Wednesday night presents a four-game NBA DFS slate that begins at 7:00 PM EST. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players, and below, I break down some of my favorite NBA DFS options at each position for Wednesday’s NBA action.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks, $10,500
Gilgeous-Alexander sat out last night’s win over the Bulls, but he should be back in the lineup tonight after that presumed rest day. Meanwhile, Jalen Williams (hamstring) should remain sidelined and Chet Holmgren should be rested, as he has sat out the second leg of each of the Thunder’s last two back-to-back sets. Gilgeous-Alexander should see an even larger role than usual with Williams and Holmgren missing, and Gilgeous-Alexander is way underpriced for this situation.
With both Williams and Holmgren off the court this season, Gilgeous-Alexander’s usage rises 1.5 percentage points to 35.5% and he scores an elite 1.6 FPTS per minute. The Knicks rank seventh in defensive rating, but Gilgeous-Alexander is a matchup proof player, especially with key teammates out and he is the top overall play for this short slate.
Other Options: Tyrese Maxey ($10,300), Keyonte George ($7,700)
Update: Holmgren will play tonight. Gilgeous-Alexander remains the No.1 play on the slate.
Value
Walter Clayton Jr., Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers, $4,800
Clayton Jr. has fit in nicely with the Grizzlies, scoring at least 21 FPTS in seven of his eight games with the club. Just last night vs. the Timberwolves, Clayton Jr. finished with 27.25 FPTS across 24 minutes off the bench. The Florida standout who led the school to a national championship last year is amassing 1.0 FPTS per minute with a 19.2% usage rate since joining Memphis.
The Grizzlies could be understaffed tonight with this being their second game in two nights and this is a solid matchup with the Trail Blazers ranking 20th in defensive rating this season. Clayton Jr. should surpass five-times value and is an easy choice at only $4,800.
Other Options: Cam Spencer ($5,100), Quentin Grimes ($4,400), Jose Alvarado ($3,700)
Forward
Stud
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Hornets, $9,800
Brown will return tonight after sitting out Monday’s win over the Bucks, while Jayson Tatum (Achilles) remains sidelined, despite speculation that his return is coming very soon. With Tatum out, Brown has posted at least 57 FPTS in three of his five starts since the All-Star break. This season, Brown is producing 1.4 FPTS per minute with a 35.7% usage rate, which ranks second in the NBA, only trailing Luka Doncic.
Tonight’s matchup vs. the Hornets isn’t perfect, as Charlotte ranks sixth in defensive rating in the new year, but the Hornets are playing their second game in two nights. Meanwhile, Brown hasn’t played since Sunday and the former NBA Finals MVP is a strong bet for 50+ FPTS.
Other Options: Deni Avdija ($8,500, if he plays),
Value
Aaron Wiggins, Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks, $4,600
If Holmgren sits as expected, joining Williams on the sidelines, Wiggins should start tonight and he will be a core play in that situation. Wiggins has played three games with Gilgeous-Alexander active, but Holmgren and Williams inactive, and Wiggins is averaging 35.2 FPTS in 28.4 minutes per game with a 25.4% usage rate on those occasions.
With both Holmgren and Williams off the floor this season, Wiggins is scoring 0.9 FPTS per minute.
Update: Holmgren will play tonight, hurting Wiggins’ value. That being said, he could still start with Williams out and if that’s the case, Wiggins will be a viable target.
Other Options: Jaylen Wells ($4,900), Trendon Watford ($3,600)
Center
Stud
Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies, $7,400
Clingan has been handling a larger role recently. The center has cracked the 30-minute mark in three of his last four starts and he has topped 40 FPTS in all three of these games. Deni Avidja (questionable, back) could make his return tonight, but he shouldn’t affect Clingan’s playing time and the center should continue to see around 30 minutes vs. this Grizzlies team that ranks 19th in defensive rating and is playing it’s second game in two nights.
Clingan destroyed Memphis for a huge double-double of 55.75 FPTS last month and he brings great upside again tonight.
Other Options: Kyle Filipowski ($7,200)
Value
Dominick Barlow, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Utah Jazz, $4,500
While Barlow was held to just 2.0 FPTS in last night’s 40-point blowout loss to the Spurs, the veteran is in a perfect bounce back spot tonight vs. the Jazz, who rank dead last in defensive rating this season. Barlow has been starting with Joel Embiid (oblique) and Paul George (suspension) sidelined, and before last night’s stinker, Barlow scored 31 FPTS across 28 minutes vs. the Celtics on Sunday.
Both Embiid and George are expected to remain unavailable tonight, and before the lopsided affair vs. San Antonio, Barlow was amassing 23.6 FPTS per game in the first 12 of the season he played sans Embiid and George.
Other Options: Jaylin Williams ($5,400, if Holmgren is out), Neemias Queta ($5,200), Olivier-Maxence Prosper ($5,100)
