Wednesday’s main slate on DraftKings features all eight NBA games of the night. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players and below, I break down some of my favorite options at each position.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $333K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Orlando Magic, $9,600
While this is a tough matchup vs. the Magic, who rank second in defensive efficiency, Harden should outperform this salary with Norman Powell (hamstring) missing his first game of the season. The veteran has been the Clippers’ No.2 option behind Harden this season, averaging a career-high 23.3 PPG with a 26.2% usage rate.
Clearly, Powell’s absence creates a large void for Los Angeles and with him off the court this season, Harden’s usage has skyrocketed 8.9 percentage points to a whopping 39% and he has provided 1.5 FPTS per minute. Harden should deliver a vintage performance in this situation, possibly with a triple-double.
Other Options: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,500), Devin Booker ($9,200), Damian Lillard ($8,700), Fred VanVleet ($7,100)
Value
Terance Mann, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Orlando Magic, $4,000
Mann is also an appealing target from the Clippers with Powell missing. Starter or not, Mann should see 25-30 minutes with Powell sidelined, giving him a strong chance to surpass five times value at this low salary. With Powell off the floor this season, Mann has provided 0.9 FPTS per minute, thanks to an 8.8 percentage point boost to his assist rate.
Mann has topped 30 FPTS in two of his last four games even with Powell active, and Mann is a strong punt play that is viable for all formats with Powell missing from the picture Wednesday.
Other Options: Coby White ($6,800), Shaedon Sharpe ($5,600, if Anfernee Simons is out), Amen Thompson ($5,500), Dalano Banton ($5,100, if Simons is out), Kris Dunn ($4,400)
Forward
Stud
Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks, $7,100
This Bulls vs. Bucks matchup carries a huge 238.5-point total on the DraftKings Sportsbook and having exposure to this contest is a must Wednesday. LaVine is underpriced for his upside in this likely shootout and shouldn’t be overly popular in GPPs. The wing is leading Chicago with a 24.7% usage rate and LaVine is scoring 37.1 FPTS per game this season while shooting a career-best 42% from beyond the arc.
LaVine exposed Milwaukee for 37.25 FPTS when these two division rivals met last month and the veteran is amassing 38.5 FPTS per game in totals of 230 points or greater the last two seasons (12 games).
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,500), Franz Wagner ($9,000)
Value
Robert Williams, Portland Trail Blazers at Oklahoma City Thunder, $4,400
Williams a core play for this slate with Deandre Ayton (doubtful, finger) not expected to play, regardless of this poor matchup with the Thunder and their league-best defense. Williams has played two games with Ayton inactive this season and while Williams came off the bench for both these tilts, he operated as the Blazers’ primary big man and flourished, scoring 37.9 FPTS in 25 minutes per game.
Williams is shooting 84% from the field and he is producing 3.0 defensive stats per game this season. The big man is generating an elite 1.5 FPTS per minute and Williams has a ceiling near 40 FPTS on Wednesday, which is incredible relative to his cheap salary.
Other Options: Benedict Mathurin ($6,700), OG Anunoby ($6,500), Tari Eason ($5,600)
Center
Stud
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers, $8,000
Sengun has been a force, with at least 45 DraftKings points in five of his last six starts, and this is a tremendous spot for the center. The Pacers rank 10th in pace, 27th in defensive efficiency and they are allowing the eighth-most points in the paint this season. Sengun is contributing 1.5 FPTS per minute with a 26.1% usage rate this season, and he gets the benefit of competing on his floor Wednesday.
Sengun is scoring 47.6 FPTS per game at home the last two seasons – which is nearly seven more FPTS per game than when on the road – and he is an awesome high-end value at this salary.
Other Options: Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,400), Nikola Vucevic ($8,100)
Value
Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls, $6,000
With Bobby Portis struggling on the defensive end this season – the Bucks’ defensive rating has dropped 10 points with the veteran on the floor and he ranks dead last in plus/minus for Milwaukee – the Bucks’ coaching staff has been relying more on Lopez as of late. The former All-Star has led the team with 36.8 minutes per game in their last four, which has translated into 41.75 FPTS per game for Lopez and a 3-1 record for the Bucks.
The center has been terrific on the defensive end, averaging 3.8 defensive stats per game and Lopez is amassing 0.9 FPTS per minute this season. Given Milwaukee’s recent success with Lopez playing a huge role, he should continue to see 35-40 minutes on Wednesday and this is arguably the best matchup in the NBA, with the Bulls leading the league in pace and ranking 28th in defensive efficiency. The Bucks boast a massive 122.5-point total on the DraftKings Sportsbook and Lopez is a sharp, affordable way to gain a share of Milwaukee.
Other Options: Draymond Green ($6,100), Obi Toppin ($4,900, if Myles Turner is out), Oso Ighodaro ($3,900, if Jusuf Nurkic is out)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $333K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) 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 do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. 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.
