This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
TOR (-5.5) vs WAS, O/U: 229.5
ATL vs. DAL (-4.5), O/U: 233
IND vs. BKN (-2.5), O/U: 234.5
CHA vs. MEM (-4), O/U: 226
LAC (-8.5) vs. MIN, 226.5
NO (-3) vs. CHI, O/U: 230
CLE vs. DEN (-9.5), O/U: 223
MIL (-4.5) vs. PHX, O/U: 225.5
OKC vs. LAL (-12.5), O/U: 218.5
Wednesday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and includes nine games. Kevin Durant, Paul George and Jrue Holiday have already been ruled out. Anthony Davis, Chris Paul and D'Angelo Russell are listed as questionable. The Thunder will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Theo Maledon and George Hill.
The IND-BKN matchup will be a popular game to target. The Nets' defense has been historically bad since the James Harden trade and they will be playing the second night of a back-to-back after yesterday's disappointing loss to the Pistons. The Pacers have favorable salaries while the Nets will be without Durant again, meaning Harden and Irving will be popular spend-up options. On a nine-game slate, we will almost certainly get late news that opens up some cheap value, so I will have less exposure to the early games. The ATL-DAL matchup stands out as a possible fade as it's likely to garner some popularity with Trae Young and Luka Doncic facing off.
Injuries to Monitor
Kevin Durant (COVID-19): OUT
Durant won't be eligible to return until Friday. Jeff Green ($5,600) could get another start at power forward, but it might also be Bruce Brown ($4,400), who started the second half yesterday.
Karl-Anthony Towns (COVID-19): Towns has missed the last 13 games and isn't expected to play tonight. Naz Reid ($6,300) should continue to start at center.
Anthony Davis (Achilles): QUESTIONABLE
Davis sat out on Monday with tendinitis in his Achilles. Markieff Morris ($3,000) started in his place last time out.
Paul George (foot): OUT
George will miss his third consecutive game tonight. Luke Kennard ($4,300) should continue to start at shooting guard.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (knee): OUT, Theo Maledon (COVID-19 protocols): OUT, George Hill (thumb): OUT
Gilgeous-Alexander, Maledon and Hill will all miss tonight's game. Hamidou Diallo ($6,500), Luguentz Dort ($4,400) and Kenrich Williams ($4,700) will see plenty of run.
Jrue Holiday (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Holiday will miss a second consecutive game as he likely tested positive for the virus. Donte DiVincenzo ($5,200) and Bryn Forbes ($3,800) will probably start at the guard positions.
Chris Paul (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
Paul missed Monday's game with a sore hamstring. If he sits tonight, E'Twaun Moore ($4,300) would be in line for another start.
D'Angelo Russell (leg): QUESTIONABLE
Russell played only six minutes on Monday and his availability for tonight is in question. If he sits, Ricky Rubio ($5,800) will probably start at point guard.
Lauri Markkanen (shoulder): OUT
Markkanen will miss the next 2-4 weeks after being diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. Denzel Valentine ($5,300) and Patrick Williams ($5,500) have started at the forward positions.
Devonte' Graham (groin): OUT
Graham will miss his third consecutive game with a groin injury. LaMelo Ball ($8,500) will get another start.
Brandon Clarke (calf): OUT
Clarke will miss his third consecutive game with a calf injury. Desmond Bane ($4,100) started in his place last time out.
Patrick Beverley (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Beverley has missed the last eight games due to knee soreness but could return tonight. Reggie Jackson ($5,300) has been starting at point guard in his place.
Elite Players
Nikola Jokic ($11,000) and Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,600) are the elite options at center on tonight's slate. Jokic continues to be incredibly consistent while flashing significant upside. He has topped 60 DK points in four of the past five and has games of 88.5 and 77.5 in that span. Giannis has struggled a bit of late, failing to reach 50 DK points in consecutive games while eclipsing 70 once in the past 10. It's easier to trust the minutes and production from Jokic and he would be my pick between the two but there are cheaper and more appealing options at center that I'll be focused on.
Luka Doncic ($10,800), James Harden ($10,400) and LeBron James are the guards with five-figure salaries, while Trae Young ($9,900) sits just below. Doncic continues to be hit or miss. In his last 10 games, he has scored less than 50 DK points seven times while topping 60 in the other three. No games in the 50 fantasy point range really illustrate his variability. Harden is coming off 62 DK points in yesterday's rather embarrassing loss to the Pistons and the Nets will be without Kevin Durant again tonight. LeBron and the Lakers are 12.5-point favorites against the depleted Thunder, but if Anthony Davis sits out again, I'd still have some interest. Trae Young has been the model of consistency, topping 50 DK points in nine of his last 10 games. The only time he failed was last week's matchup against Doncic and the Mavericks, and the two teams will run it back tonight. If you were to run this slate 1000 times, I think Harden hits 60 DK points most often and he'd be my pick tonight.
Anthony Davis ($9,500), Kawhi Leonard ($9,400), Bradley Beal ($9,300), Kyrie Irving ($9,100) and Zach LaVine ($9,000) make up the rest of the 9K salary range tonight. Davis is listed as questionable after missing Monday's game. Still, even if he plays, I won't have much interest as the Lakers are big favorites and there are more appealing options at center and power forward. Kawhi has a great matchup against Minnesota and the Clippers will be without Paul George. I don't have much interest in Beal on big slates when Russell Westbrook is expected to play. The Nets are playing the second night of a back-to-back, so keep an eye on Kyrie Irving's status. He took 28 shots last night in Durant's absence and would be in line for big usage again tonight. LaVine has attempted at least 21 shots in four consecutive games and won't be very popular tonight with so many other spend-up options. Of this group, I have the most interest in Kawhi and Kyrie.
Expected Chalk
Domantas Sabonis ($8,600)
The Pacers will face a historically bad Nets defense tonight. Sabonis has struggled in back-to-back games, and that has likely contributed to his relatively affordable salary. He had been regularly valued in the upper 9K range and even saw his salary hit $10,100 on Jan. 24th. A matchup against the Nets is the ultimate get-right spot, and multiple Pacers are likely to be popular tonight.
Malcolm Brogdon ($7,400)
Brogdon is another Pacer who has seen his salary drop significantly in recent weeks. He had been consistently valued in the mid 8K range, but after three successive sub-par outings can now be rostered for what looks like a bargain in a matchup with the Nets. The game features the highest total on the slate, and multiple Pacers should hit value tonight.
Value Picks
LaMelo Ball ($8,500)
Ball's salary has reached a season-high but don't let that scare you away. He's topped 50 DK points twice in four games since entering the starting lineup. Devonte' Graham is out again tonight.
Russell Westbrook ($8,400)
It's a bit weird to see Westbrook with such a low salary. It's likely due to inconsistency as the Wizards have been blown out in his last two starts. Regardless, I'd expect him to be relatively popular tonight.
Hamidou Diallo ($6,500)
Diallo's salary continues to rise, but the Thunder will be even more shorthanded at guard tonight with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Theo Maledon and George Hill already ruled out. He should see big minutes and get all the usage he wants.
Donte DiVincenzo ($5,200)
Jrue Holiday will miss a second consecutive game. DiVincenzo is coming off 35.75 DK points and played more than 30 minutes for the first time in 10 games. He should see similar run tonight.
Kenrich Williams ($4,700)
The Thunder will be shorthanded again, especially at guard. Williams has played at least 30 minutes in three consecutive games and could even get a start tonight.
Bruce Brown ($4,400)
Kevin Durant is out, and Jeff Green has been starting at power forward, but Brown started the second half of last night's loss. If he starts tonight, I expect him to be a popular value play, so keep an eye out for news.
