NBA Friday Night DFS Picks: DraftKings lineup, sleepers for tonight's daily fantasy basketball tournaments — Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and a plethora of value plays

Sloan Piva

NBA Friday Night DFS Picks: DraftKings lineup, sleepers for tonight's daily fantasy basketball tournaments — Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and a plethora of value plays image

Happy Friday! It's December, which means hoops season is in full swing. The NBA has 11 games lined up this evening, so naturally we are putting together a DFS lineup on DraftKings to start the weekend with some daily fantasy cash. Today we will reveal our team for the Friday night slate, and discuss why each player made the cut.

With DraftKings, lineup construction is simple: draft eight players with assigned salaries — one for each position, as well as one guard flex, one forward flex, and one utility — and keep the team under the $50,000 salary cap. 

DFS provides us with some money-making opportunities without having to worry about moneylines, point spreads, or over/unders. All we care about is the players we draft to our squad putting up numbers! 

Let's get right into our Friday night DraftKings NBA lineup and briefly discuss each of our picks.

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Today's Best NBA DFS Lineup: DraftKings strategy, sleepers for Friday night hoops

jrue-holiday-marcus-smart-celtics-bucks
NBA Getty Images / The Sporting News

PG: Jrue Holiday, Bucks at Lakers ($7,500)

As our other wing players are going to be DFS stars, we're going with an underrated fantasy point-man atop our squad. Holiday does a lot of little things, and his defensive stats always keep him relevant. He's the 15th-most expensive point guard, so we got a solid player at a very affordable price. The Lakers have surrendered the third-most fantasy points to PGs this season. Have yourselves a Holiday. 

Klay-Thompson-Jaylen-Brown-Getty-FTR
(NBAE via Getty Images)

SG: Jaylen Brown, Celtics vs. Heat ($8,000)

Brown has developed into a DFS star, and his floor can now be safely set at around 40 points. Of course, his ceiling should now be considered in the 50-60 range. He's averaging 26.1/6.6/3.5 this season, not to mention a full steal per game and solid percentages from the floor and stripe. And, surprisingly enough, Miami ranks dead-last in points allowed to shooting guards. Get ready for JB to torch Tyler Herro all night. 

Jayson Tatum
(Getty Images)

SF: Jayson Tatum, Celtics vs. Heat ($10,900)

We expected a hot start for Tatum, but we never imagined he would come out of the gates playing like the league MVP. JT ranks second in the NBA in points per game (31.8), while maintaining fantastic averages of 7.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. He's also shooting 87.3 percent from the line, 48.8 percent from the floor, and 36.6 percent from distance. He's the total package, and he should step it up big time in a key game against the old-familiar Heat. Just like with two-guards, Miami allows the most fantasy points to small forwards this season. Rock with the shamrocks tonight. 

Chris Boucher (Toronto Raptors)
Getty Images

PF: Chris Boucher, Raptors at Nets ($5,400)

Boucher has enjoyed a semi-regular rotation role of about 23-25 minutes ever since Toronto center Precious Achiuwa suffered an ankle injury. The increased usage has shot his averages up to over 12 points and 6.4 boards per game, and he usually tallies at least one block per contest. If his long-range shooting is on point, though, he can really put your DFS squad over the top. He has two 20/12 games in Toronto's last eight, insane production for a big priced in the low $5,000s. He's worth the investment against a Brooklyn squad allergic to defense. 

Brook Lopez Milwaukee Bucks
(NBA Entertainment)

C: Brook Lopez, Bucks vs. Lakers ($6,100)

Lopez has been one of the best surprises of the season, leading the league in blocks and maintaining solid shooting percentages at all three levels of scoring. He also serves as the Bucks' top rebounder when Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves the floor, and he's an able passer as well. BroLo's baseline is in the range of 26-32 fantasy points, but he can easily go off against a struggling Lakers team and put up 50. He put up a double-nickel against OKC on November 9, propelled by 24 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks. 

Pat Connaughton Milwaukee Bucks
NBA Entertainment

G: Pat Connaughton, Bucks vs. Lakers ($3,300)

Since we have spent up at a bunch of our starting spots, we have to go with a discount sleeper at our guard utility spot. Connaughton recently returned from a long-term injury, so his pricing remains affordable as he has been eased back into the Bucks' rotation. But he's certainly capable of going off against L.A., especially if the game gets out of hand early. It is the No. 2 Eastern Conference team against the No. 13 squad in the west, after all. Expect Connaughton's 11.8-point average, be happily surprised if he gives you 20. 

Trey Murphy III New Orleans Pelicans
(NBA Entertainment)

F: Trey Murphy III, Pelicans at Spurs ($5,700)

We've been all about TMIII since he emerged as a better swingman in New Orleans than Herbert Jones early in the season. He's a sharpshooter who can also explode to the hoop regardless of his defender. He's also a solid rebounder for his size (4.5 rpg), and averages at least 1.1 assists and steals while maintaining efficient shooting averages. He's the complete package, and he's a fantastic play for $5,700 against a young Spurs defense. 

Util: Danuel House Jr., 76ers at Grizzlies ($3,100)

Here's our other dart throw to couple with Connaughton. House is a role player by every definition of the term (we don't even have a photo of him in a Sixers uniform) — he's averaging just under 10 fantasy points per game. But he is certainly capable of putting up numbers — he scored 19 points with two boards, two assists, and a block against Orlando recently. If either De'Anthony Melton or Shake Milton get into foul trouble against the pesky Grizz tonight, we could see House chipping in 15-20 minutes. That's probably all we would need for him to satisfy us at $3,000. 

Sloan Piva

Sloan Piva Photo

Sloan Piva is a content producer for The Sporting News, primarily focused on betting, fantasy sports, and poker. A lifelong New Englander, Sloan earned his BA and MA in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts and now lives in coastal Rhode Island with his wife and two kids.