The NBA is offering up a sizable slate of basketball on Wednesday. There are nine games to choose from starting 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 $350K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Stud
Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards @ Orlando Magic ($11,100) – Westbrook’s salary continues to get more expensive, but he’s simply playing too good right now to ignore. He’s racked up at least 50.25 DKFP in each of his past seven games, and he’s scored at least 58.5 DKFP in five of them. Overall, he’s increased his production to 1.68 DKFP per minute over the past month.
There’s also a chance he could be without Bradley Beal once again. Beal is currently listed as questionable after missing the past five games. He will likely be limited even if he does suit up on Wednesday, so expect another heavy dose of Westbrook vs. the Magic.
Other Options – Luka Doncic ($10,900), Trae Young ($8,800)
Value
Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks ($6,000) – Injuries are going to be a huge factor on today’s slate, particularly at the point guard position. There are some big names that are currently listed as questionable, including John Wall, Jamal Murray, Dejounte Murray, Ja Morant, and Malcolm Brogdon. Any of those players being ruled out would create some value, which is tough to find on the slate currently.
Kemba Walker is one player that we know for sure won’t be available today. He will rest on the second leg of a back-to-back, and Evan Fournier also remains out of the lineup due to health and safety protocols. That means Smart should see as many minutes as he can handle. He played 36.5 minutes yesterday vs. the 76ers, and that was with Walker in the lineup. He struggled in that contest, finishing with just 21.25 DKFP, but Smart has averaged 0.89 DKFP per minute this season.
Other Options – Theo Maledon ($5,400), Derrick Rose ($4,800)
Shooting Guard
Stud
Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets vs. New Orleans Pelicans ($10,200) – This is an expensive price tag for Irving, but there’s a lot to like about him on today’s slate. James Harden has been shut down for the next 10 days, which means Irving should serve as the Nets’ primary ballhandler. Kevin Durant will make his return to the lineup on Wednesday, but he will almost certainly be limited after missing the past 23 games. That means Irving should see plenty of minutes without Harden or Durant on the court vs. the Pelicans, and he’s averaged 1.47 DKFP per minute in that situation this season.
The Pelicans also represent an outstanding matchup. They rank just 28th in defensive efficiency, and the Nets’ implied team total of 120.5 is the top mark on the slate.
Other Options – Jaylen Brown ($7,800)
Value
Jeremy Lamb, Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves ($3,400) – Lamb is coming off 38.5 DKFP in his last game, but that performance was a little fluky. He finished with six steals and one block, which added 14.0 DKFP to his offensive output. Still, that means he scored 24.5 DKFP without the benefit of those defensive stats, and he shot just 4-12 from the field. He has the potential for another strong performance vs. the Timberwolves, especially if Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner are unable to suit up.
Other Options – Bogdan Bogdanovic ($6,500), Ty Jerome ($4,400)
Small Forward
Stud
Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets @ Oklahoma City Thunder ($5,000) – Small forward seems like a great position to pay down at today. Bridges is priced very reasonably at $5,000, but he has the potential to deliver a stud-like performance. He should continue to start with Gordon Hayward out of the lineup, and he’s played at least 30.7 minutes in back-to-back games. Bridges has averaged 0.88 DKFP per minute this season, and the Thunder rank just 22nd in defensive efficiency. He’s one of the best values of the day.
Other Options – DeMar DeRozan ($8,200), Aaron Gordon ($6,500)
Value
Tony Snell, Atlanta Hawks vs. Memphis Grizzlies ($3,200) – It never feels good to roster Snell. He’s about as boring as it gets in fantasy, and he’s averaged a paltry 0.56 DKFP per minute this season. That said, he should be able to return value vs. the Grizzlies through sheer volume. He should play around 30 minutes if tonight’s game stays competitive, and that’s a ton of playing time for someone who costs just $3,200.
Other Options – Doug McDermott ($4,100), Grant Williams ($3,000)
Power Forward
Stud
Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves ($8,900) – It’s tough to get a good feel for the Pacers at this point since we’re still not sure who’s going to play for them. That said, Sabonis would be an interesting option if he suits up. Turner seems like the more likely option to sit after getting hurt during their last game, which means Sabonis could be looking at a large workload if he’s active. He’s averaged 1.33 DKFP per minute over the past month, and he’s cheaper than usual at just $8,900.
Other Options – Jayson Tatum ($9,100), Zion Williamson ($9,000)
Value
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves @ Indiana Pacers ($3,800) – On the other side of that matchup, Reid makes some sense as a punt play. He’s playing more minutes for the Timberwolves recently, logging between 17.5 and 22.8 minutes in each of his past three games. While that isn’t a ton of minutes, Reid has averaged a strong 1.12 DKFP per minute this season. That means 20 minutes should be more than enough for him to return value.
Other Options – Kyle Anderson ($5,500), Brandon Clarke ($4,800)
Center
Stud
Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic vs. Washington Wizards ($6,000) – I love Karl-Anthony Towns on tonight’s slate, and he is certainly in play if you can afford him. That said, we need to find some value, and center looks like a great place to do it. WCJ has been excellent since joining the Magic, averaging 1.16 DKFP per minute, and he has the potential to play a bit more than usual if Khem Birch is unable to suit up. He’s also in a dream matchup vs. the Wizards, who rank first in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency.
Other Options – Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,700), Nikola Jokic ($10,600)
Value
Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte Hornets @ Oklahoma City Thunder ($3,100) – The Hayward injury has also had a nice impact on the Hornets’ centers. Biyombo is someone who should play at least 20 minutes on today’s slate, which makes him a nice value at essentially a minimum salary.
Other Options – Tony Bradley ($4,000), Onyeka Okongwu ($3,100)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $350K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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