Wednesday’s nine-game NBA DFS slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET and brings a mix of competitive matchups and blowout risk. The Chicago Bulls-Portland Trail Blazers game carries the highest projected total at 242.5, while the New York Knicks-Dallas Mavericks contest sits at the bottom with a total of 225.5.
Three matchups come with real blowout potential. The Sacramento Kings-Oklahoma City Thunder sits at -17.5 in favor of Oklahoma City, the Washington Wizards-Minnesota Timberwolves comes in at -16 for Minnesota and the Denver Nuggets-New Orleans Pelicans follow at -13.5 for Denver. With wide spreads, injury questions and several teams on the second leg of back-to-backs, lineup differentiation and pinpointing strong game environments become essential.
With that in mind, here are some of the top plays and value options 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: $12,800
Nikola Jokic is projected as the highest-scoring player in the FantasyPros lineup optimizer, and it’s easy to see why. Denver is 7-1 in November, and Jokic has produced four triple-doubles during that stretch, averaging 34.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 11.3 assists and 1.8 steals.
Jokic also draws a favorable matchup against a New Orleans Pelicans defense ranked 27th in defensive efficiency and 23rd in rebounding rate, setting him up for another monster outing. The only real concern — as with other high-priced studs on this slate — is blowout potential, with the spread currently sitting at 13.5 points.
Tyrese Maxey (PG – PHI)
- DraftKings: $10,000
- FanDuel: $10,000
Tyrese Maxey profiles well in what should be a tightly contested matchup against the Toronto Raptors, with the Philadelphia 76ers favored by just 2.5 points. Toronto has struggled to contain point guards lately, allowing an average of 28.76 points to the position over its last seven games — the fourth-highest mark in the league.
Maxey has been unstoppable regardless of who’s available in the 76ers’ rotation, posting 30.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game in November. The volume, efficiency and matchup all line up nicely for another strong outing.
Karl-Anthony Towns (C – NYK)
- DraftKings: $9,900
- FanDuel: $9,900
With Jalen Brunson (ankle) sidelined for the last two games, Karl-Anthony Towns has stepped up in a big way, posting a 30.6% usage rate and averaging 30.5 points, 13 rebounds and three assists per game. Brunson is questionable for Wednesday’s contest, setting up Towns for another monster performance.
Towns also draws a favorable environment against the Dallas Mavericks, who rank sixth in pace over their last four games. The increased tempo should lead to more possessions and extra opportunities for Towns to keep producing at his current level.
NBA DFS Cash Game Targets
Josh Giddey (PG, SG – CHI)
- DraftKings: $9,800
- FanDuel: $9,500
Josh Giddey missed two games in November due to an ankle injury, but he has looked excellent since returning, averaging 23.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists, one block and one steal over his last two outings.
Giddey has been one of the league’s most productive guards this season and now draws a very favorable matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, who are on the second half of a back-to-back set and rank 29th in defensive rating over their last four games.
Mikal Bridges (SG, SF – NYK)
- DraftKings: $7,400
- FanDuel: $7,700
With OG Anunoby (hamstring) and Jalen Brunson (ankle) sidelined for Monday’s contest against the Miami Heat, Mikal Bridges stepped up with 23 points, three rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals.
Anunoby is already ruled out for tonight and Brunson is questionable, setting up Bridges for another strong opportunity in a game against the Dallas Mavericks with a tight 4.5 point spread in favor of the New York Knicks.
Quentin Grimes (SG, SF – PHI)
- DraftKings: $6,100
- FanDuel: $6,100
With Paul George (knee) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) ruled out for Wednesday’s contest against the Toronto Raptors, Quentin Grimes is expected to take on a heavier workload.
Grimes has been stellar off the bench for the Philadelphia 76ers this season, averaging 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He logged 36 minutes in Monday’s victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. With multiple injuries impacting the 76ers tonight, he could push past 35 minutes again.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
Donovan Mitchell (PG, SG – CLE)
- DraftKings: $9,300
- FanDuel: $9,400
Donovan Mitchell draws a tough matchup against the Houston Rockets, who rank sixth in defensive efficiency, but he’s been one of the league’s top guards all season. In November, he’s averaging 32.8 points, six rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.6 steals, producing at an elite level regardless of opponent.
This game carries a 233.5 total with an even spread, setting up a competitive, high-scoring environment, and Mitchell is a big reason why. With so many appealing guard options on the slate, he’ll likely come in overlooked, making him an excellent tournament play.
Kon Knueppel (SG, SF – CHA)
- DraftKings: $6,500
- FanDuel: $6,100
Kon Knueppel has emerged as one of the top rookies this season and has been particularly impressive over his last eight games, averaging 21.6 points, seven rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals. With the Charlotte Hornets dealing with multiple injuries, he’s stepped up and consistently shown he can perform at a high level.
Tonight, Knueppel faces the Indiana Pacers, who are starting to regain health but have struggled recently, ranking last in defensive efficiency and 24th in rebounding rate over their last four games. This sets Knueppel up for another strong performance with plenty of opportunity to contribute across multiple categories.
Naz Reid (PF, C – MIN)
- DraftKings: $5,300
- FanDuel: $5,500
Naz Reid has been outstanding off the bench over his last three games, averaging 17.7 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one steal in 26.2 minutes. He’s shown he can produce efficiently in limited minutes and can provide a strong fantasy floor.
Two of those three contests were blowout wins for the Minnesota Timberwolves by at least 14 points, so another potential lopsided game against the Washington Wizards doesn’t concern me a ton. Reid has logged 20+ minutes in similar situations, setting him up for another productive performance tonight.
NBA DFS Value Plays
Moses Moody (SG, SF – GSW)
- DraftKings: $5,600
- FanDuel: $4,700
Jonathan Kuminga (knee) missed his third straight game on Tuesday and is questionable for Wednesday’s contest against the Miami Heat, which opens the door for Moses Moody to see an increase in minutes once again.
Over his last three games, Moody is averaging 14 points, 3.7 rebounds, one assist and 1.8 steals. He faces a Miami Heat team that plays at the fastest pace in the league, giving him plenty of opportunities to generate fantasy points across multiple categories.
Trendon Watford (PF – PHI)
- DraftKings: $4,500
- FanDuel: $4,000
The Philadelphia 76ers will be without Adem Bona (ankle), Paul George (knee) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee), while Joel Embiid (knee) is doubtful, creating an opportunity for Trendon Watford to see a bump in minutes. Watford has shown he can produce when given an extended role, highlighted by his 37-minute triple-double on November 8th against the Toronto Raptors, when he scored 20 points with 17 rebounds and 10 assists.
While another 37-minute outing is not expected, Watford could see around 25 minutes tonight, which is excellent at his price point. That workload should allow him to contribute across multiple categories and provide solid upside for lineups.
Buddy Hield (SG, SF – GSW)
- DraftKings: $4,200
- FanDuel: $3,700
With Jonathan Kuminga (knee) and Steph Curry (ankle) both iffy for Wednesday’s contest against the Miami Heat, Buddy Hield is poised for an increased role and more minutes. Hield thrives in transition and spacing, and he should benefit from the Heat’s up-tempo style, which could allow him to rack up points and assists.
It’s important to note that Hield is only a viable option if both Kuminga and Curry are out, so monitoring the injury report throughout the day will be essential before locking him into lineups.
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