Here are some plays that jump out on DraftKings at each position for Wednesday’s NBA slate, along with some strategy unique to this slate.
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Point Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards at Milwaukee Bucks ($11,000)
Just play him. He’s gone for 81.75, 74, 51.5, 69.5, and 64.75 DKFP in the last five games. He’s scored at least 60 DKFP 24 times this season with four of those in the 70s, three in the 80s, and a season-high of 94.5 DKFP. What did I just write? He’s triple-doubled 31 times this season and in the two meetings with the Bucks this season, he went for 80.5 and 59.25 DKFP.
Best Bang For Your Buck: R.J. Hampton, Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics ($4,500)
Hampton hasn’t started but he’s received more playing over the last two games at the expense of Gary Harris, playing 35 and 30 minutes and contributing 47.25 and 41.25 DKFP. The usage rate has been 18% and 22% and he’s attempted 11 and 14 shot attempts. He’s not a one-dimensional player, though, as he’s chipped in defensive stats, grabbed plenty of rebounds, and dished out assists. Don’t expect 10x every night, but with all the injuries in the backcourt and the team pushing Harris to the side, Hampton looks like he will be getting plenty of run to finish the season.
Shooting Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Caris LeVert, Indiana Pacers vs. Sacramento Kings ($8,800)
Malcolm Brogdon ($9,000) injured his hamstring three games ago and is questionable for this one. With him out, LeVert has slid down and assumed the point guard duties for the Pacers. The usage rate has been 34%, 27%, and 33% the past three games. On the season, that number is 28%. He’s attempted 28, 15, and 24 field goal attempts over that span. Now he gets a matchup against a Kings team that is 9th in pace and last in defensive efficiency. They also boost the FPPM to point guards by 18.42% above league average.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Seth Curry, Philadelphia 76ers at Houston Rockets ($4,000)
On the season, Curry only averages 0.75 DKFP per minute. He’s on a nice little heater right now, though. Over the last two games, he’s produced 35.75 and 34 DKFP. Now, he’s not going to shoot 8-for-10 and 7-for-10 from the field every game. On the season, he’s converting 46% of his attempts. That said, he’s played 35 minutes in each game after languishing in the mid-20s and gets a matchup against a Rockets team that is 6th in pace, 24th in defensive efficiency, and boosts the FPPM to shooting guards by 6.91% above league average. Oh, the last time he faced the Rockets, he went for 38 DKFP.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $325K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Small Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies ($7,400)
Both Bradley Beal ($9,500) and Khris Middleton ($8,200) are enticing options, especially since that game environment should be a good one, but I like the savings that Edwards provides and think that he could match or at least come close to their production. Over the last five games, Edwards has gone for 49.25, 38.25, 42.25, 32.35, and 51.25 DKFP. The usage rate has been 28% on average and he’s attempted 18 shots per game. The last time he faced the Grizzlies, he went for 40.25 DKFP. Memphis plays at the eighth-fastest pace and boosts the FPPM to shooting guards by 8.25% above league average. Plus, he will likely be guarded by Grayson Allen ($4,200). Yummy.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Terence Davis, Sacramento Kings at Indiana Pacers ($4,400)
Davis has contributed 21.25, 24,75, and 28.75 DKFP in the last three games. He’s played 24, 22, and 31 minutes. De’Aaron Fox is still in COVID protocols while Tyrese Haliburton is likely done for the year, so Davis should be in line for all the minutes he can handle, backing up both guard positions. Davis has exceeded the 30-DKFP threshold three times this season, so there are ceiling possibilities and this game is one of the juicier environments since both teams rank in the top 10 in pace.
Power Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Washington Wizards ($10,900)
The Wizards are 8-2 in their last 10 games and this game only has the Bucks favored by 3.5 points at home on DraftKings Sportsbook. That’s good for Giannis because he should be getting a full allotment of minutes. If so, he’s going to smash as he averages a ridiculous 1.66 DKFP per minute and has played 37, 36, and 38 minutes in the last three games. The Wizards are first in pace and in the two prior meetings with Washington, Giannis went for 70.75 and 76.25 DKFP.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Taj Gibson, New York Knicks at Denver Nuggets ($3,700)
This is not a good matchup but Nerlens Noel ($5,100) is questionable with an ankle injury, so the Taj could be open to the public for all to see once again. In the last game, Gibson received the start, played 33 minutes, and contributed 33.5 DKFP.
Center
Worth Paying Up For: Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers vs. Sacramento Kings ($10,600)
Since returning from a six-game absence, Sabonis has been otherworldly. Did aliens kidnap him and insert some new technology into him? He’s gone for 74.25 and 75.75 DKFP in the last two games. Now he gets a matchup against a Kings team that plays fast, is the worst defensive team in the NBA, and boosts the FPPM to centers by 16.04% above league average.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Moritz Wagner, Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics ($4,900)
Chuma Okeke and Otto Porter Jr. are out for the Magic. Since they’ve been out, Wagner has played 28, 34, and 41 minutes, contributing 19.25, 36.25, and 19.5 DKFP. He’s attempted 12 and 15 shots in the last two games. Wagner is going to play a ton of minutes and minutes are half the battle. Yo, Joe!
Overall Lineup Strategy
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There are three juicy game environments today - SAC/IND, WAS/MIL, and MEM/MIN. I’m building my lineups around Westbrook, Giannis, and/or Sabonis. I think there’s enough value to fit two of those players into a lineup, and potentially better cheap options could surface later in the day. The ideal scenario would be to roster Westbrook and Giannis and hope that game goes absolutely ballistic.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $325K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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