Fair warning: This slate is a mess.
There’s only seven games in DraftKings’ featured fantasy basketball contests tonight, yet it feels like there’s 1,000 injuries and more than a handful of teams either starting of finishing a back-to-back set. I guess it’s just March in the NBA.
The only good news to come out of all this? Value shouldn’t be too hard to find. Let’s dive in.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Network app. You also can follow DK Network on Twitter @dknetwork.
PF/C Al Horford, Boston Celtics vs. Portland Trail Blazers, $4,800
You always have to be on high alert with Horford when the Celtics are on either leg of a back-to-back set, yet with so many actual injuries in the starting five, it feels like Horford is needed on Wednesday. Let’s do a speed run, shall we? Kristaps Porzingis ($7,500; illness) and Jrue Holiday ($4,900; finger) are doubtful to suit up against the Blazers, while both Jayson Tatum ($10,000; shoulder) and Jaylen Brown ($8,000; illness) are questionable. Woof. With both Porzingis and Holiday sidelined on Sunday, Horford made his third straight start and was vital in the victory over the Nuggets, registering 19 points, eight rebounds, three steals and 34.5 FPTS in 35.0 minutes of action. Horford obviously isn’t in the prime of his career, yet the veteran has managed to exceed 30 FPTS in three of the last five games he’s been asked to log over 30 minutes. He can still get it done.
SG/SF Johnny Juzang, Utah Jazz at Washington Wizards, $4,000
If ever there was a night that Juzang was going to find his ceiling — it’s tonight. The Jazz remain unabashedly clear in their intent to tank in 2024-25 and on Wednesday the team will not have the services of Lauri Markkanen (back), Walker Kessler (rest), John Collins (back), Jordan Clarkson (foot) and Collin Sexton (injury management). For those attempting to keep track at home, that means Utah will be down two starters from Monday’s 28-point loss to the Pistons. More than likely, Keyonte George ($6,400; illness) and Kyle Filipowski ($5,500) will move into the starting lineup and be viable in DFS, though the former was added to the Jazz’s IR this morning as questionable and neither is quite cheap enough to be considered a value. So let’s focus on Juzang, who is averaging 10.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in the 16 games he’s logged at least 20 minutes. Juzang went off for a season-high 33.0 FPTS back on February 8. There’s upside here and this is a perfect matchup, with several high-usage teammates unavailable. The Wizards own the worst defensive rating in the Eastern Conference (117.7). They allow the seventh-most FPTS per game to opposing shooting guards. Like I said, it’s now or never for Juzang.
C Kai Jones, Dallas Mavericks at Milwaukee Bucks, $5,000
What’s even left to say about the Mavericks’ season? The last month has been a nightmare for fans and the organization alike and it all culminated on Monday with Kyrie Irving (knee) tearing his ACL and getting ruled out for the remainder of the season. On top of all of the other injuries, it doesn’t leave Jason Kidd with many options moving forward. With both Irving and Dante Exum (foot) unavailable this evening, I’d expect Max Christie ($5,200) and Spencer Dinwiddie ($5,100) to move into the starting five. Both are viable in DFS at their modest salaries, especially Dinwiddie, who is averaging 14.4 points and 5.1 assists in his prior 19 starts in 2024-25. However, it’s Jones that might carry the most upside of any Dallas asset on Wednesday. In his Mavericks debut against the Kings, the former first-round pick collected 21 points and eight rebounds in 34.0 minutes of work. It would not be a shock to see Jones supplant Dwight Powell ($3,800) in Dallas’ starting lineup after that performance.
