DraftKings’ main slate for Wednesday features the first 11 games of the night. 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 $333K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, $10,300
The Thunder are depleted right now with Jalen Williams (ankle), Chet Holmgren (knee) and Cason Wallace (shoulder) all out, leaving Gilgeous-Alexander with a massive role. With those three players inactive Monday vs. the Cavaliers, Gilgeous-Alexander went off for 66.25 FPTS in 38 minutes with a 44% usage rate.
The Thunder are facing Cleveland again tonight and Gilgeous-Alexander should have another huge performance. The Cavaliers rank ninth in pace and 17th in defensive rating, and with Williams, Holmgren and Wallace off the court the last two seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 1.6 FPTS per minute, thanks to his usage increasing 2.7 percentage points to 36.4%. Gilgeous-Alexander warranted a salary north of $11,000 in this situation and he is a great, high-end value at only $10,300.
Other Options: Jamal Murray ($8,700), Jalen Brunson ($8,100)
Value
Meleek Thomas, Cleveland Cavaliers at Oklahoma City Thunder, $3,800
Opposite of Gilgeous-Alexander, Thomas is a stellar value play from the Cavaliers. Peyton Watson (hamstring) is out and with him sidelined for the first leg of this mini-series vs. the Thunder, Thomas drew the first start of his career Monday and finished with 28.25 FPTS in 26 minutes.
Thomas notably led the Cavaliers with a 27% usage rate and he should see another large role tonight. Thomas is amassing 1.0 FPTS per minute this season and he should effortlessly exceed five-times value against this beat up Thunder squad.
Other Options: Payton Pritchard ($6,200, if active and Jayson Tatum is out), Duncan Robinson ($5,100), Brayden Burries ($3,900)
Forward
Stud
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors at Denver Nuggets, $8,600
Kawhi Leonard (knee) remains sidelined and Barnes has been dominating with Leonard on the shelf, scoring 52.5 FPTS per game in his last four. With Leonard off the court this season, Barnes is leading the Raptors with 1.4 FPTS per minute and a 32.8% usage rate.
Barnes now meets a Nuggets defense that ranks 23rd in rating this season. The forward should stuff the stat sheet in this juicy matchup and is an excellent spend at this sub-$9,000 price tag.
Other Options: Anthony Davis ($8,400), Cameron Boozer ($8,000), Caleb Wilson ($7,200), Paul George ($7,200)
Value
Mario Hezonja, Cleveland Cavaliers at Oklahoma City Thunder, $3,900
After spending six years competing overseas, Hezonja made his NBA return this season by joining the Cavaliers and the former fifth overall pick has been productive, scoring 1.1 FPTS per minute while shooting 45% from the field and handling an 18% usage rate.
Hezonja has topped 20 FPTS in 4-of-7 games and he is coming off a 32 FPTS in 26 minutes performance vs. the Thunder on Monday, both of which set season-highs. Hezonja’s uptick in production and role were a direct result of Watson being sidelined, which will be the case again tonight for this rematch vs. the Thunder. Hezonja should see 25+ minutes off the bench and he should surpass five-times value at this low $3,900 salary.
Other Options: OG Anunoby ($6,200), AJ Dybantsa ($6,000)
Center
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls, $8,300
Hosting the Bulls tonight, the Knicks carry the highest implied team total on the slate at 123.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Chicago ranks first in pace and second-to-last in defensive rating this season, making this one of the top matchups in the NBA. Towns should flourish in this spot and is a top-five value on the slate at only $8,300.
Towns is leading the Knicks with 1.4 FPTS per minute while shooting 55% from the field and handling a 26% usage rate. The center has eclipsed 40 FPTS in 5-of-7 games, including a 45.75 FPTS showing against this same Bulls team he is facing tonight.
Other Options: Naz Reid ($7,400)
Value
Aday Mara, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, $4,300
With Holmgren sidelined, Mara has been a decent fantasy asset coming off the bench for the Thunder, posting 30, 13.75, 29.75 and 22.25 FPTS in his last four, with that latter outing coming against the same Cavaliers team he is going against tonight.
Mara is a 7’2″ rookie out of Spain and he has seen at least 19 minutes in each of these past four. The big man should see this type of role again tonight and exceed five-times value against this fast-paced Cleveland team. This season, Mara is scoring 1.0 FPTS per minute while shooting 56% from the field and seeing an 18% usage rate.
Other Options: Neemias Queta ($4,900), Moritz Wagner ($4,500), Collin Murray-Boyles ($4,700, if Jakob Poeltl is out), Jakob Poeltl ($4,100, if active)
