This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
TEAM ANALYSIS
Defense To Avoid
San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz
The Spurs continue to hold opponents under 90 points per game, surrendering a stingy 89.2. The Jazz are likely to be without Derrick Favors (back), eliminating a significant source of scoring, while the individual matchups for their two best healthy offensive players don't bode well either. Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood are likely to get bogged down often against the relentless defense of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, further restricting a limited Jazz attack that already plays at a slow pace and only averages 96.7 points per game.
Offense To Use
Charlotte Hornets at Phoenix Suns
While the Mavericks also draw an appealing matchup Wednesday against the Pelicans, Dallas is coming off a double-overtime game Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Hornets face off against a Suns defense that ranks just below the Pelicans as the third-most generous in the NBA in points surrendered per game (106.3), and allows a league-worst 47.5 field goal percentage. They also yield the most points per game in the league to point guards, a position occupied by the Hornets' most explosive offensive player in Kemba Walker.
Teams on a Back-to-Back Set
First game: Celtics, Jazz
Second game: Knicks, Mavericks
DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Point Guard
Kemba Walker, CHA at PHO ($8,200): Walker has been playing outstanding ball and draws one of the top individual matchups of the night. The Suns rank last against point guards in points surrendered (24.7 per game), and have also allowed 8.0 assists per game to the position as well. No other team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing point guards over the last five either, as Phoenix has yielded a whopping 65.8 per game over that span. Meanwhile, Walker has been on fire over his last six, scoring between 36.25 and 63.5 fantasy points during that span.
Other options: Russell Westbrook, OKC vs. MEM ($11,600); John Wall, WAS vs. CLE ($9,600); Chris Paul, LAC at POR ($9,200); Kyle Lowry, TOR at BKN ($8,300); Ricky Rubio, MIN vs. DEN ($7,100); Kyrie Irving, CLE at WAS ($6,500)
Shooting Guard
DeMar DeRozan, TOR at BKN ($8,100): DeRozan continues to be one of the steadiest sources of fantasy production at the shooting guard spot. The 27.0 fantasy points he tallied against the Hornets on New Year's Day counts as his lowest total over the last 10 games, a span in which he's scored over 30.0 fantasy points in three games, over 40.0 in another four and a whopping 56.0 in another. To top it off, he'll draw a Nets defense Wednesday that ranks last in the NBA against shooting guards, surrendering 24.2 actual points and 47.9 fantasy points per game to the position.
Other options: C.J. McCollum, POR vs. LAC ($7,600); Will Barton, DEN at MIN ($7,100); Andrew Wiggins, MIN vs. DEN ($6,400); Victor Oladipo, ORL vs. IND ($5,800); J.J. Redick, LAC at POR ($5,500); Wesley Matthews, DAL at NO ($5,000)
Small Forward
Paul George, IND at ORL ($9,100): After a handful of difficult outings in mid-to-late December, George has snapped back into form in impressive fashion over his last four games. He's scored between 38.25 and 56.0 fantasy points over that span, including a huge double-double versus the Pistons last Saturday, as well as a 32-point effort versus the Heat on Monday when he put up 29 shots. George Hill missed the latter contest for Indiana with an illness and remains a game-time decision for Wednesday, potentially increasing George's already significant offensive responsibility again. Orlando remains middle-of-the-pack against opposing threes, and Tobias Harris doesn't figure to present a great deal of resistance to George on his way to what should be a productive night.
Other options: LeBron James, CLE at WAS ($9,500); Kawhi Leonard, SAS vs. UTA ($8,400); Carmelo Anthony, NYK at MIA ($8,200); Danilo Gallinari, DEN at MIN ($6,900); Bojan Bogdanovic, BKN vs. TOR ($4,700)
Power Forward
Thaddeus Young, BKN vs. TOR ($7,400): While Young's price continues to increase, the inflation is justified. The Nets' power forward has become one of their most reliable sources of scoring and rebounds, and he'll shoulder even a bit more offensive responsibility with Jarrett Jack out for the season with a torn ACL. Young has scored 41.25, 55.5, 44.0 and 52.25 fantasy points in four of his last seven games, with the last total coming Monday in Brooklyn's first full game without Jack. Always a threat for the double-double bonus, Young will draw a Raptors frontcourt defense that has been susceptible to giving up big games to opposing fours. Toronto has allowed 51.6 fantasy points per game to the position over their last five, as well as 21.1 actual points and 11.2 rebounds this season.
Other options: Anthony Davis, NOP vs. DAL ($10,300); Chris Bosh, MIA vs. NYK ($7,900); Kevin Love, CLE at WAS ($7,500); LaMarcus Aldridge. SAS vs. UTA ($6,800); Jordan Hill, IND at ORL ($4,600)
Center
DeAndre Jordan, LAC at POR ($7,800): Jordan is the second-priciest center, just behind Andre Drummond, but he offers the potential of similar production at a savings of $1,200. Since Blake Griffin injured his quadriceps on Christmas Day, Jordan has posted fantasy-point totals of 43.25, 36.25, 33.75, 48.0 and 42.75, respectively. He's rattled off double-doubles in each of those games as well, and a sixth straight appears likely Wednesday. Portland has surrendered 51.4 fantasy points per game to the center position this season, and a whopping 15.2 rebounds, ranking them in the bottom 10 of the league in both categories.
Other options: Andre Drummond, DET at BOS ($9,000); Brook Lopez, BKN vs. TOR ($7,700); Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. DEN ($7,200); Zaza Pachulia, DAL vs. NOP ($6,000); Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at BKN ($5,100)
INJURY REPORT
Out
Cleanthony Early (knee)
Josh McRoberts (knee)
Elfrid Payton (ankle)
Joe Harris (foot)
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (ankle)
Chris McCullough (knee)
Jarrett Jack (knee)
C.J. Watson (calf)
Bradley Beal (lower leg)
Alan Anderson (ankle)
Drew Gooden (calf)
Jodie Meeks (foot)
Avery Bradley (hip)
Wilson Chandler (hip)
Alec Burks (leg)
Rudy Gobert (knee)
Derrick Favors (back)
Tony Parker (hip)
Al Jefferson (knee)
Eric Bledsoe (knee)
Jordan Adams (knee)
Brandan Wright (knee)
Game-Time Decision
Lou Amundson (back)
Hassan Whiteside (knee)
George Hill (illness)
C.J. Miles (shoulder)
Gary Neal (quadriceps)
Nene Hilario (calf)
DeJuan Blair (knee)
Isaiah Thomas (thumb)
DeMarre Carroll (knee)
Joe Johnson (thigh)
Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle)
Nikola Pekovic (Achilles)
Chandler Parsons (hip)
Tyreke Evans (knee)
Quincy Pondexter (knee)
Nicolas Batum (toe)
Jeremy Lamb (wrist)
Kevin Durant (toe)
Wesley Johnson (foot)
Paul Pierce (rest)
