When I say there are so many injuries to monitor in the NBA tonight — I mean it. Like, I really mean it.
Heck, the Celtics, Jazz and Heat alone have enough ailments to fill an entire hospital wing, let alone the other 11 teams that are included in Wednesday’s seven-game featured slate on DraftKings.
So, try to keep up with the news as best you can leading to tip-off. For everything else, keep reading. I’ve got you.
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.
Key Injury News
AVAILABLE: Bam Adebayo, Isaiah Hartenstein, Davion Mitchell
QUESTIONABLE: Tyler Herro, Jerami Grant, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Julius Randle, Kyshawn George, Malik Monk, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic, Santi Aldama, Ja Morant, Scotty Pippen Jr., Keyonte George
DOUBTFUL: Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis
OUT: Kawhi Leonard, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Andrew Wiggins, Kel’el Ware, Robert Williams III, Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, Walker Kessler, Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Jordan Poole, Dante Exum, Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, Domantas Sabonis, Alex Caruso, Jaren Jackson Jr., Tobias Harris, Mike Conley
Click here for the slate’s full and updated injury report
Matchup Analysis
Best Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs. MIA (109.1)
- Milwaukee Bucks vs. DAL (109.8)
- Sacramento Kings at DEN (111.4)
Worst Defensive Rating (Last 10 Games)
- Memphis Grizzlies vs. OKC (120.0)
- Utah Jazz at WAS (118.8)
- Charlotte Hornets vs. MIN (115.4)
Fastest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- Milwaukee Bucks vs. DAL (102.7)
- Memphis Grizzlies vs. OKC (102.7)
- Portland Trail Blazers at BOS (102.4)
Slowest Pace (Last 10 Games)
- Miami Heat at CLE (94.7)
- Boston Celtics vs. POR (95.7)
- Dallas Mavericks at MIL (99.0)
Highest Game Total
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies (251.5)
- Sacramento Kings at Denver Nuggets (236.5)
- Utah Jazz at Washington Wizards (229.5)
Top DFS Pick
PG/SG Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards vs. Utah Jazz, $5,300
The nice thing about having a must-start asset as cheap as Carrington is that it allows for so much lineup flexibility. For instance, Carrington is the perfect compliment or pivot to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,800), who could very well go off for another 50-point performance on Wednesday, but is more than twice the price of the rookie. In Washington’s loss on Monday to the Heat, Carrington led all Wizards’ players in minutes (35.2), assists (7) and field goal attempts (15). In a tough, slow matchup, the lottery pick finished with 33.25 FPTS. Tonight’s matchup should not be nearly as daunting. In fact, the Jazz own the league’s worst defensive rating (118.5) and they’ve allowed the most FPTS per game to opposing point guards this season. Jordan Poole (elbow) is out. Malcolm Brogdon (ankle) is out. Khris Middleton ($5,500) is playing under a pretty stringent minutes restriction. Carrington is the man right now in Washington and he’s far too cheap on this slate.
Top Value Pick
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. Call me an optimist.
