This article is part of our Daily Games Cheat Sheet series.
TEAM ANALYSIS
Defenses to Avoid
Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans: The Rockets' defense has been underwhelming lately compared to the elite defense they were playing earlier in the season, but that's partly due to the lofty standard they set for themselves. The Rockets remain in the top third of the league for defensive efficiency and opponent field goal percentage, and they remain elite along the perimeter. The Pelicans offense, meanwhile, is sluggish and currently rates as one of the least productive in the Association.
Honorable Mention: be careful of the Cavaliers visiting the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are, as usual, a slow-paced team and amongst the league leaders in defensive efficiency. On the other hand, the Cavaliers offense has been scorching lately. It's anybody's guess which strength will win out.
Offenses to Use
Sacramento Kings at Phoenix Suns: With almost every team in action Wednesday, there's no need to get cute with our teams to target. I've taken shots at the Kings' defense each of the last two weeks. The Kings haven't gotten any better since, and they travel Wednesday to face a still-explosive-and-exciting Suns squad. Until the Kings improve, there is no reason to shy away from teams who get the benefit of facing them.
Honorable Mention: both sides of the Lakers at Timberwolves contest. The Timberwolves' last 10 games have been bad enough that they fell almost into a tie with the Kings for per-possession defense. DraftKings rates the Lakers as a favorable opponent at all five positions.
Teams on a Back-to-Back Set
First game of a back-to-back: Indiana Pacers
Second game of a back-to-back: Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers
DraftKings.com DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Point Guard
Langston Galloway, NY (vs LAC), PG, ($5,100): Galloway's fan club may be small - I think it's just myself, his immediate family, and the moderator of his subreddit - but our meetings are fun, and we have cool t-shirts. At our last gathering, we were excitedly discussing Galloway's 35 fantasy points against the Grizzlies, Spurs, and Raptors in the past week. With Alexey Shved (ribs) still questionable for Wednesday, Galloway is well positioned for another night with big opportunity.
Other suggestions: Deron Williams, BKN (at CHA), PG, ($5,600); Lorenzo Brown*, MIN (vs LAL), PG, ($3,100)
* Assuming Kevin Martin is inactive.
Shooting Guard
DeMar DeRozan, TOR (vs CHI), SG, ($7,700): DeRozan has been getting to the free-throw line early and often. He has double-digit attempts in five of his last seven games. All of those attempts impact the way defenders guard him and bolster his scoring totals.
Other suggestions: Anthony Morrow, OKC (at SA), SG, ($4,300)
Small Forward
DeMarre Carroll, ATL (at ORL), SF, ($5,800): Carroll is an under-appreciated rotation cog facing a struggling defense, and he also produces profitable daily lines more often than not. Side note: Carroll is also worth grabbing in a lot of traditional league fantasy formats if he's available.
Other suggestions: Danilo Gallinari, DEN (vs PHI), SF, ($6,100)
Power Forward
Thomas Robinson, PHI (at DEN), PF, ($4,000): The Thomas Robinson bubble seems bound to burst sooner than later. How long can a player maintain quality production on scarcely 16 minutes per game off the bench? So, while an implosion seems inevitable, Robinson is cheap enough to gamble on for at least one more night. After all, despite the limited minutes, he has posted 20 fantasy points or more in four of his last five. He's averaging 8.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game over his last six outings.
Other suggestions: Markieff Morris, PHO (vs SAC), PF, ($6,400); Paul Millsap, ATL (at ORL), PF, ($7,500)
Center
Dwight Howard, HOU (at NO), C, ($7,500): Many of the best deals in daily games are players returning from injury, which describes Howard on Wednesday. Unfortunately, despite months of inactivity, Howard's price only fell a couple hundred dollars. Nonetheless, he is a double-double machine when healthy, and he is easily capable of justifying this salary. But beware: this recommendation assumes that Howard has a chance of assuming a regular workload Wednesday. If reports close to game time indicate that he will see restricted minutes, then he is probably not worth it.
Other suggestions: Joakim Noah, CHI (at TOR), C, ($6,400)
INJURY REPORT
Out
Mike Scott (toe)
Derrick Rose (knee)
Patrick Beverley (wrist)
Terrence Jones (ribs)
Kostas Papanikolaou (ankle)
Paul George (leg)
Jamal Crawford (calf)
Nick Young (knee)
Anthony Bennett (ankle)
Robbie Hummel (hand)
Nikola Pekovic (ankle)
Ryan Anderson (knee)
Jrue Holiday (leg)
Jose Calderon (Achilles)
Nick Collison (ankle)
Kevin Durant (foot)
Serge Ibaka (knee)
Andre Roberson (ankle)
Evan Fournier (hip)
Devyn Marble (eye)
Joel Embiid (foot)
Jason Richardson (rest)
Danny Granger (knee)
Darren Collison (hip)
Aron Baynes (ankle)
Game-Time Decision
Thabo Sefolosha (calf) is probable.
Isaiah Thomas (back) is probable.
Cameron Bairstow (illness) is a game-time decision.
Joakim Noah (soreness) is a game-time decision.
Al Jefferson (knee) is day-to-day.
Cody Zeller (shoulder) is questionable.
Randy Foye (illness) is expected to play Wednesday.
Corey Brewer (oblique) is probable.
Dwight Howard (knee) is officially listed as questionable, though some reports have said that he is expected to play Wednesday.
Josh Smith (ankle) is probable.
Rodney Stuckey (calf) is questionable.
Nate Robinson (knee) is questionable.
Courtney Lee (hand) is a game-time decision.
James Ennis (hip) is expected to play Wednesday.
O.J. Mayo (hamstring) is a game-time decision.
Kevin Garnett (knee) is doubtful.
Justin Hamilton (head) is questionable.
Kevin Martin (hamstring) is questionable.
Gary Neal (ankle) is doubtful.
Ricky Rubio (ankle) is doubtful.
Omer Asik (calf) is questionable.
Tyreke Evans (ankle) is questionable.
Cleanthony Early (ankle) is probable.
Tim Hardaway (wrist) is questionable.
Alexey Shved (ribs) is questionable.
Travis Wear (back) is a game-time decision.
Dewayne Dedmon (ankle) ankle) is a game-time decision.
Channing Frye (illness) is day-to-day.
Tobias Harris (ankle) is a game-time decision.
Brandon Knight (ankle) is questionable.
Marcus Thornton (toe) is questionable.
Gordon Hayward (collarbone) is doubtful.
Rodney Hood (illness) is doubtful.
Kris Humphries (groin) is a game-time decision.
Toure Murray (leg) is a game-time decision.
Garrett Temple (hamstring) is inactive Wednesday.
Kyle Lowry (back)
LaMarcus Aldridge (finger)
Nicolas Batum (back)
Chris Kaman (shoulder)
Tyler Johnson (illness)
Hassan Whiteside (hand)
