Wednesday features a nine-game slate starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and metrics.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
With Luka Doncic out and LaMelo Ball doubtful, Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the stud point guard to pay up for on this nine-game slate. However, he too is questionable with an illness, so make sure to monitor his status the closer we get to lock. It is hard to envision Gilgeous-Alexander not suiting up against the Nuggets. The Thunder are 1.5-point favorites while leading the Nuggets by a half-game in the Western Conference. This is a massive game for both teams.
Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off a 37-point game in a loss to the Timberwolves. The sixth-year pro ranks third in the league in scoring with 31.3 points per game while shooting a career-high 54.7% from the field. He is priced under $10,000 on DraftKings for the first time since November 22nd, which is resulting in a 95% Bargain Rating and 25% projected ownership.
Value
Bulls new starting point guard Ayo Dosunmu has scored double-digit points in eight consecutive games. He is averaging 15.5 points and 27.1 DraftKings points per game during that time with a positive Plus/Minus in six of those eight games. Dosunmu scored 21 points last night while shooting 8-for-11 from the field and 4-for-5 from behind the arc. Prioritize the super quick point guard on DraftKings where he is $1,100 cheaper than on FanDuel and has a 94% Bargain Rating tonight.
With Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams off the floor this season, Dosunmu has played the second-most minutes on the team and has a +3.81 DraftKings Plus/Minus with a +1.58% usage rate. The Hornets continue to have the worst defensive rating in the league, making this an elite matchup for the Bulls point guard. Dosunmu is simply too cheap for this matchup.
Fast Break
James Harden has recorded a double-double or triple-double in four of his last five games and has been a key factor in the Clippers’ recent success. The team has won 13 of their last 16 games, with Harden leading the team in assists and shooting a career-high 40.9% from downtown. The Clippers are 12-point road favorites against the Wizards, implied for a slate-high 124.25 points. Harden looks great at his mid-$8,000 salary on both sites.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Devin Booker struggled shooting the ball in a very difficult matchup last game against the Miami Heat. He still managed to score 22 points and have eight rebounds with seven assists, but he shot 9-for-23 from the field. In his previous three games before his dud, Booker averaged over 50 points per game while shooting 65.1% from the field and 54.2% from behind the arc. Booker has posted massive ceiling games recently, even when playing alongside Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
The Suns are three-point road favorites against the Nets. Despite both teams ranking in the bottom eight in pace, their game total is currently at 233 points, which is the second-highest on the slate. Booker has a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his last 10 games. Priced under $10,000 on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Booker is a strong contrarian pay-up option tonight.
Value
Drawing by far the most ownership on the slate tonight for DraftKings and FanDuel is Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy. Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively are out, while Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr. are doubtful. Even in a tough spot against the league’s top defense, Hardy will get more than enough opportunity to pay off his cheap salary to negate the matchup. Hardy is a lock in cash games across the industry and is a phenomenal salary saver to fill out any lineup build.
The second-year guard is coming off a season-high 20 points against the Magic where he shot a near perfect 8-for-9 from the field and 4-for-5 from distance. Hardy added seven assists and finished with 37.25 DraftKings points. He is projected to start and play around 33 minutes. In his five previous starts, Hardy is averaging double-digit points with a 22.3% usage rate.
Fast Break
Donovan Mitchell has the highest-projected ceiling at the shooting guard position despite the Cavaliers slowly starting to get healthy. Darius Garland is expected back for the first game since December 14th, but Jarrett Allen popped up on the injury report as questionable with an illness. Regardless of who suits up for the Cavaliers, Mitchell is going to be the top option. Priced at just $9,600 on DraftKings, Mitchell has 12 Pro Trends, which is tied for the second-highest on the slate.
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with Sleeper Fantasy promo code LABS1 for a $100 deposit match.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Leading the DraftKings slate with 13 Pro Trends is Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his last nine games while averaging 23.4 points per game and shooting 55.8% from the field during that time. Given his ceiling, Leonard priced at $8,200 on DraftKings is ridiculous. He has a 93% Bargain Rating and is going to be a popular pay-up option in balanced lineup builds. Leonard has also been much better on the glass with Ivica Zubac out.
The Wizards lead the league in pace at 103.3 and rank 28th in defensive rating. They are allowing a league-high 124 points per game while their opponents are shooting 49.6% from the field. The Clippers will have no trouble lighting up the scoreboard in this spot. Leonard leads the team in scoring with 23.8 points per game, and he is shooting a career-high 52.5% from the field.
Value
Another very popular value play on the Mavericks is Tim Hardaway Jr. The 11-year veteran is averaging 18.4 points per game, which is the second-highest in a season throughout his career. Hardaway is coming off a 36-point game Monday night, which was his sixth time scoring over 30 points this season. He shot 11-for-17 from the field, including five made 3-pointers in the Mavericks’ victory. He will likely need to attempt 20+ field goals tonight without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Outside of his teammate Jaden Hardy, Hardaway has the second-highest ownership on both sites. He is projected for 40% ownership on DraftKings and 60% on FanDuel. Playing these two together will more than likely be the optimal build. The Timberwolves are a brutal matchup for this makeshift Mavericks team, but Hardaway will get plenty of opportunity.
Fast Break
DeMar DeRozan has averaged 46.92 DraftKings points per game over his last three games for the Bulls. In his 22 games played without Zach LaVine this season, DeRozan has seen an increase in every statistic, including his playing time, which is up to 38.4 minutes per game. DeRozan had a 30.3% usage rate last night and we can expect more of the same in this cupcake matchup against the Hornets. DeRozan looks better on FanDuel at $8,100 where he is drawing 30% ownership.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Despite the Spurs organization refusing to play Victor Wembanyama more than 30 minutes in a game, he continues to pay off his salary. Wembanyama has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in 11 of his last 12 games, with his only miss coming against the Celtics, where he still scored 27 points. Even in limited playing time, he has scored 20+ points in 14 of his last 15 games. Wembanyama has four-straight games with a double-double and continues to lead the league with 3.1 blocks per game.
The Magic have been a stout defensive team all season long, but they will be put to the test guarding Wembanyama tonight. They don’t possess the size to contain the No. 1 overall pick. Even on FanDuel where Wembanyama is $10,300, he is worth getting exposure to based on his defensive statistics. He has a high ceiling in any matchup despite the minutes limit.
Value
Grant Williams is one of the most inconsistent fantasy producers in the league, but he is another Mavericks value worth getting exposure to on this nine-game slate. Williams erupted for 53 DraftKings points two games ago and then followed that up with 6.5 DraftKings points the following game. He is a boom-or-bust fantasy option, which makes him best utilized in tournaments even at his cheap price tag. It doesn’t help that over 65% of his field goal attempts come from behind the arc.
With Dereck Lively out, Williams will need to be much more aggressive on the glass. In this matchup against the Timberwolves’ massive frontcourt, Williams will have his hands full. He is the third-best option for value on the Mavericks’ team behind Hardy and Hardaway, but he does provide a ceiling in the right spot, especially at his sub-$5,000 price tag.
Fast Break
Similar to Grant Williams, Kevin Durant has boom-or-bust tendencies. Just over the last 10 days, Durant has two games with over 60 DraftKings points and the rest have all been under 50, with a low of 26.5 DraftKings points against the Magic. He is still a strong tournament play given his efficient shooting and scoring ability. Durant is shooting 53.1% from the field and 45.2% from downtown this season. Can he have a ceiling performance against his former team, the Brooklyn Nets?
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic is another star who is listed as questionable with a lower back injury. If Jokic is able to play, he is arguably the best pay-up option on the slate. He has the highest projected ceiling in our Tournament model and is drawing minimal ownership. Jokic is coming off his league-leading 14th triple-double of the season, finishing with 25 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists. He added three steals and two blocks and posted 76.5 DraftKings points. His ceiling on this slate is untouchable.
A big reason why Jokic looks so good on this slate in particular is the matchup against the weak Thunder frontcourt. They have already ruled out Jalen Williams, while Chet Holmgren is questionable to play. Even with both healthy, the Thunder rank 28th in rebounding percentage this season at 47.5%. This is a great spot that could look even better tonight for Jokic.
Value
Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the center position tonight. Priced under $8,000 on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Vucevic will continue to be more involved in the offense without Zach LaVine on the floor. He is a near lock for a double-double given the matchup against the Hornets. Vucevic will dominate the paint and glass tonight.
Without their starting center Mark Williams, the Hornets are atrocious defensively in the paint. They are allowing 53.7 points per game in the paint, which is tied for the seventh-highest in the league. The Hornets rank 27th in rebounding percentage at 48.1%. Vucevic is the most popular center option on DraftKings, which should not be a surprise. In 18 games without LaVine in the lineup this season, Vucevic is averaging a double-double with 17.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
Fast Break
With power forward and center eligibility on both sites, PJ Washington is a great value on tonight’s slate. The Hornets don’t have much to play for, and as a result, LaMelo Ball is unlikely to play tonight. With so many injuries and Terry Rozier leaving last week, Washington has stepped up. He has scored double-digit points in five consecutive games, including tying his career-high with 43 points against the Jazz on Saturday night. Washington is a little too cheap across the industry tonight.
