It's the end of 2018, one more time to hit it big in NBA DFS for winnings to apply towards this year's taxes. There are 7 total games today but two have early starts. Therefore, the main slate is 5 games which is ideal. Speaking of New Year's Eve, is that an angle to play tonight? Will Dallas be distracted by being in the party mecca of Oklahoma City? Are the Minnesota Timberwolves more focused on hurricanes at Pat O'Brien's rather than buckets at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans? We'll find out soon enough if the game is really just the pregame. We know LeBron James will be raising a glass of vino but is the NBA really a copycat league?

Tonight's Headline Games

NBA fans have been waiting all year for it to happen but it looks like the Houston Rockets are finally turning things around. Houston is 9-1 in their last 10, have won four in a row, and are 5 point favorites vs. the Memphis Grizzlies. The Rockets move Austin Rivers ($4,900) into the starting lineup with Eric Gordon out with a knee injury.

The Dallas Mavericks are 5-0 ATS their last five meetings with the Oklahoma City Thunder but the home team has also covered in 8 of 9. Dallas is just 2-15 on the road and OKC is 12-4 at home. DeAndre Jordan ($6,100) has been in 5 perfect lineups in December - can he tally one more before the month is over?

There should be some very high DFS outputs in the Minnesota Timberwolves / New Orleans Pelicans (-5) game. The O/U is listed at 230.5 but the 'over' has hit in 7 straight T-Wolves games. The 'over' has also hit in 7 of the last 8 when these two teams meet up in New Orleans. Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,300) has grabbed 57 rebounds over the last three games.

The Boston Celtics are also in action in a PK game at the San Antonio Spurs while the Golden State Warriors (-10.5) visit the Phoenix Suns. It's a small-ish slate but one with tons of star power.

Guards

James Harden (DK: $11,400, FD: $12,600 Y! $57)

It's looking like you simply roster James Harden tonight and then try to build around him with scraps. Harden has scored 41, 45, and 41 points the last three games. The Rockets G also has four double-digit assist outings his last nine and has six games of 6+ rebounds over that span. Harden has a lofty price tag but you're basically getting the output of two players with him. Harden has gone for 65+ fantasy points in 4 of 5 and that should stay true with Eric Gordon out Monday vs. the Grizzlies. You're going to be significantly behind the 8-ball if everybody else has Harden and you're trying to play catch up.

Wesley Matthews (DK: $4,300 FD: $4,900 Y! $14)

Wesley Matthews was upgraded from doubtful to questionable Sunday but he still didn't see any court time vs. the Thunder. The two teams meet up again Monday in a double B2B and this time Matthews could give it a go. Since he's fresh from not playing yesterday, the Dallas SG could be a solid play. Harrison Barnes and Luka Doncic both played over 33 minutes yesterday. The Thunder have given up 40+ point fantasy games to 4 of the last 5 shooting guard they've faced (including 40.25 to Doncic yesterday). With OKC on a B2B as well it could be a nice return for Matthews.

E'Twaun Moore (DK: $4,200 FD: $4,700 Y! $11)

There's great upside for E'Twaun Moore at home vs. a Minnesota team that is banged up and fatigued. The Pelicans are 12-6 at home and Moore just rejoined the starting lineup Saturday in place of Tim Frazier. His first game back with the first unit, Moore went for 21 points and had 7 boards but most importantly, played 36 minutes. Minnesota beat the Heat 113-104 yesterday, but may have sacrificed Monday's game in the process. The backcourt combo of Andrew Wiggins and Tyus Jones both logged 35+ minutes. G Derrick Rose could also miss his 2nd straight game after spraining his ankle vs. the Hawks on Friday. Jeff Teague has been out a significant amount of time for Minnesota as well. Moore should have plenty of scoring opps in this one.

Forwards

Dario Saric (DK: $4,500, FD; $4,400 Y! $15 )

There are a lot of factors pointing towards a big night for Dario Saric on Monday. First off, the Pelicans are giving up 18.8 fppg just to PF reserves. Minnesota is on leg two of a B2B though, so Saric should see a ton of minutes considering he played just 18 yesterday. Karl-Anthony Towns, Robert Covington, and Andrew Wiggins all logged 35+ vs. the Heat so it should open up minutes for Saric at a variety of positions. The T'Wolves F has played just one B2B since coming to Minnesota but in that game he went for 19 points and 14 rebounds for a 39 point fantasy night.

Dwight Powell (DK: $3,800, FD: $3,800 Y! $10 )

It's kind of a scrape for value at the forward position on Monday but Dwight Powell should see a significant amount of minutes Monday vs. OKC. The Mavs are in a B2B situation and Deandre Jordan was questionable before yesterday's game with a left knee contusion. DJ ended up starting and playing 33 minutes (12 points, 17 rebounds) but you have to think he's monitored closely in the B2B (if not rested altogether). Powell played just 14 minutes yesterday which opens him up for big PT tonight. In the last Dallas B2B Powell had 14 points in 18 minutes and we'd like to squeeze 20+ minutes this time around - even though some people refer to him as the 'worst player in the NBA'. Good contrarian play.

Jaren Jackson, Jr. (DK: $5,300 FD: $6,100 Y! $18)

It's probably a good New Year's resolution to stop using Jaren Jackson, Jr. in your lineups. That means we've got one more day for the Memphis PF to restore our faith. Jackson is tempting on a night in and night out basis but he's just so inconsistent. He shoots 11/21 and grabs 9 rebounds 12/23 vs. the Lakers for example, then follows that up with a 5/10 night with 2 boards vs. the Cavs. Jackson has good value again on Monday vs. a Rockets team that is 27th vs. the PF the last five. Julius Randle just had a 10/19, 11 rebound night on Saturday vs. the Rockets - can Jackson come close to that?

Centers

Deandre Ayton (DK: $7,300 FD: $8,000 Y! $32)

Saying that Anthony Davis or Karl-Anthony Towns have upside at the C position is like saying that the premise of Bird Box is kind of hard to understand. You'd be a bird brain to not like Davis or Towns but you're also going to have to pay for them. A big man with similar potential but a much lower cost is Deandre Ayton of the Suns. On Saturday vs. Denver for example, the Phoenix rookie went 16/20 and grabbed 14 boards. Ayton has seen his production go up lately with the return of Devin Booker from injury, but Booker may miss Monday's game with a back injury. There's still upside for Ayton vs. Golden State, who allowed a 55 point fantasy night to Deandre Jordan recently and is 29th vs. the C overall.

Nerlens Noel ( DK: $3,300, FD: $3,700 Y! $10)

If there's ever a time for a 'ceiling game' for Nerlens Noel, it has to be Monday night vs. his former team the Mavs. OKC and Dallas played yesterday and in the process Thunder starting C Steven Adams logged 37 minutes in the 2 point loss. Noel should be fresh after seeing just 10 minutes of court time. There's got to be a little bit of revenge factor going for Noel vs. Dallas. He played with great energy yesterday with a putback dunk and a rejection that led to a fast break alley-oop. Noel just didn't have enough time to do more - perhaps that changes behind his fatigued teammates tonight.

Gorgui Dieng (DK: $3,300 FD: $3,800 Y! $11)

Minnesota could easily get blown out tonight, playing in a B2B in New Orleans. The T-Wolves also had a high scoring 120-123 OT loss to Atlanta on Friday, so the 3 games in 4 nights could be catching up to them in the Big Easy. Even with the minutes Tom Thibodeau doles out, it's hard to see a whole lot of usage from Karl-Anthony Towns after playing 37 yesterday and 42 on Friday. If that's the case, Gorgui Dieng needs to approach a 20+ minute game. He's scored in double figures the last two times logging 20 or more and he's up against a New Orleans team 18.8 fppg to PF/C reserves. Dieng could easily approach 25+ fantasy points tonight - or should anyway if not for the Thibodeau Factor.

...and with that, the LineStar Daily Dribble for 2018 is in the books. Whether you take advantage of the extra hours that taverns offer to celebrate tonight or stay home from what many people call 'amateur night' here's to a happy and healthy 2019. There are some good things cooking for the '19 NBA and sports environments in general, so stay tuned. This is Carl Taylor (@dailydogsports) beating your corny uncle to it by saying, "see you next year."

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