NBA DFS First Look: Sunday, December 22nd

Rockets guard VanVleet

The NBA DFS First Look, complete with sortable odds, implied team totals, NBA DFS projections, NBA starting lineups, and more, will help you get an early start on the upcoming DraftKings and FanDuel slates that are loaded into our NBA DFS optimizer, LineupHQ.

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NBA Schedule & Vegas Lines

Road Team Home Team Favorite Spread Game Total Road Total Home Total Time (ET)
Houston Rockets Toronto Raptors HOU -6.5 225.5 116.0 109.5 6:00 PM
Indiana Pacers Sacramento Kings SAC -2.5 235.5 116.5 119.0 6:00 PM
Denver Nuggets New Orleans Pelicans DEN -9.0 233.5 121.3 112.3 7:00 PM

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Implied Totals, Team Stats, and Pace of Play

Offense Line Total PPG +/- O-Rat Pace Reb % Matchup Pace Reb % 3PAtt 3P % PAPG D-Rat P-Pace Time (ET)
Houston Rockets -6.5 116.0 112.9 3.1 14 16 1 at TOR 11 4 21 7 23 22 99.8 6:00
Toronto Raptors 6.5 109.5 111.7 -2.2 22 11 4 vs HOU 16 1 2 6 3 2 99.8 6:00
Indiana Pacers 2.5 116.5 114.6 1.9 13 6 28 at SAC 17 14 24 24 17 14 100.3 6:00
Sacramento Kings -2.5 119.0 115.5 3.5 7 17 14 vs IND 6 28 4 21 26 22 100.3 6:00
Denver Nuggets -9.0 121.3 119.4 1.8 6 5 7 at NOP 22 23 22 24 23 28 100.5 7:00
New Orleans Pelicans 9.0 112.3 104.9 7.3 29 22 23 vs DEN 5 7 25 11 25 17 100.5 7:00

Note: The stats to the left of the first grey column are for the offense, the stats to the right are for the defense of the opponent. Total = team total, PPG = points per game, +/- = difference between total and PPG, O-Rat = offensive rating, Pace = pace of play, Reb % = rebounding rate, 3PA = 3-point attempts allowed, 3P % = 3-point percentage allowed, PAPG = points allowed per game, D-Rating = defensive rating, P-Pace = projected pace of game

Point Guard (Projected Starters)

Player Team Total DK Pos FD Pos MIN/G +/- FP/G +/- USG% +/- PPG +/- APG +/- PAPG RPG +/- DK/M +/- FD/M +/- Matcup Time (ET)
Fred VanVleet HOU 116.0 $6,900 PG $7,200 PG 35.4 2.2 34.3 -4.6 19% -2% 15.2 -5.5 6.1 1.6 11.7 4.2 0.1 0.97 -0.18 0.97 -0.18 at TOR 6:00
Scottie Barnes TOR 109.5 $9,500 PG/SF $9,100 PF/SF 33.4 3.0 45.5 -13.2 26% -7% 20.3 -4.3 7.3 -1.3 14.4 8.1 -5.1 1.36 -0.48 1.31 -0.44 vs HOU 6:00
Tyrese Haliburton IND 116.5 $8,300 PG $8,600 PG/SG 35.4 0.1 40.2 10.1 21% 2% 18.0 4.0 8.7 2.3 15.0 3.4 0.3 1.14 0.28 1.10 0.23 at SAC 6:00
De’Aaron Fox SAC 119.0 $8,400 PG $8,700 PG 37.2 0.1 45.2 0.8 30% 1% 26.3 2.4 6.1 0.2 11.7 5.0 -0.7 1.22 0.02 1.19 0.01 vs IND 6:00
Jamal Murray DEN 121.3 $7,200 PG/SG $8,100 PG/SG 36.0 0.0 37.4 6.8 23% 4% 18.7 5.3 6.3 0.0 10.4 3.9 -0.6 1.04 0.19 1.04 0.18 at NOP 7:00
Dejounte Murray NOP 112.3 $8,200 PG $8,200 PG 32.9 0.3 38.8 -1.8 26% -3% 16.2 -0.5 7.0 0.7 12.2 6.6 0.4 1.18 -0.06 1.16 -0.11 vs DEN 7:00

Note: The +/- columns show the difference between the regular season and the last three games. MIN = minutes per game, FP/G = fantasy points per game, USG = usage rate, PPG = points per game, APG = assists per game, PAPG = potential assists per game, RPG = rebounds per game, DK/M = DraftKings points per minute, FD/M = FanDuel points per minute.

Shooting Guard (Projected Starters)

Player Team Total DK Pos FD Pos MIN/G +/- FP/G +/- USG% +/- PPG +/- APG +/- PAPG RPG +/- DK/M +/- FD/M +/- Matcup Time (ET)
Jalen Green HOU 116.0 $6,200 SG $6,800 SG 32.6 -0.1 32.0 -1.1 26% 2% 19.5 -0.2 2.6 0.1 5.5 4.7 -0.4 0.98 -0.03 0.94 -0.03 at TOR 6:00
Gradey Dick TOR 109.5 $6,100 SG $6,000 SG/SF 32.4 -0.1 28.4 5.9 23% 5% 18.5 4.2 2.0 0.0 3.1 3.4 1.9 0.88 0.19 0.84 0.16 vs HOU 6:00
Andrew Nembhard IND 116.5 $4,300 PG/SG $5,000 SG/PG 26.2 5.1 20.7 4.9 17% 1% 9.3 4.4 4.7 1.3 7.4 2.4 -0.1 0.79 0.03 0.78 0.00 at SAC 6:00
Malik Monk SAC 119.0 $7,000 PG/SG $7,200 SG/PG 29.6 6.0 31.2 5.7 21% 3% 15.8 0.5 5.1 2.2 8.4 3.6 0.7 1.06 -0.02 1.03 -0.04 vs IND 6:00
Christian Braun DEN 121.3 $5,200 SG/SF $5,200 SG/SF 34.2 -10.2 27.7 -8.1 15% 1% 15.0 -4.5 1.8 -0.8 3.4 4.9 -1.4 0.81 0.01 0.83 0.04 at NOP 7:00
CJ McCollum NOP 112.3 $6,800 PG/SG $7,300 SG/PG 33.5 -1.1 34.7 -6.4 26% -1% 20.4 -5.1 3.9 0.1 6.3 3.9 0.4 1.04 -0.16 1.02 -0.16 vs DEN 7:00

Note: The +/- columns show the difference between the regular season and the last three games. MIN = minutes per game, FP/G = fantasy points per game, USG = usage rate, PPG = points per game, APG = assists per game, PAPG = potential assists per game, RPG = rebounds per game, DK/M = DraftKings points per minute, FD/M = FanDuel points per minute.

Small Forward (Projected Starters)

Player Team Total DK Pos FD Pos MIN/G +/- FP/G +/- USG% +/- PPG +/- APG +/- PAPG RPG +/- DK/M +/- FD/M +/- Matcup Time (ET)
Dillon Brooks HOU 116.0 $4,500 SF $4,900 SG/SF 31.4 3.5 22.8 6.6 17% 0% 13.1 3.2 1.6 0.1 2.8 3.9 1.4 0.73 0.11 0.70 0.12 at TOR 6:00
RJ Barrett TOR 109.5 $9,200 PG/SF $8,500 SF/PF 34.3 1.3 43.6 9.1 29% 4% 23.5 -1.0 6.1 3.4 10.4 6.8 1.2 1.27 0.21 1.21 0.19 vs HOU 6:00
Bennedict Mathurin IND 116.5 $6,700 SG/SF $6,100 SF/SG 32.9 1.2 30.0 -4.3 22% -3% 17.2 -4.9 1.8 0.2 3.8 6.2 -1.2 0.91 -0.16 0.89 -0.11 at SAC 6:00
DeMar DeRozan SAC 119.0 $7,300 SF/PF $7,500 SF/PF 35.6 0.0 36.2 -9.9 24% -5% 21.6 -8.6 4.0 -0.3 7.0 3.9 0.1 1.02 -0.28 1.04 -0.28 vs IND 6:00
Michael Porter DEN 121.3 $6,600 SF/PF $6,700 SF/PF 35.1 -4.4 34.8 -4.5 19% -3% 18.4 -3.7 2.8 -0.1 7.1 -0.1 0.99 0.00 0.97 -0.02 at NOP 7:00
Trey Murphy NOP 112.3 $6,400 SG/SF $6,600 SF/SG 34.3 2.6 32.6 3.9 21% 1% 19.2 4.1 2.3 0.0 4.4 4.5 -0.2 0.95 0.04 0.94 0.03 vs DEN 7:00

Note: The +/- columns show the difference between the regular season and the last three games. MIN = minutes per game, FP/G = fantasy points per game, USG = usage rate, PPG = points per game, APG = assists per game, PAPG = potential assists per game, RPG = rebounds per game, DK/M = DraftKings points per minute, FD/M = FanDuel points per minute.

Power Forward (Projected Starters)

Player Team Total DK Pos FD Pos MIN/G +/- FP/G +/- USG% +/- PPG +/- APG +/- PAPG RPG +/- DK/M +/- FD/M +/- Matcup Time (ET)
Jabari Smith HOU 116.0 $5,300 PF/C $5,700 PF 30.7 5.8 25.0 2.1 15% 0% 11.9 2.8 1.1 1.9 1.7 6.6 -3.6 0.81 -0.07 0.80 -0.07 at TOR 6:00
Ochai Agbaji TOR 109.5 $5,100 PF $4,600 SG 31.0 1.1 23.3 0.8 13% 2% 11.8 4.2 1.9 -1.6 4.3 4.1 -0.4 0.75 0.00 0.76 -0.01 vs HOU 6:00
Pascal Siakam IND 116.5 $7,700 PF $7,600 PF 34.5 0.9 36.9 8.7 22% 1% 20.1 3.2 3.5 -0.8 5.4 7.0 3.3 1.07 0.22 1.05 0.23 at SAC 6:00
Keegan Murray SAC 119.0 $5,600 SF/PF $5,800 PF/SF 36.0 -4.8 27.5 -6.1 15% 1% 12.2 -2.2 1.4 -0.9 2.9 7.5 -2.0 0.76 -0.08 0.75 -0.06 vs IND 6:00
Aaron Gordon DEN 121.3 $5,800 PF $5,900 PF 29.4 -1.0 28.0 -3.7 17% 0% 14.1 -0.8 3.3 -1.0 5.8 6.1 0.2 0.95 -0.10 0.92 -0.10 at NOP 7:00
Herb Jones NOP 112.3 $5,000 SF/PF $5,600 PF/SF 32.5 1.6 24.5 4.3 16% 4% 11.5 3.2 2.5 0.5 3.0 3.8 -0.1 0.75 0.09 0.78 0.08 vs DEN 7:00

Note: The +/- columns show the difference between the regular season and the last three games. MIN = minutes per game, FP/G = fantasy points per game, USG = usage rate, PPG = points per game, APG = assists per game, PAPG = potential assists per game, RPG = rebounds per game, DK/M = DraftKings points per minute, FD/M = FanDuel points per minute.

Center (Projected Starters)

Player Team Total DK Pos FD Pos MIN/G +/- FP/G +/- USG% +/- PPG +/- APG +/- PAPG RPG +/- DK/M +/- FD/M +/- Matcup Time (ET)
Alperen Sengun HOU 116.0 $8,900 C $8,800 C 31.2 1.6 44.8 -0.4 26% 0% 18.8 1.9 5.3 -0.6 10.6 10.6 -0.3 1.44 -0.08 1.42 -0.08 at TOR 6:00
Jonathan Mogbo TOR 109.5 $4,800 PF/C $5,100 PF/C 17.8 11.5 16.4 3.8 14% -2% 5.6 -0.3 1.8 1.2 3.3 4.6 2.1 0.92 -0.23 0.96 -0.25 vs HOU 6:00
Myles Turner IND 116.5 $6,300 C $6,500 C 31.6 -2.5 32.0 -1.7 21% -3% 15.0 -1.7 1.6 0.1 2.2 7.0 -1.0 1.01 0.03 1.03 0.08 at SAC 6:00
Domantas Sabonis SAC 119.0 $9,600 C $9,900 C/PF 36.1 2.8 50.4 5.5 22% -1% 21.3 0.4 6.1 0.6 9.9 13.3 1.7 1.39 0.04 1.32 0.10 vs IND 6:00
Nikola Jokic DEN 121.3 $12,100 C $12,300 C 37.2 -2.2 68.7 -18.1 30% -6% 31.0 -7.7 9.8 -2.1 17.3 13.0 -4.0 1.85 -0.40 1.76 -0.40 at NOP 7:00
Yves Missi NOP 112.3 $5,400 C $5,500 C 26.1 6.1 25.2 1.7 15% -1% 9.3 0.4 1.2 0.1 1.8 8.6 2.4 0.97 -0.13 1.00 -0.18 vs DEN 7:00

Note: The +/- columns show the difference between the regular season and the last three games. MIN = minutes per game, FP/G = fantasy points per game, USG = usage rate, PPG = points per game, APG = assists per game, PAPG = potential assists per game, RPG = rebounds per game, DK/M = DraftKings points per minute, FD/M = FanDuel points per minute.

Notable Bench Players

Player Team Total DK Pos FD Pos MIN/G +/- FP/G +/- USG% +/- PPG +/- APG +/- PAPG RPG +/- DK/M +/- FD/M +/- Matcup Time (ET)
Amen Thompson HOU 116.0 $5,500 SG/SF $6,300 SG/SF 27.0 0.6 27.3 -0.6 17% 0% 11.8 -0.8 2.1 0.9 4.8 6.9 -1.2 1.01 -0.04 1.04 -0.02 at TOR 6:00
Aaron Holiday HOU 116.0 $3,300 PG $3,600 PG 9.8 1.2 8.3 -0.3 15% 0% 4.4 -0.4 1.2 -0.2 2.3 1.1 0.2 0.85 -0.12 0.80 -0.07 at TOR 6:00
Reed Sheppard HOU 116.0 $3,200 PG/SG $3,500 SG 11.9 3.3 8.7 0.5 16% -3% 3.7 -1.7 1.2 -1.2 2.0 1.1 1.9 0.73 -0.12 0.75 -0.05 at TOR 6:00
Davion Mitchell TOR 109.5 $4,000 PG/SG $3,900 PG 26.8 -8.3 18.8 -1.4 13% 1% 6.7 0.8 5.0 0.0 10.2 2.3 -0.8 0.70 0.24 0.69 0.20 vs HOU 6:00
Chris Boucher TOR 109.5 $3,700 PF $4,800 C/PF 18.1 1.8 19.2 0.7 21% -6% 9.7 -2.7 0.6 -0.1 0.9 4.6 1.9 1.06 -0.06 1.09 -0.06 vs HOU 6:00
Kelly Olynyk TOR 109.5 $5,900 C $4,400 C/PF 14.3 -0.1 17.9 -1.5 24% 1% 6.8 -1.8 2.0 0.7 3.0 4.2 0.1 1.25 -0.10 1.29 -0.09 vs HOU 6:00
Obi Toppin IND 116.5 $4,600 PF/C $5,600 PF 20.4 2.4 21.3 13.1 18% 1% 10.8 5.5 1.8 0.2 2.0 4.1 2.9 1.05 0.47 1.06 0.50 at SAC 6:00
T.J. McConnell IND 116.5 $4,700 PG $4,700 PG 19.8 -1.8 23.2 -1.1 23% 1% 11.3 -2.0 4.2 1.5 8.0 2.5 -0.2 1.17 0.06 1.21 0.04 at SAC 6:00
Ben Sheppard IND 116.5 $3,800 SG/SF $3,800 SG 20.6 -4.2 12.2 -3.7 11% -1% 5.5 -3.5 1.2 -1.2 1.5 2.2 -0.2 0.59 -0.07 0.58 0.06 at SAC 6:00
Kevin Huerter SAC 119.0 $4,600 SG/SF $4,500 SG/SF 25.4 -1.9 20.7 -5.7 17% 0% 9.8 -1.8 2.0 -1.0 3.6 3.4 -0.4 0.81 -0.17 0.82 -0.21 vs IND 6:00
Keon Ellis SAC 119.0 $4,900 PG/SG $4,200 SG/PG 20.7 1.9 15.4 4.1 12% -1% 6.4 0.9 1.1 -0.1 2.9 2.3 1.7 0.75 0.12 0.80 0.16 vs IND 6:00
Trey Lyles SAC 119.0 $4,400 PF/C $3,900 PF/C 19.5 -2.5 14.4 -5.1 13% -4% 5.3 -2.3 0.9 -0.9 2.1 3.9 -0.9 0.74 -0.19 0.75 -0.18 vs IND 6:00
Russell Westbrook DEN 121.3 $6,000 PG $6,900 PG 25.5 5.3 30.6 5.4 22% -2% 11.6 2.4 6.5 0.8 9.9 4.1 0.6 1.20 -0.03 1.20 -0.01 at NOP 7:00
Peyton Watson DEN 121.3 $3,900 PF $4,000 PF 24.3 -4.2 18.3 -0.4 15% 2% 9.0 1.3 1.2 -0.5 2.0 3.3 0.4 0.75 0.14 0.79 0.12 at NOP 7:00
Julian Strawther DEN 121.3 $4,100 SG/SF $3,900 SF 20.6 -1.1 16.4 0.2 17% 1% 9.2 1.1 1.4 -0.1 2.3 2.1 0.6 0.79 0.06 0.79 0.04 at NOP 7:00
Brandon Boston NOP 112.3 $4,500 PG/SF $4,700 SG 27.0 -3.9 24.4 -4.3 20% 2% 11.9 -0.6 3.1 -1.4 6.0 3.5 -1.2 0.90 -0.03 0.92 -0.04 vs DEN 7:00
Javonte Green NOP 112.3 $3,200 SF/PF $3,800 SF 22.6 -6.4 15.1 -2.5 11% 2% 6.2 -0.9 0.8 -0.5 1.7 3.4 0.6 0.67 0.11 0.71 0.07 vs DEN 7:00
Jordan Hawkins NOP 112.3 $4,200 PG/SG $4,100 SG 26.1 -7.1 20.0 -8.4 20% -4% 12.2 -5.2 1.2 -0.7 2.3 3.5 -2.0 0.77 -0.16 0.73 -0.15 vs DEN 7:00

Note: The +/- columns show the difference between the regular season and the last three games. MIN = minutes per game, FP/G = fantasy points per game, USG = usage rate, PPG = points per game, APG = assists per game, PAPG = potential assists per game, RPG = rebounds per game, DK/M = DraftKings points per minute, FD/M = FanDuel points per minute.

Image Credit: Getty Images

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on Twitter – @RG_Notorious