This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Wednesday's 10-game slate begins at 4:00 p.m. ET. Let's begin with the numbers from Vegas.
SLATE OVERVIEW
MIL (-4.5) @ CLE O/U: 217.5
CHA (-1.5) @ IND O/U: 225.5
LAC (-1.5) @ ORL O/U: 210.5
ATL (-7.5) vs. SAC O/U: 233
MIA (-6) vs. NYK O/U: 202.5
BKN (-1.5) vs. DEN O/U: 225.5
CHI (-4.5) vs. TOR O/U: 216.5
MEM (-3.5) @ SAS O/U: 227.5
PHO (-4) @ UTA O/U: 220.5
DAL (-3.5) @ POR O/U: 216.5
BACK-TO-BACK GAMES: Nuggets, Clippers, Hornets, Kings, Nets, Spurs, Mavericks, Trail Blazers
You should use the back-to-back information as a tie-breaker when deciding between two players. I think the Clippers will be most affected, as they played their hearts out and may be spent after their tremendous comeback. The Vegas totals indicate a few favored teams, but I like the Kings, Hornets and Nets as teams with the most pop tonight. I am staying away from the Heat and the Knicks.
INJURIES
CLE Jarrett Allen (illness) - QUESTIONABLE
CLE Lauri Markkanen (ankle) - OUT
If Allen can't make it, there will be more to go around for Evan Mobley ($6,900) and Kevin Love ($5,700).
CHA Gordon Hayward (foot) - OUT
CHA Jalen McDaniels (ankle) - OUT
Kelly Oubre ($5,300) will likely start in Hayward's place, but P.J. Washington is also a candidate for increased usage Wednesday. Also, I like Cody Martin ($3,500) at a deep discount if Hayward misses as expected.
IND Domantas Sabonis (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
IND Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) - OUT
IND Myles Turner (foot) - OUT
Although Sabonis has been upgraded to questionable tonight, Indiana's injury woes appear far from over. Caris LeVert ($7,800) is the clear pivot here, but Goga Bitadze ($5,500) and Torrey Craig ($5,600) are sound pivots, especially if Sabonis remains out.
LAC Marcus Morris (personal) - QUESTIONABLE
There's no word on Morris' status, but his fresh legs would be a great benefit after the Clippers' insane comeback Tuesday night. Terance Mann ($4,200) is my favorite pivot in this spot.
ORL Mo Bamba (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
If Bamba can't go, I'm looking to Moritz Wagner ($4,100), who had his best game of the season in his previous outing. Robin Lopez ($4,300) would also see increased usage.
SAC De'Aaron Fox (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
SAC Terence Davis (hand) - QUESTIONABLE
Davis would have been an excellent call for Fox, but if both designations hold, the usage falls squarely in Tyrese Haliburton's ($7,700) hands.
ATL De'Andre Hunter (back) - QUESTIONABLE
Bogdan Bogdanovic ($5,300) has been upgraded to probable, but there's no word on a minute restriction as of yet. If he's free to play a full complement, he's a good pivot in the event of Hunter's absence. Kevin Huerter ($5,400) is also viable.
NYK Mitchell Robinson (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
Nerlens Noel ($4,300) will start if Robinson can't go. Noel isn't the best pivot around, and I wouldn't give him much exposure.
MIA Kyle Lowry (personal) - OUT
The predicted game total here isn't great, so I am only recommending a pivot to the starting five in this contest. Gabe Vincent ($5,000) will likely start again.
DEN Will Barton (hamstring) - QUESTIONABLE
If Barton can't go, newly-acquired Bryn Forbes ($3,600) could make an impact.
BKN Kevin Durant (knee) - OUT
BKN Kyrie Irving (COVID-19 restrictions) - OUT
These absences prompt a green light for one elite who we will mention shortly.
TOR Fred VanVleet (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
TOR Scottie Barnes (wrist) - QUESTIONABLE
OG Anunoby ($6,800) and Gary Trent ($5,000) are favored pivots if these absences hold.
CHI Lonzo Ball (knee) - OUT
It's another green light for Coby White ($5,800), and the trend should continue now that Ball has surgery scheduled.
MEM Desmond Bane (COVID-19 Protocols) - QUESTIONABLE
MEM Dillon Brooks (ankle) - OUT
MEM Brandon Clarke (back) - QUESTIONABLE
MEM Kyle Anderson (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
MEM Tyus Jones (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
De'Anthony Melton ($5,800) is the best pivot in the event of a Bane absence.
PHO Deandre Ayton (calf) - OUT
PHO JaVale McGee (knee) - OUT
PHO Cameron Payne (wrist) - OUT
PHO Jae Crowder (wrist) - OUT
Bismack Biyombo ($6,300) and Cameron Johnson ($5,000) should be green-lit in this spot.
UTA Rudy Gobert (calf) - OUT
UTA Donovan Mitchell (concussion) - OUT
Hassan Whiteside ($5,500) and Jordan Clarkson ($5,600) are your best calls here. Whiteside is my unquestioned top center tonight.
Monster value plays in this section are LeVert, Anunoby, Cameron Johnson and Gary Trent, with Whiteside as the overall best value.
ELITE PLAYERS
You'll need a couple of elites to bring this slate home, and we'll begin with Luka Doncic ($11,400). The Mavs lost Tim Hardaway to a broken foot, and while that doesn't directly affect Doncic, it does leave a small scoring gap in the rotation, and Doncic is a favorite to fill it. Both Dallas and Portland are coming off back-to-backs, but Dallas sets up better against Portland's starters.
It's an obvious green light for James Harden ($10,200), especially at a salary that seems entirely too low considering the scenario. Denver possesses few tools to keep Harden contained. An elite pivot guard would have to be LaMelo Ball ($7,600) or Dejounte Murray ($10,300) and considering the salary dip for Ball, he's tough to ignore against the short-handed Pacers.
Among the remaining elites, I like DeMar DeRozan ($9.000) and Pascal Siakam ($8,900). While I like Siakam's production better, I am betting on DeRozan to be unpopular on the slate and a much better tournament play. Finally, Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,200) is certainly not bad, provided his injury tag doesn't limit him.
EXPECTED CHALK AND CORE TARGETS
Zach LaVine, CHI ($7,500) vs. TOR
LaVine is already a lock for most due to Lonzo Ball's unfortunate exit, but Fred VanVleet's potential absence makes him a lot more appealing. VanVleet is no slouch on defense, and while Gary Trent has the defensive skills to take down most players, LaVine is a singular talent who can slash inside one minute and leave you flat-footed with a fade-away jumper a moment later. Add in the home-field advantage, and you have a nice night for LaVine, who returned to action with 48 FDFP.
Bobby Portis, MIL ($6,300) @ CLE
I am a broken record with the Portis endorsements, but his salary continues to sit at a value-beating level. A possible minute limitation for Giannis only heightens his value, and while that can affect a lot of other players, it is usually Portis who sees the most considerable usage boost. The veteran has double-doubled in four of his last five games. With no Jarrett Allen, the Cavs become a little bit more vulnerable to a big renowned total from the opposition.
Also consider: Aaron Gordon, DEN ($6,700) @ BKN
VALUE PLAYS
Cole Anthony, ORL ($5,300) vs. LAC
No, this isn't a typo. How can you fade Anthony at this salary, especially against a potentially-gassed Clippers squad that was put through the wringer in the biggest comeback in NBA history? The Magic are also beginning to put the pieces together despite their abysmal record, and while Anthony's salary has dipped due to lower production, he has an innate ability to explode in the right scenario. Meeting the Clippers at home may be the right recipe for success.
Keldon Johnson, SAS ($5,300) vs. MEM
There will always be endorsable elites that you can rely on in every player pool, but the same holds true for reliable value. Johnson fits that bill wherever he is on the slate. While he can betray you occasionally, he will pay off his salary more often than not. He's been able to provide 5x value or more about 60 percent of the time in the month of January.
Also consider: Kessler Edwards, BKN ($4,000), Dorian Finney-Smith, DAL ($4,300)
As you'll notice, I didn't give much love to centers, as I believe Whiteside is your best option by a wide margin this evening. Pivoting to Biyombo isn't bad, but FanDuel won't allow for both due to position limitations. With so many values in the injury section, you should have no problem fielding two (or possibly three) of the elite endorsements we've listed. For my money, James Harden will be the elite with the highest exposure in my builds.
