The NBA is offering up a huge slate of basketball on Wednesday, with 11 different games to choose from. The DraftKings slate starts at 7:00 p.m. ET, so let’s break down some of the top studs and values at each position to help you build your DraftKings lineups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Micro Millions Finale [$100K to 1st, 150 Entry Max]
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Point Guard
Stud
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks vs. New Orleans Pelicans ($10,900) – Doncic is going to be in play every single time he suits up, but he’s in a particularly appealing spot Friday vs. the Pelicans. New Orleans ranks just 26th in defensive efficiency, and they have struggled specifically struggled against opposing point guards. The Mavericks’ implied team total of 117.5 is also tied for second on the slate. Doncic has scored at least 64.5 DKFP in two of his past three games, and he should be able to put together another massive performance.
Other Options – Trae Young ($10,000), Russell Westbrook ($9,000)
Value
Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs at Atlanta Hawks ($6,800) – Murray is a bit more expensive than the typical “value” option, but he’s simply too cheap at his current salary. He’s been outstanding over the past month, averaging 1.17 DKFP per minute, and he should continue to see a large workload with LaMarcus Aldridge (hip) out of the lineup. He also owns an excellent individual matchup against Trae Young, who ranks dead last at the point guard position in terms of ESPN’s Defensive Real Plus/Minus.
Other Options – Darius Garland ($5,700), Dennis Smith Jr. ($3,000)
Shooting Guard
Stud
Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz vs. Milwaukee Bucks ($8,200) – The Jazz are in one of the best spots of the day vs. the Bucks. Milwaukee has not been as dominant defensively as they were last season, but they still play at one of the fastest paces in the league. Utah’s resulting implied team total of 118.25 is the top mark on the slate.
Mitchell has played some of the best basketball of his career this season, and he’s been particularly dominant of late. He’s averaged 1.26 DKFP per minute over the past month, and he’s scored at least 57.75 DKFP in back-to-back games.
Other Options – Zach LaVine ($9,200), Khris Middleton ($8,000)
Value
Garrett Temple, Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Clippers ($4,200) – Finding value on today’s slate is tough, but Temple stands out as one of the safest options. He’s coming off more than 30 minutes in his last contest, and he’s expected to see a similar workload Friday vs. the Clippers. That’s a lot of playing time for someone who costs just $4.2K.
Other Options – Jordan Clarkson ($5,700), Derrick White ($5,200)
Small Forward
Stud
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons ($7,800) – Brown has blossomed into a full-fledged superstar this season. He’s on pace to post new career-highs in basically every category across the board, resulting in an average of 1.28 DKFP per minute. He’s also been extremely consistent, scoring at least 37.75 DKFP in six of his past seven games.
Brown has the potential to carry an even larger workload than usual on tonight’s slate. Marcus Smart remains out of the lineup, and Kemba Walker is listed as doubtful on the second night of a back-to-back. The Pistons are also an excellent matchup – they rank 25th in defensive efficiency – so Brown can do a lot of damage in this spot.
Other Options – Kawhi Leonard ($9,500), Jerami Grant ($7,500)
Value
Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics ($3,400) – On the other side of that matchup, the Pistons are in a bit of a transitional period. They know that they aren’t winning anything this season, so they have decided to prioritize development for their younger players. Bey is one of them. He was drafted with the 19th pick last season, so expect his playing time to increase moving forward. He’s scored at least 23.25 DKFP in two of his past four games, and that kind of production would be more than enough at his current salary.
Other Options – Josh Richardson ($5,000), John Konchar ($3,000)
Power Forward
Stud
Julius Randle, New York Knicks at Washington Wizards ($9,100) – This looks like a nice buy-low spot for Randle. He’s coming off one of his worst games of the season in his last outing, finishing with just 29.5 DKFP over 36.7 minutes. That said, he’s still playing all the minutes he can handle, and he has an elite matchup vs. the Wizards. Washington ranks first in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency, and it’s hard to beat that combination from a fantasy perspective.
Other Options – Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,800), Jayson Tatum ($8,800)
Value
Danilo Gallinari, Atlanta Hawks vs. San Antonio Spurs ($4,800) – Gallinari has carried a minimal workload for most of the season, but it seems like the Hawks are ready to ramp up his activity. He entered the starting lineup in their last game and finished with a season-high 30.1 minutes. Gallo struggled in that contest – he finished with just 19.75 DKFP – but he’s the type of player who can do some damage with that much playing time. He’s averaged 0.91 DKFP per minute this season, so expect a better performance tonight vs. the Spurs.
Other Options – Deni Avdija ($3,900), Sekou Doumbouya ($3,000)
Center
Stud
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic at Sacramento Kings ($9,400) – There are a bunch of viable options if you’re paying up at center, but I’m sticking with old reliable. Vucevic continues to deliver strong performances on a regular basis, and he’s finished with at least 45.5 DKFP in five of his past six games.
He also has a chance to command a massive workload on today’s slate. The Magic have been decimated by injuries recently, and they were missing Evan Fournier ($5,900), Aaron Gordon, Markelle Fultz, Michael-Carter Williams ($4,100) and Cole Anthony ($5,200) in their last game. All of those players could be out once again, and even fourth-string point guard Frank Mason ($4,600) left last game with an injury. Vucevic is basically the last man standing. He should have no problem scoring the ball against the Kings, who rank dead-last in defensive efficiency.
Other Options – Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,300), Andre Drummond ($8,200)
Value
Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics ($3,100) – Stewart stands out as the best value play on the entire slate. He started at center in place of Mason Plumlee in the Pistons’ last game, and he responded with 33.25 DKFP over 31.2 minutes. Plumlee is uncertain for today’s contest, but Stewart figures to earn more playing time regardless of his status. He was selected with the 16th pick in last year’s draft, so he fits the Pistons’ youth movement moving forward.
Other Options – P.J. Washington ($5,600), Mitchell Robinson ($5,100)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Micro Millions Finale [$100K to 1st, 150 Entry Max]
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