This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
TEAM ANALYSIS
Defense To Avoid
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks
The Cavs are increasingly tightening up their defensive efforts as the season rolls on, having held opponents to 90 points or less in five of their last 10 games. For the season, they're yielding a miserly 95.6 per game (third in the league) and are ranked in the top 10 in both opponent field goal percentage and three-point percentage allowed. Meanwhile, the Knicks come into Cleveland scoring a mediocre 98.4 points per game, and could be without Carmelo Anthony (ankle).
Offense To Use
Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers
The Thunder draw an ideal matchup Wednesday, as they sport the second-most prolific scoring offense, trailing only the Golden State Warriors, and draw one of the league's most generous defensive units. OKC comes in averaging a robust 107.4 points per game and tore apart this Lakers squad to the tune of 118 points two games ago. Meanwhile, L.A. ranks only behind New Orleans in terms of points allowed, surrendering 107.2 per game.
Teams on a Back-to-Back Set
First game: None
Second game: Grizzlies, Sixers, Mavericks, Pistons, Nuggets, Lakers
DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Point Guard
Michael Carter-Williams, MIL vs. PHI ($6,400): Williams gets to face his former teammates at a particularly ideal time. Not only has he been hot over his last five, scoring between 32.0 and 42.75 fantasy points over that span, but he catches the Sixers' previously-stout defense versus point guards in the midst of a poor stretch. Philadelphia is giving up the sixth-most fantasy points per game (50.7) to opposing point guards over the last five games, as the weight of a 1-29 season appears to be deteriorating the few functional aspects of this squad.
Other options: Stephen Curry, GSW vs. UTA ($10,700); Russell Westbrook, OKC at LAL ($10,400); John Wall, WAS vs. MEM ($9,700); Brandon Knight, PHO vs. DEN ($7,300); Jarrett Jack, BKN vs. DAL ($6,500)
Shooting Guard
Will Barton, DEN at PHO ($6,800): Barton was already turning in a Sixth-Man-of-the-Year-worthy season as a high-usage reserve, but he has stepped up his game even further in extended opportunity over the last two games. He's received additional minutes due to Danilo Gallinari's injury, and he has responded with 58.0 and 40.5 fantasy points, respectively. Gallinari could very well miss out again with his sprained ankle, which would provide Barton with robust minutes versus a Suns defense versus shooting guards that is giving up 48.2 fantasy points per game to the position over their last five.
Other options: James Harden, HOU at ORL ($10,700); Eric Bledsoe, PHO vs. DEN ($8,300); Tyreke Evans, NO vs. POR ($7,700); C.J. McCollum, POR at NO ($6,900); Monta Ellis, IND vs. SAC ($5,500)
Small Forward
Gordon Hayward, UTA at GS ($7,200): Heyward has scored between 31 and 43 fantasy points in nine of the last 10 games, with an abbreviated appearance in a blowout loss to the Spurs serving as the only exception. The Warriors have been vulnerable against small forwards, allowing 50.6 fantasy points per game to the position over the last five, second-worst in the league over that span. The Jazz likely will be forced to increase their pace in this one, and Hayward will need to be aggressive to give them any hope of dethroning the champs on their home court.
Other options: Kevin Durant, OKC at LAL ($10,200); LeBron James, CLE vs. NY ($10,100); Paul George, IND vs. SAC ($8,900); Kawhi Leonard, SA at MIN ($8,400); Tobias Harris, ORL vs. HOU ($6,500)
Power Forward
Dirk Nowitzki, DAL at BKN ($6,400): Dirk often flies under the radar in tournaments, and he remains very reasonably priced despite solid and consistent production. He scored 30.25 and 34.25 fantasy points in his last two, respectively, and draws an appealing matchup Wednesday against a Nets defense allowing 53.2 fantasy points per game over the last five and 51.6 per game over the last 10 to opposing fours, fourth-worst mark in the NBA over that span. Even the back-to-back won't necessarily dampen the 18-year veteran's prospects, as Nowitzki and the Mavs had four days off before last night's tangle with the Raptors, and he also put up 34.5 and 36.5 fantasy points, respectively, the last time he played consecutive nights earlier in December.
Other options: Anthony Davis, NOP vs. POR ($10,300); DeMarcus Cousins, SAC at IND ($10,000); Draymond Green, GSW vs. UTA ($9,000); Kevin Love, CLE vs. NY ($7900); Jordan Hill, IND vs. SAC ($5,100)
Center
Zaza Pachulia, DAL at BKN ($5,700): There are several high-end choices at center Wednesday, but Pachulia presents a cost-effective and likely under-owned option, especially coming off a lackluster 18 minutes versus Toronto on Tuesday. Excluding that game, Pachulia has scored between 30 and 36.25 fantasy points in three of his last nine, 46.25 in another game, and between 20 and 24 in the remaining five. Additionally, with the defensive sieve that is Brook Lopez manning the five, opposing centers are having their way with Brooklyn, as the Nets are giving up a whopping 63.2 fantasy points per game to centers over their last five (second-worst over that span), and a league-high 53.4 fantasy points to the position for the season.
Other options: Andre Drummond, DET at ATL ($9,400); Marc Gasol, MEM at WAS ($7500); Nikola Vucevic, ORL vs. HOU ($7,300); Marcin Gortat, WAS vs. MEM ($6,700); Al Horford, ATL vs. DET ($6,400)
INJURY REPORT
Out
Myles Turner (finger)
Al Jefferson (suspension)
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (ankle)
Marcus Smart (leg)
Willie Cauley-Stein (finger)
Eric Moreland (foot)
Sam Dekker (back)
Jodie Meeks (foot)
Brandon Jennings (Achilles)
Nikola Pekovic (Achilles)
Damian Lillard (foot)
Jordan Adams (knee)
Brandan Wright (knee)
Jerryd Bayless (ankle)
C.J. McCollum (ankle)
Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle)
Danilo Gallinari (ankle)
Jusuf Nurkic (knee)
Bradley Beal (lower leg)
Alan Anderson (ankle)
Nene Hilario (calf)
Quincy Pondexter (knee)
Rudy Gobert (knee)
Harrison Barnes (ankle)
Greivis Vasquez (ankle)
Game-Time Decision
Amir Johnson (foot)
Jared Sullinger (back spasms)
Kyle O'Quinn (ankle)
Carmelo Anthony (ankle)
Mo Williams (finger)
C.J. Watson (calf)
Elfrid Payton (ankle)
John Wall (ribs)
Gary Neal (back)
Drew Gooden (calf)
Otto Porter (thigh)
Deron Williams (hamstring)
Devin Harris (hamstring)
Shane Larkin (concussion)
Paul Millsap (ankle)
Kendall Marshall (rest)
Carl Landry (wrist)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee)
Alexis Ajinca (calf)
Andrew Bogut (back)
Kendall Marshall (rest)
Julius Randle (ankle)
