This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
TEAM ANALYSIS
Defense To Avoid
Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers
With the Spurs and Cavs in action Wednesday, there's certainly nothing wrong with trying to steer clear of those units as well. However, the Pistons are strong defensively as well and will be facing the Sixers on the second half of a back-to-back. Philadelphia certainly put together an impressive performance against the depleted Suns on Tuesday, but they will face an entirely different caliber of competition Wednesday. They'll also be without Jahlil Okafor (illness) for a second straight night, and despite some recent successes, they remain last in points scored per game (94.7). Meanwhile, Detroit remains a top 10 unit on defense, allowing 100.1 points per game.
Offense To Use
Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets
It goes without saying that the prolific Warriors can always be targeted when they're in action, but for more of an under-the-radar selection, we present the Celtics against the permeable Nuggets defense. The Celtics will be at home and rank sixth in the league by scoring 104.3 points per game, while the Nuggets allow 103.8. Denver surrendered 119 points to the Hawks in their most recent game Monday, and the Pacers also put up 129 on them four games earlier. The Celtics have one of the more balanced - and therefore difficult to defend - offensive units in the league and have scored between 109 and 119 points in seven straight games.
Teams on a Back-to-Back Set
First game: Hawks, Nuggets
Second game Suns, Sixers, Clippers, Thunder, Mavs
DraftKings.com DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Point Guard
Isaiah Thomas, BOS vs. DEN ($7,800): The Nuggets give up the third-most fantasy points to point guards per game this season (52.8), and the most by far over the last five games (66.9). They also yield the fourth-most points (23.0), fifth-most rebounds (5.9), seventh-most assists (7.9) and are tied for second for the most three-pointers surrendered to the position (2.5) per game. Meanwhile, Thomas has scored no fewer than 29.0 fantasy points in his last 10, while tallying over 40 three times and over 50 in two others during that span.
Other options: Stephen Curry GSW vs. DAL ($10,700); Russell Westbrook, OKC at MIN ($10,600); Chris Paul, LAC at ATL ($9,700); Kemba Walker, CHA at UTA ($8,800); Kyrie Irving, CLE vs. PHO ($6,500); Marcus Smart, BOS vs. DEN ($5,100); Trey Burke, UTA vs. CHA ($4,800)
Shooting Guard
Rodney Hood, UTA vs. CHA ($5,900): Hood is coming of a 35.0-fantasy point performance versus the Pistons, and he tallied an impressive 46.5 in an overtime tussle with the Knicks two games prior. Wednesday, he'll likely draw some beatable Jeremy Lin defense with Nicolas Batum questionable again, and he may even get a bit less defensive attention if Trey Burke gets the starting call next to him in place of the offensively challenged Raul Neto (concussion). The Hornets have also surrendered a generous 44.8 fantasy points per game to opposing two-guards over their last five.
Other options: Klay Thompson, GSW vs. DAL ($7,000); Andrew Wiggins, MIN vs. OKC ($6,600); Avery Bradley, BOS vs. DEN ($5,800); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET vs. PHI ($5,700); Devin Booker, PHO at CLE ($5,500); Archie Goodwin, PHO at CLE ($4,800)
Small Forward
Chandler Parsons DAL vs. GSW ($6,300): The typical high-end options (Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard) are all in play Wednesday, but Parsons offers considerable potential at a significant savings for those looking to pivot. Parsons has scored between 30.75 and 49.00 fantasy points over his last five and also had a 40.50 tally in another game within the last 10. While his price has risen accordingly, it still presents as very affordable given Parsons' recently demonstrated upside. Wednesday's tilt against the Warriors should certainly be fast-paced, and the Mavs will undoubtedly need to remain aggressive to have any hope of hanging around. Golden State's defense against small forwards has also been exploitable at times this season, with the reigning NBA champs giving up the 11th-most fantasy points to the position per game on the season (40.6).
Other options: LeBron James, CLE vs. PHO ($9,900); Kevin Durant, OKC at MIN ($9,800); Kawhi Leonard, SAS vs. HOU ($8,200); Jae Crowder, BOS vs. DEN ($6,300); Marcus Morris, DET vs. PHI ($5,400)
Power Forward
Ersan Ilyasova, DET vs. PHI ($5,500): Ilyasova, much like Parsons, may easily fly under the radar in tournaments Wednesday, given that appealing options such as Draymond Green and Paul Millsap will be in action. However, both the price and matchup are solid for Ilyasova, who's also been outplaying the current cost to roster him. He's scored between 26.25 and 42.75 fantasy points in seven of his last 10, and has 26.25 and 27.00 fantasy points in his last two, respectively. He'll also draw a depleted Sixers frontcourt that will be without Jahlil Okafor (illness) on Wednesday, and that has surrendered 50.90 fantasy points per game to opposing fours this season. If the Sixers follow their blueprint from Tuesday night's defeat of the Suns, they'll likely employ Jerami Grant at power forward, who helped facilitate a 16-point, 12-rebound effort to Alex Len that yielded 38.00 fantasy points.
Other options: Draymond Green, GSW vs. DAL ($8,900); Paul Millsap, ATL vs. LAC ($8,300); Kevin Love, CLE vs. PHO ($7,100); Derrick Favors, UTA vs. CHA ($6,800); Nerlens Noel, PHI at DET ($6,400); Kenneth Faried, DEN at BOS ($5,700)
Center
DeAndre Jordan, LAC at ATL ($7,100): There's a nice selection of centers across the price spectrum Wednesday, but we'll hone in on Jordan, who'll get a healthy dose of Al Horford's questionable defense. The Clippers will be without Blake Griffin for several more weeks following his latest injury, meaning that Jordan should continue as the linchpin of the Clippers' offense down low. He's coming off a nine-point, 19-rebound effort on Tuesday versus the Pacers that netted 41.25 fantasy points, and he also scored between 28.75 and 48.00 fantasy points in the nine games prior. That span included seven double-doubles and five games where he had more than 40.00 fantasy points. Atlanta should make for a willing facilitator Wednesday, as they surrender the third-most fantasy points per game (52.3), fifth-most over the last five games (64.7) and fourth-most rebounds per game (16.4) to opposing centers.
Other options: Andre Drummond, DET vs. PHI ($8,500); Al Horford, ATL vs. LAC ($6,800); Rudy Gobert, UTA vs. CHA ($6,400); Nikola Jokic, DEN at BOS ($5,000); Alex Len, PHO at CLE ($4,800)
INJURY REPORT
Out
Brandon Knight (groin)
Ronnie Price (toe)
Jon Leuer (back)
Jameer Nelson (wrist)
Jahlil Okafor (illness)
Jodie Meeks (foot)
Blake Griffin (quadriceps, hand)
Andre Roberson (knee)
Kevin Martin (wrist)
Kevin Garnett (knee)
Donatas Motiejunas (back)
Sam Dekker (back)
Tim Duncan (knee)
Cody Zeller (shoulder)
Al Jefferson (knee)
Raul Neto (concussion)
Devin Harris (toe)
Zaza Pachulia (leg)
Alec Burks (leg)
James McAdoo (toe)
Game-Time Decision
Isaiah Canaan (wrist, ankle)
JaKarr Sampson (illness)
Dwight Howard (ankle)
Nicolas Batum (toe)
Jeremy Lamb (toe)
Jeremy Evans (shoulder)
Festus Ezeli (knee)
