This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Wednesday brings a solid nine-game slate, with elite talents such as Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin and Kyle Lowry on tap. As usual, we offer you a good mix of choices across the pricing scale, including a few options that may fly under the radar in tournaments despite their pedigree.
TEAM ANALYSIS
Defense To Avoid
San Antonio Spurs vs. Milwaukee Bucks
There appear to be several good matchups on the board Wednesday for some of the top-10 defenses in the league, but none sets up better than San Antonio's top-ranked unit (89.8 points allowed per game) at home versus a Milwaukee team that checks in near the bottom of the league in average points scored (96.3). The Bucks have struggled to even break the 90-point mark on several occasions lately, and have actually been below that figure in four of their last 11. Meanwhile, the Spurs continue to stifle opposing scorers on a nightly basis, holding five of their last six opponents under 90 points, a particularly impressive feat considering they've faced fast-paced teams such as the Suns and Mavericks over that span.
Offense To Use
New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets
This selection is admittedly a bit off the beaten path, as any time the Warriors are on the schedule they could reasonably be considered the default choice. While they make a fine play, the Pelicans could be a sneaky team Wednesday. The Rockets come in allowing 107.9 points per game and sporting a 106.9 defensive efficiency rating, third and fourth-worst in the league, respectively. The Pelicans have finally started to show some signs of life over the last several games, and are now on the precipice of cracking the top 10 in points per game (101.7). Tuesday night also saw the long-awaited arrival of offensive reinforcements in the form of Tyreke Evans (20 points and 10 assists versus the Grizzlies) and Norris Cole, which means that despite being on the second game of a back-to-back, New Orleans will have plenty of fresh legs to run out against Houston in what should be a high-scoring contest.
Teams on a Back-to-Back Set
First game: Nuggets, Raptors, Spurs, Pacers
Second game: Wizards, Lakers, Suns, 76ers, Grizzlies, Clippers, Pelicans
DraftKings.com DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Point Guard
Reggie Jackson, DET vs. PHO ($7,200): Several point guards have appealing situations Wednesday, including the resurgent John Wall versus the Lakers. While the risk of a blowout in that game could limit Wall's ceiling, Jackson checks in $800 cheaper in what should be a much more competitive matchup. The Suns offer the tantalizing combination of giving up an average of 52.9 fantasy points per game to the point guard position -- including 60.2 over their last five games -- and also ranking at the top of the league in pace and offensive efficiency. Jackson should get plenty of possessions to work, and he has scored at least 50 fantasy points in two of his last eight games, including a 53.75 tally Monday night versus Houston.
Other options:Stephen Curry, GSW at CHA ($10,600); Kyle Lowry, TOR at ATL ($8,600); John Wall, WAS vs. LAL ($8,000); Brandon Knight, PHX at DET ($8,000); Derrick Rose vs. DEN ($5,900)
Shooting Guard
Tyreke Evans, NOP at HOU ($6,600): It's time to jump right in on Evans, despite the fact that he'll only be playing in his second game of the season. Any doubts as to his conditioning were largely erased in a 20-point, 10-assist performance in a robust 31 minutes in his season debut Tuesday. Evans received the start at shooting guard in his first game and certainly earned another one Wednesday, when he'll face a vulnerable Rockets defense that has surrendered an average of 44.7 fantasy points per game to the position over the last five. In what will likely be one of the highest-scoring games of the night Evans should be running on fresh legs and plenty of juice.
Other options:James Harden, HOU vs. NOP ($10,300); Eric Bledsoe, PHX at DET ($8,300); Jimmy Butler, CHI vs. DEN ($7,700); DeMar DeRozan, TOR at ATL ($7,200), Bradley Beal vs. LAL ($7,000); Jordan Clarkson ($5,600) at WAS
Small Forward
Carmelo Anthony, NYK vs. PHI ($8,300): Anthony could certainly be a higher-priced contrarian play at the small forward position Wednesday, considering he missed the Knicks' most recent game Monday with an illness, managed a meager 11 points in his last game, and Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are also in play. The Knicks' perennial All-Star draws an outstanding matchup versus a Sixers squad that finally got their first victory Tuesday, but that are ranked seventh-worst in the league in fantasy points surrendered to small forwards (42.0 per game). Anthony also had tallied 45.0 and 51.5 fantasy points in the two games prior to his aforementioned clunker, and had a 52.75-fantasy-point performance on Nov. 15 as well. The track record, ceiling and matchup are there Wednesday, and he checks in almost $2K cheaper than George at what will likely be lower ownership.
Other options:Paul George, IND at LAC ($10,200); Kawhi Leonard, SAS vs. MIL ($8,700), Danilo Gallinari, DEN at CHI ($7,000); Marcus Morris, DET vs. PHX ($5,900)
Power Forward
Draymond Green, GSW at CHA ($7,900): A virtual smorgasbord of appealing options exist at power forward Wednesday, and you likely won't go wrong with any of the names mentioned below as alternative choices. However, for a bit of a cost savings over some of the top-tier talent, you can nab Green in what should be an excellent positional matchup and competitive game where he'll see major minutes. It's no secret that the Hornets' frontcourt has been a sieve all season versus power forwards, surrendering an average of 48 fantasy points per game to the position, including 51.2 over the last 10. They also give up an average of 11.6 boards to fours, one area in which Green can quickly pile up the stats and boost his fantasy scoring to elite levels. He also has been on fire irrespective of opponent over his last four games, amassing fantasy point totals of 40.25, 51.0, 57.75 and 39.25, respectively, over that span.
Other options:Anthony Davis, NOP at HOU ($10,700); Blake Griffin, LAC vs. IND ($9,100); Paul Millsap, ATL vs. TOR ($8,100); Kristaps Porzingis, NYK vs. PHI ($7,900)
Center
Marcin Gortat, WAS vs. LAL ($5,600): The pricier options are there Wednesday at center as well, but Gortat is the choice for those looking to buy low on a big man that is outplaying his price tag by a wide margin and has a terrific matchup to boot. Gortat has scored at least 33.75 fantasy points in four of his last five games, including a 38.75 tally Tuesday night in the Wizards' shocking upset of the Cavs in Cleveland. The game also marked Gortat's third double-double over his last four. The Lakers have been extremely charitable to opposing centers all season, yielding an average of 52.1 fantasy points per game to the position, fifth-worst in the league. All of the alternative options listed below draw some solid matchups as well, but Gortat may offer the best combination of price and ceiling.
Other options:Andre Drummond, DET vs. PHX ($9,000); DeAndre Jordan, LAC vs. IND ($7,300); Dwight Howard, HOU vs. NOP ($7,100); Bismack Biyombo, TOR at ATL ($4,900); Alex Len, PHX at DET ($3,300)
INJURY REPORT
Out
Harrison Barnes (ankle)
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (shoulder)
Al Jefferson (calf)
Alan Anderson (ankle)
Gary Neal (groin)
Nene Hilario (calf)
Drew Gooden (calf)
Brandon Jennings (Achilles)
Jodie Meeks (foot)
Tyson Chandler (hamsting)
Tony Wroten (knee)
Kendall Marshall (knee)
Carl Landry (wrist)
Jonas Valanciunas (hand)
Tiago Splitter (hip)
Wilson Chandler (hip)
Jusuf Nurkic (knee)
Kirk Hinrich (hip)
Mike Dunleavy (back)
Aaron Brooks (hamstring)
Quincy Pondexter (knee)
Kendrick Perkins (pectoral)
Donatas Motiejunas (back)
Sam Dekker (back)
Greivis Vasquez (ankle)
Myles Turner (thumb)
Game-Time Decision
Jeremy Lin (ankle)
Carmelo Anthony (illness)
Gary Harris (concussion)
