NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Wednesday, November 5

Maximize your NBA DFS success—discover standout DraftKings plays, injury insights, and matchup-based picks for Wednesday’s 8-game slate.
NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Wednesday, November 5
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Wednesday's NBA DFS slate on DraftKings features eight games packed with fantasy intrigue and injury updates that will shape lineup construction. From Nikola Jokic's MVP-level dominance to Cade Cunningham's breakout stretch, there's plenty of elite and value options to target. Let's break down top NBA DFS picks, matchups, and strategy.

For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, lineups, roster changes and more, head to RotoWire's NBA News or follow @RotoWireNBA on X.

Slate Overview

Visit RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups to find out starters for every game on the schedule!

PHI at CLE: Sixers 3-1 on road; Cavs 2-1 at home

UTA at DET: Jazz 1-3 on road; Pistons on three-game win streak 

BKN at IND: Nets on seven-game slide; Pacers 1-3 at home

WAS at BOS: Wizards on five-game slide; Celtics 1-3 at home

MIN at NYK: Timberwolves 3-1 on road; Knicks 4-0 at home

HOU at MEM: Rockets on four-game win streak; Grizzlies on three-game slide

NOP at DAL: Pelicans 0-4 on road; Mavs on two-game slide 

MIA at DEN: Heat 2-3 on road; Nuggets 3-0 at home 

For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.

Injuries to Monitor  

For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report       

PHI - Joel Embiid (knee), Jared McCain (knee): OUT

CLE - Jarrett Allen (finger), Darius Garland (toe), De'Andre Hunter (illness), Sam Merrill (hip): Questionable

UTA - Walker Kessler (shoulder): OFS 

DET - Tobias Harris (ankle): OUT 

IND - Bennedict Mathurin (toe), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Andrew Nembhard (shoulder), Obi Toppin (foot): OUT

WAS - Khris Middleton (elbow): OUT

MIN - Anthony Edwards (hamstring): Questionable

NYK - Karl-Anthony Towns (illness): Questionable

HOU - Steven Adams (hip), Jabari Smith (ankle): Questionable; Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle): OUT

MEM - Zach Edey (ankle), Ty Jerome (calf): OUT

NOP - Jordan Poole (knee): Questionable; Yves Missi (illness), Zion Williamson (hamstring): OUT

DAL - Anthony Davis (calf), Dereck Lively (knee): OUT

MIA - Tyler Herro (ankle): OUT

Elite Players

Guards

Cade Cunningham, Pistons ($10,200) vs. Jazz

Cunningham surpassed 50 DK points in each of his last three outings, including back-to-back games with over 60, while averaging 28.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 12.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks over that span. He has a good opportunity to keep up the production against the Jazz, who are giving up the league's 10th-most points per game, including the most made three-pointers to opposing point guards. 

Try our DraftKings NBA Lineup Optimizer to discover more expert recommendations, customize the player pool, set exposure percentage and mass-enter DFS lineups.

Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers ($9,200) vs. 76ers 

Mitchell is coming off his second game of the season with more than 50 DK points, and he is averaging 29.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals across his six appearances. He should thrive against the 76ers, who are giving up the league's fifth-most points per game and sixth-highest field-goal percentage to opposing shooting guards. 

Forwards/Centers

Jaylen Brown, Celtics ($8,400) vs. Wizards 

Brown poured in 36 points in the last game, which marked the fourth time he hit the 30-mark in eight appearances on the season. He faces a fantastic opportunity to shine again with a matchup against the Wizards, who are giving up the league's second-most points and third-most turnovers per game. 

Pascal Siakam, Pacers ($9,500) vs. Nets 

Siakam reached the 30-point mark for the third time this season with 32 in his most recent outing, where he also totaled 57.3 DK points. He is averaging 26.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.6 steals on the campaign, as he is doing everything possible to give his injury-riddled team a chance. He should continue to stuff the stat sheet with a meeting against the Nets, who are giving up the league's fourth-highest field-goal percentage to opposing power forwards and the sixth-most free throws per game. 

Alperen Sengun, Rockets ($9,400) at Grizzlies 

Sengun is averaging 22.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.7 steals on the season and topped 45 DK points in each of the last three games, with a high of 50.8 in the most recent outing. He is likely to prosper against the Grizzlies, who remain shorthanded in the frontcourt, and who are giving up the league's eighth-most points in the paint. 

Expected Chalk 

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets ($12,000) vs. Heat 

Jokic is coming off a season-high 34-point effort, which translated to a season-high 78.8 DK-point performance, marking his second time topping 70 in six games this season. He is averaging 22.7 points, 13.2 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.0 blocks per game and has a good chance to keep it up against the Heat, after he averaged 27.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 12.0 assists and 1.5 steals through their two meetings last season.  

Mid-Range Money 

Anfernee Simons, Celtics ($5,100) vs. Wizards 

Simons bounced back from a dud performance with 20.3 DK points in the last game. He is averaging 13.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists through his eight appearances with his new squad, and he has a great chance to step it up against the Wizards, who are giving up the league's eighth-most three-pointers per game and the third-most points per game to opposing point guards. 

Ausar Thompson, Pistons ($6,300) vs. Jazz 

Thompson continues to derive solid value by chipping in across the stat sheet, especially while racking up steals and blocks. He is likely to prosper against the Jazz, who are giving up the league's most turnovers per game. 

Isaiah Stewart Pistons ($5,200) vs. Jazz 

Stewart is up for a second straight start in the absence of Tobias Harris, after he delivered a whopping 59.5 DK points in the last outing. He has a good opportunity to pad his stats against the Jazz, who are shorthanded in the frontcourt and give up the league's third-most free throws per game to opposing power forwards. 

Value Picks

Jordan Clarkson, Knicks ($3,300) vs. Timberwolves 

Clarkson is off to a modest start to the season but has scored in double digits in three of the last four games. He is a player that can heat up quickly off the bench and should continue to get comfortable in that role with his new squad. He should find room to get his shot off from deep, as the Timberwolves are giving up the league's fourth-most made threes to opposing shooting guards. 

Karlo Matkovic, Pelicans ($3,500) at Mavericks 

Matkovic delivered 25.0 DK points in a season-high 15 minutes of action in the last game. He is up for another extended opportunity in the absence of Zion Williamson, and he also faces a favorable matchup against the Mavs' shorthanded frontcourt. 

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dan Bruno plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: duelingdan.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan has been writing all things NBA for RotoWire since 2014. He is an active fantasy sports player, with a love for DFS. Dan is a certified Coach with the Ontario Basketball Association and is a recreation professional in his home city.
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