Wednesday’s 12-game NBA DFS slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET and offers a mix of competitive contests and potential blowouts to navigate. The Cleveland Cavaliers-Miami Heat matchup features the highest projected total of the night at 238.5, while the Denver Nuggets-Los Angeles Clippers game has the lowest at 226.5.
The only game with a double-digit spread is the Washington Wizards-Houston Rockets matchup, which sits at Houston -16.5, followed by the Portland Trail Blazers-New Orleans Pelicans contest, with Portland favored by 7.5 points. With several variables in play — including wide spreads, injury situations and teams on the second leg of back-to-backs — lineup differentiation and identifying favorable game environments will be key to gaining an edge.
Let’s take a look at some of the top plays and value targets to consider for Wednesday’s slate.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Core Plays
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN)
- DraftKings: $13,000
- FanDuel: $12,600
Nikola Jokic enters tonight’s contest against the Los Angeles Clippers on zero days of rest, which is never ideal, but he was limited to just 32 minutes in Tuesday’s win and draws an appealing matchup. The Clippers have dealt with numerous injuries early in the season and have struggled to find rhythm on both ends of the floor.
The Clippers rank 26th in defensive efficiency, a major factor in their 3-7 start, and have shown repeated defensive lapses in the paint. Jokic should have little trouble exploiting those weaknesses, especially given his playmaking ability and high usage. Expect another strong all-around performance from the big man.
Victor Wembanyama (PF, C – SAS)
- DraftKings: $11,600
- FanDuel: $12,200
Victor Wembanyama is coming off a monster performance, posting 38 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, five blocks and one steal in Monday’s win over the Chicago Bulls. He continues to flash his elite two-way upside and has been a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses thanks to his versatility and size.
Wembanyama faces the Golden State Warriors, who are on zero days of rest after getting blown out by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Golden State ranks just 26th in rebounding rate (47.4%), which should give Wembanyama plenty of opportunities to dominate on the glass and rack up fantasy production in multiple categories.
Deni Avdija (SF, PF – POR)
- DraftKings: $8,700
- FanDuel: $8,700
Deni Avdija may not be one of the league’s most popular names, but the 24-year-old has been fantastic this season and remarkably consistent from a fantasy standpoint. Over his last five games, he’s second on the Portland Trail Blazers with a 28.3% usage rate and has turned that into 28.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.
Tonight, Avdija draws a favorable matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, who rank 28th in defensive efficiency. With his expanded role and steady production, Avdija offers a strong blend of floor and upside on this slate.
NBA DFS Cash Game Targets
Jalen Duren (C – DET)
- DraftKings: $8,300
- FanDuel: $8,200
Jalen Duren is on fire right now and is difficult to overlook at his current price tag. Over his last six games, he’s leading the league with 13.7 rebounds per game while averaging 23.2 points, two assists and 1.5 steals. His activity around the rim and consistent double-double production make him one of the most reliable fantasy options at the center position.
Duren also draws a strong matchup against the Chicago Bulls, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season. With his elite rebounding and scoring efficiency, Duren provides both a safe floor and a high ceiling for tonight’s slate.
Kon Knueppel (SG, SF – CHA)
- DraftKings: $6,600
- FanDuel: $6,200
LaMelo Ball (ankle) will miss his fifth straight game on Wednesday, giving Kon Knueppel another chance to shine in an expanded role. Over his last four contests, Knueppel has averaged 24.8 points, nine rebounds and 4.8 assists in 36.5 minutes per game, showcasing his ability to contribute across multiple categories and carry a significant workload.
Ball is in a great spot again tonight, facing the Milwaukee Bucks in a game with a 232.5 total — one of the higher marks on the slate. Given his volume and recent form, Knueppel stands out as a strong mid-tier option capable of returning value through both scoring and peripheral production.
De’Andre Hunter (SF, PF – CLE)
- DraftKings: $6,500
- FanDuel: $6,100
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without Darius Garland (toe), Donovan Mitchell (rest), Evan Mobley (rest) and Jaylon Tyson (concussion) in Wednesday’s matchup against the Miami Heat. With several key players sidelined, De’Andre Hunter will be asked to take on a much larger role offensively. Over his last four games, Hunter ranks second on the team with a 24.4% usage rate and has shown the ability to generate consistent offense when given touches.
Hunter’s usage should spike even higher tonight, and he’ll see plenty of opportunities against a Miami squad ranked first in pace this season. The increased tempo should provide Hunter with additional chances in transition and on secondary opportunities, making him an intriguing mid-range option with strong upside.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
Jalen Johnson (SF, PF – ATL)
- DraftKings: $8,600
- FanDuel: $8,400
Jalen Johnson showcased his upside on Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers, posting 16 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, one block and one steal.
Tonight, Johnson faces the Sacramento Kings, who are playing on zero days of rest and rank 29th in defensive efficiency over their last five games. The matchup should allow him to build on Monday’s performance and deliver another strong fantasy outing.
Trey Murphy III (SG, SF – NOR)
- DraftKings: $7,800
- FanDuel: $7,700
Zion Williamson (hamstring) will miss his fifth straight game, which means the New Orleans Pelicans will continue to lean on Trey Murphy to shoulder the offensive load. Over his last four contests, Murphy is averaging 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals, showing the ability to contribute across multiple categories.
Tonight, Murphy faces the Portland Trail Blazers, who rank fourth in pace over their last five games. The fast tempo should create plenty of opportunities for Murphy to fill the stat sheet and maintain his strong fantasy production.
Ryan Rollins (PG, SG – MIL)
- DraftKings: $6,100
- FanDuel: $6,400
Ryan Rollins has stepped up admirably in the absence of Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle), who is expected to miss at least another two weeks. This season, Rollins is averaging 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.9 steals, showing he can contribute across multiple categories when given a larger role.
Tonight, Rollins faces the Charlotte Hornets, who are dealing with multiple backcourt injuries. Rollins should be able to take full advantage of the weakened matchup, providing both a safe floor and strong upside.
NBA DFS Value Plays
Duncan Robinson (SG, SF – DET)
- DraftKings: $5,000
- FanDuel: $4,300
The Detroit Pistons will be without Tobias Harris (ankle), Marcus Sasser (hip), Ausar Thompson (ankle) and likely Isiah Stewart (ankle), who is listed as doubtful. This opens the door for Duncan Robinson to log 30+ minutes once again, continuing his role as a primary option in the Pistons’ backcourt.
Over his three games, Robinson has averaged 12.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and two steals in 33.1 minutes. He’ll see all the minutes he can handle tonight, which is especially valuable against a Chicago Bulls team ranked 24th in defensive efficiency over their last five games.
Sam Merill (SG, SF – CLE)
- DraftKings: $4,500
- FanDuel: $4,300
The Cleveland Cavaliers are dealing with multiple injuries, which positions Sam Merrill to log heavy minutes tonight. Over his last four games, he’s averaged 12 points, 1.5 rebounds and three assists in 26.3 minutes. While those numbers aren’t eye-popping, Merrill has shown the ability to contribute efficiently when given consistent playing time.
With Cleveland missing their two leading scorers, Merrill should see 30+ minutes against the fast-paced Miami Heat. The Cavaliers will rely on his scoring and playmaking to help keep them competitive, giving Merrill strong value and upside in tonight’s matchup.
Dean Wade (SF, PF – CLE)
- DraftKings: $4,100
- FanDuel: $3,900
With Evan Mobley (rest) sidelined and Larry Nance Jr. (knee) questionable, Dean Wade has the potential to see 30+ minutes in tonight’s game. He’s currently averaging 21.3 minutes per contest, contributing 5.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
With an expanded role, those numbers could see a meaningful boost. More playing time and added responsibility in Cleveland’s rotation should provide Wade with increased scoring opportunities, rebounds and peripheral stats, making him a nice value play.
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