2025 is finally here, and hoops fans have eight NBA games to start the new year right. Big names such as Nikola Jokic, Kyrie Irving, and Domantas Sabonis are set to take the floor, so narrowing down a select group to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is a difficult task. Here are the three guards at the top of Wednesday’s board:
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1. Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks at HOU ($9,400)
Life without Luka Doncic has not been kind to the Mavericks, who have dropped two straight games to the Trail Blazers and the Kings. If the team has any hope at bouncing back on Wednesday, they’ll need Kyrie Irving at his best. The eight-time All-Star has been terrific through 29 games, putting up 24.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists on efficient 48.9% shooting from the field (44.5 3PT%).
As good as those numbers are, it’s much easier to score when most of the defensive attention is on your MVP-caliber teammate. Still, Irving has never struggled with a larger workload. Over the nine games Doncic has missed this season, Kyrie has averaged 26.4 points, 5.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds. That includes Monday’s 46-point masterpiece in Portland, in which he shot 16-for-26. Dallas’ opponent, the Rockets, are giving up the ninth-most DK fantasy points to guards, hinting at another big performance from this future Hall of Famer.
2. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons vs. ORL ($10,600)
In both real life and fantasy basketball, Cade Cunningham is a force to be reckoned with. The former number one overall pick has taken things up a notch this season, posting 24.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 9.7 assists through 28 games. Over his last six contests, the Oklahoma State product has recorded at least 55.0 DK fantasy points four different times.
A co-star has yet to emerge on the Pistons, making it no surprise that Cunningham currently has the NBA’s fourth-highest usage rate (31.5%). That workload gives Cade a clear path to production even when his shot isn’t falling. However, that might prove fairly difficult on Wednesday night against the Magic. Orlando is allowing the second-fewest points (103.5) and the second-fewest DK fantasy points to opposing guards. Detroit’s face of the franchise is still a terrific name to have in your lineups, but an expensive price tag might have you looking elsewhere.
3. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks vs. UTA ($8,900)
The Knicks enter New Year’s Day on an eight-game winning streak, and much of the credit needs to go to their captain. Jalen Brunson remains one of the NBA’s most dangerous scorers, as seen during Saturday’s masterful 55-point showing vs. the Wizards. This season, he’s averaging 25.2 points per game on 48.3/40.3/82.5 shooting splits. It’s worth noting that New York’s star has evolved as a passer, dishing out a career-best 7.7 assists per game.
With so many ways for Brunson to pick apart a team, he’s a difficult player to contain, regardless of his scoring. That’s especially true for a porous perimeter defense like Utah’s. This season, the Jazz are surrendering the third-most points to opponents (119.8) and the second-most DK fantasy points to opposing point guards. As just the fifth-most expensive player at his own position, JB could deliver massive value on Wednesday night.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is b.armetta) 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 skill 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.
