This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
DET vs. IND (-5.5), O/U: 217.5
BOS vs. MIL (-3.5), O/U: 229.5
DEN (-1.5) vs. TOR, O/U: 224
CHA (-3.5) vs. HOU, O/U: 224
CLE vs. CHI (-5.5), O/U: 217.5
DAL (-8) vs. MIN, O/U: 230
MEM (-5.5) vs. OKC, O/U: 221.5
PHX (-7.5) vs. ORL, O/U: 214.5
LAC (-6) vs. SA, O/U: 220
ATL (-3.5) vs. SAC, O/U: 236.5
BKN vs. UTA (-7.5), O/U: 233.5
Wednesday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST includes 11 games. Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee), Malcolm Brogdon (back) and Myles Turner (ankle) are listed as questionable after all three sat out on Monday. Kyrie Irving (personal) will miss the next two games while LaMelo Ball (wrist) had surgery and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. With 22 teams on the slate and the trade deadline looming, prepare for a chaotic night of news that will likely open up some unexpected cheap value.
With the trade deadline likely to have a major impact on the slate, I prefer to target the later games to keep my lineups as flexible as possible. The BKN-UTA matchup is a fine game to target on its own, but the fact that it tips off last makes it even more appealing. James Harden ($10,900) will be a popular spend-up option as he always is when Durant and Irving are out, and there are viable value options on the Nets side as well. If, for whatever reason, Harden ends up sitting out the second game of a back-to-back, the SAC-ATL game also tips off at 10:00 p.m. EST and both teams have players with significant upside and favorable salaries for a matchup that features a 236.5 total.
Injuries to Monitor
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Antetokounmpo missed Monday's game due to knee soreness but practiced yesterday and is listed as questionable for tonight. Pat Connaughton ($5,100) started in his place last time out.
Kyrie Irving (personal): OUT
Irving will miss two more games due to a personal matter. Bruce Brown ($4,700) got the start at shooting guard last night.
LaMelo Ball (wrist): OUT
Ball underwent surgery on his fractured wrist and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. Devonte' Graham ($5,300) will start at point guard in his absence.
Malcolm Brogdon (back): QUESTIONABLE
Brogdon missed Monday's game due to back soreness and is listed as questionable for tonight. Edmond Sumner ($3,000) got the start at point guard, while T.J. McConnell ($5,900) saw increased run off the bench.
Kevin Porter (quad): QUESTIONABLE
Porter missed Monday's game with a quad injury and is listed as questionable for tonight. Sterling Brown ($4,500) would be in line for an expanded role if Porter were to miss again.
Terrence Ross (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Ross has missed four consecutive games due to knee soreness and is listed as questionable for tonight. Evan Fournier ($6,800) and Michael Carter-Williams ($5,400) have seen the bulk of the minutes in the backcourt.
Myles Turner (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Turner missed Monday's game due to a sprained ankle and is listed as questionable for tonight. Doug McDermott ($4,700) got the start at power forward last time out.
Serge Ibaka (back): OUT
Ibaka will miss at least the next two games as he deals with a sore back. Ivica Zubac ($5,500) will continue to start at center.
Elite Players
Guard:
James Harden ($10,900)
Harden was a game-time decision last night due to a neck injury, so there's a chance he could be rested for the second game of a back-to-back tonight. He ended up playing 40 minutes and putting up 62.75 DK points despite shooting 7-24 from the field. The Nets will be without Kyrie Irving again, and Harden dished out 17 assists in absence yesterday. Unless his salary climbs to 12K, Harden will always be my preferred spend-up option when Durant and Irving are out.
Luka Doncic ($11,000)
Doncic is the most expensive player on the slate, and the Mavericks have a favorable matchup against the Timberwolves tonight. He's put up at least 64 DK points in three of the past four games, and on an 11-game slate, he won't be as popular as he should be, meaning a ceiling game would be extra beneficial.
Center:
Nikola Jokic ($10,700)
Jokic is coming off another big triple-double last night that saw him put up 71.75 DK points. He's scored at least 64 DK points in four of his last five games and has three triple-doubles in that span as he continues to make a good case for MVP. The Nuggets are facing a Raptors team that will have no answers for Jokic tonight.
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,800)
Giannis sat out Monday's game due to knee soreness but practiced yesterday and is listed as questionable for tonight. His salary has dropped under 11K for the first time in a month, and similar to Doncic, he likely won't be as popular as he should be on an 11-game slate as he always has the upside to be the highest scorer.
Forward:
Kawhi Leonard ($9,000)
Leonard is the most expensive small forward on the slate tonight. He's topped 50 DK points in just three of his last 10 games while seeing low-30s minutes on most nights. I don't see myself paying up for a forward as there are more appealing spend-up options at guard and center tonight.
Expected Chalk
James Harden ($10,900)
With the trade deadline looming and 22 teams on the slate tonight, we are almost certain to get multiple news pieces that will open up some cheap value and make stars and scrubs style builds the popular construction. It's difficult to predict exactly which players will end up being the cheap value, but when Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are out, it's easy to predict that James Harden will be the popular spend-up option. He will get all the usage he can handle, and no matter the matchup, he's a bargain for under 12K in these spots.
Value Picks
Fred VanVleet ($7,900)
VanVleet has scored at least 42 DK points in three consecutive games while playing at least 41 minutes in each. Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell have been mentioned as candidates to be traded, and one of them being out would give a bump to VanVleet's usage.
Terry Rozier ($7,100)
Rozier put up 44.25 DK points on Monday in the Hornets' first game since LaMelo Ball's injury. I'd expect his salary to keep rising as he assumes more minutes and usage in Ball's absence. The Hornets have a favorable matchup against the Rockets tonight.
Evan Fournier ($6,800)
Fournier has scored at least 36 DK points in five of the last six games and is coming off 45.25 last night. The Magic are shorthanded, and Fournier is back to seeing big minutes and usage.
Deandre Ayton ($5,800)
It feels weird seeing Ayton with a salary under 6K. Not only that, he's scored 41 and 48 DK points in consecutive games and should be a decent source of value again tonight against the Magic.
Tyrese Haliburton ($5,700)
Haliburton is coming off his best game since moving into the starting lineup as he scored 28 real points on his way to 37.75 DK points while seeing 36 minutes. All good signs for tonight's favorable matchup against the Hawks.
Devonte' Graham ($5,300)
Graham played 29 minutes on Monday as he assumed the starting point guard role in LaMelo Ball's absence. He's still slightly undervalued at $5,300 for tonight's matchup against the Rockets.
