probable.

New York Knicks @ San Antonio Spurs

NYK -2.5, total: 212
Pace: NYK (22nd), SAS (6th)

Situations to monitor:

• Devin Vassell is once again questionable with a thigh injury.

Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Lakers

LAL -2.5, total: 218
Pace: BOS (23rd), LAL (3rd)

Situations to monitor:

• Both Anthony Davis and LeBron James are listed as probable for the Lakers, while Carmelo Anthony is questionable with an illness.
• For Boston, Jaylen Brown continues to deal with a hamstring injury and is questionable.

Stats to Know | NBA DFS First Look

Dennis Schroder is sporting a 26.8% usage rate with Jaylen Brown off the floor this season

We’ve seen Schroder have some huge games with Jaylen Brown sidelined this season, including his last game where he scored 31 points to go along with four rebounds and eight assists. Brown continues to deal with his hamstring injury and is questionable for Tuesday’s game. If he sits, Schroder likely remains in the starting lineup and his usage rate is flirting with 27% with Brown off the floor over the course of the season. He is also averaging just under a fantasy point per minute in the split.

Anthony Davis is averaging 4.2 post-up points per game on the year

Davis is once again probable for this game, and it is a pretty advantageous spot for him. The Celtics are coughing up 5.3 post-up points per game this season, good for the fourth-most in the NBA. They are also allowing the seventh-most points per possession off the play type (0.97), which bodes well for Davis, who is averaging 4.2 points per game from the post, good for the fourth-most in all of basketball. 

Last Night’s GPP Performances | NBA DFS First Look

DraftKings optimal lineup

Ayo Dosunmu (31.5)
Cade Cunningham (54.75)
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (34.0)
P.J. Washington (42.0)
Joel Embiid (74.75)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (56.5)
Kelly Oubre (58.25)
Steven Adams (44.5)

FanDuel optimal lineup

Lonzo Ball (48.0)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (55.9)
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (31.4)
Cade Cunningham (48.7)
Kenrich Williams (38.1)
Kelly Oubre (59.5)
P.J. Washington (43.6)
Domantas Sabonis (60.0)
Joel Embiid (71.5)

Despite being depleted, Charlotte kept the game close against Philadelphia, even sending the 76ers to overtime. It helped Joel Embiid dominate one of the weakest frontcourts in the NBA, scoring 43 points to go along with 15 rebounds, seven assists and a steal. Meanwhile, Ayo Dosunmu benefited from the absences of DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso and Coby White for the Bulls, scoring over 31 fantasy points over on DraftKings.