A nine-game NBA slate is on tap for Wednesday, with eighteen teams set to tip off across the association. Plenty of big names are expected to take the floor, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum. With so many stars in action, narrowing down who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is a difficult task. Here are the three forwards at the top of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings:
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1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks at NOP ($11,800)
Outside of Nikola Jokic, no player embodies the phrase ‘set it and forget it’ like Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP is a cheat code, averaging 60.1 DK fantasy points per game this season. Through 35 appearances, The Greek Freak has posted 31.5 points per game, along with 12.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists. Equally impressive has been the forward’s efficiency, as he’s shooting 60.5% from the field.
The 30-year-old is poised for another dominant outing on Wednesday. This season, the Pelicans have surrendered the sixth-most points (117.9) and the third-most rebounds (55.0) to opponents. During his last eight games against New Orleans, Antetokounmpo has put up at least 30 points and ten rebounds. With such a strong track record in this spot, nobody comes close on tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings.
*UPDATE: Tonight’s Bucks vs. Pelicans game has been postponed due to inclement weather.
2. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics at LAC ($9,800)
Jayson Tatum hasn’t been at his best lately. During Boston’s last two games, the forward has shot a combined 16-of-41 (39%) from the field. Still, the 26-year-old has managed to get at least 47 DK fantasy points in each contest. That just shows the superstar’s massive fantasy floor. This season, Tatum has put up 27.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists on 45.8/35.6/79.9% shooting splits.
Tonight’s matchup won’t be easy, as the Clippers are allowing the fifth-fewest points to opponents (107.8). Still, Tatum is too talented to stop entirely. When these teams met last November, the five-time All-Star recorded 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists (40.75 FPTS). Assuming the forward plays more than 30 minutes in this one, it’s hard to place anyone else at number two on this list.
3. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns at BKN ($9,300)
The Suns are a team in disarray, currently sitting at .500 with a 21-21 record. While Phoenix’s hopes of title contention continue to fade, Kevin Durant’s strong play shouldn’t go unnoticed. Through 32 games, the 36-year-old has averaged 27.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Even as a volume scorer, the veteran has shot an efficient 52.2% from the field (37.6 3PT%).
Durant will travel to his old stomping grounds tonight when the Suns visit Brooklyn. In spite of their poor record, the Nets have allowed the 15th-fewest points to opponents this season (112.8). Still, KD has put up at least 30 points in each of the last two matchups between these teams. The future Hall of Famer should have little difficulty notching another solid stat line on Wednesday.
