Look, we all know the NBA is the middle child this week when it comes to the basketball hierarchy, but there’s still a massive 11-game featured slate tonight on DraftKings with an even bigger prize pool.
Let’s dive in and find the top value plays for your lineups.
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PF/C Oshae Brissett, Philadelphia 76ers at Oklahoma City Thunder, $4,100
To be clear, Oshae Brissett is not a center. Heck, he’s barely a power forward. Yet, with injuries to Andre Drummond (toe), Adem Bona (ankle) and Guerschon Yabusele ($5,600; knee) on Monday, Brissett was asked to step into the 76ers’ starting lineup and play the role of big man. Yabusele is listed as questionable for tonight’s tilt with the Thunder, and with Philadelphia clearly tanking, there’s a reasonable chance that Brissett starts once again. The veteran has been solid since signing a 10-day contract late last week, reaching double-digit scoring in all three games he’s appeared and averaging 22.3 FPTS. Still, the headline here is Brissett’s usage in that loss in Houston 48 hours ago. Brissett logged 42.8 minutes that evening. Only Quentin Grimes ($8,600) played more. If you’re going to flirt with 40 minutes at a price tag hovering around $4,000, you’re going to be worth a look every single time.
PG AJ Johnson, Washington Wizards at Utah Jazz, $3,500
That’s right. The Wizards have yet another rookie guard playing big minutes in their rotation. Johnson was picked up in the Kyle Kuzma trade with the Bucks and he made his first-career start in Monday’s loss to the Blazers. Actually, that might be underselling it. Johnson started and logged 34.7 minutes of action — the lone Washington asset to exceed 30 minutes of playing time. I don’t see that changing on Wednesday, not with Khris Middleton (ankle) already ruled out and Jordan Poole ($6,800; elbow) listed as doubtful. Johnson wasn’t exactly polished in that contest against Portland, shooting just 37.5% from the field and racking up six turnovers, but he still finished with 22.25 FPTS thanks to eight points, seven rebounds and four assists. Tonight should present a much easier matchup for the 20-year-old, as the Jazz have surrendered the second-most FPTS to opposing point guards in 2024-25. If Johnson sees over 30 minutes he should have little issue bringing back value at his modest salary.
C Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets, $5,000
Let’s keep riding with Hayes, shall we? As I’ve said before, an athletic big man who can finish at the rim tends to be best friends with Luka Doncic ($12,500). So, it’s probably not a coincidence that Hayes’ two games since returning from injury have been among his best of 2024-25. On Sunday, Hayes matched his season-high with 19 points against the Suns. On Monday, Hayes grabbed 11 rebounds and notched 32.25 FPTS versus the Spurs. If Nikola Jokic ($12,900; ankle) plays, the Nuggets will present much stiffer competition in the paint, but Denver is also an uptempo squad that ranks in the league’s lower-third in defensive rating. They aren’t exactly the 2004 Pistons. With LeBron James (groin) and Rui Hachimura (knee) still on the sideline, the Lakers need production from Hayes. I think they’ll get it on Wednesday.
