On a nine-game DFS NBA Wednesday slate, we have a few teams in purgatory right now because they have multiple questionable players including the Heat and Timberwolves. Besides the usual players who we haven’t seen play in a long time or at all this season, Cedi Osman, Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Mason Plumlee will all be inactive this evening. The only sports-book total above 220 is the Hornets-Bucks game at 230.5. Next highest is the Hawks/Pacers matchup at 218. Let’s get to tonight’s DFS NBA Starting-5.
PG: Malcolm Brogdon: Trae Young’s defense has been ineffective because the Hawks are the worst in the league at defending point guards. Brogdon has scored 25-plus points and grabbed 6 or more boards in 2 of his last 4 games. He took 20 or more shots in both of those games and should take 15-20 shots tonight. It’s a minor pace boost for the Pacers tonight and he’s been shooting over 45 percent from the field this year and posting nearly 6 boards and 6 dimes per outing. He’s coming off of a three-steal game and he’s actually recorded steals in five of his last six contests. The Pacers leading scorer plays over 35 minutes per game and he takes the most shots per game ranging between 16-17. It’s a good spot for him tonight as he’ll produce in four categories and he’ll hit multiple three-pointers as well as he has in eight of his last 10 games.
SG: Terry Rozier: Rozier has been hot shooting from the field in recent games hitting at least 50 percent of his shots in 4 of his last 5 games. During that stretch, he hit the 30-point mark 3 times and he took no fewer than 17 shots in all but 1 of those games. Rozier has nailed three or more three-pointers in each of his last five battles. He provides a bit of rebounding help grabbing 3.6 per contest and he’s dished 4 or more dimes in 5 of his last 6 games. He’s even swatted away shots in his last four outings. Let’s also not forget that he swipes 1.2 balls per game and produced multiple steals in 3 of his last 5 contests. The Bucks and Hornets are two of the top 10 fastest teams in the league and there’s a reason this expected total across sports-books is as high as it is tonight. The Bucks rank 25th in the league at defending shooting guards and between the fantastic shooting Rozier has provided plus the heavy minutes he continues to get, he’s a very appealing option tonight.
SF: Kyle Kuzma: We’re shifting Kuzma down to our Small Forward spot as he qualifies there on FanDuel and DraftKings because Minnesota’s big men absolutely suck at playing defense and Kuzma will be playing in the post a good amount tonight. The ‘Wolves are seventh worst in the league at defending power forwards and Rui Hachimura isn’t ready to play yet. Tonight presents a major pace-up spot for the Wizards and Kuzma has shot at least 50 percent from the floor in each of his last 4 games. He’s notched two double-doubles in his last five outings and he’s been grabbing nine rebounds per game. The biggest sell on Kuzma is the playing time he’s been receiving. He’s played 33 or more minutes in his last 3 battles. He’s scored 13.4 points per game and being that every point matters in DFS, he’s been producing more assists lately as well. Despite only dishing 2.7 dimes per game, he’s contributed 4 or more in 4 of his last 5 contests.
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Hornets simply don’t have the size to contain Antetokounmpo in the post. They’ll be without Mason Plumlee and Miles Bridges and PJ Washington don’t match up well against him and Antetokounmpo should tear them apart in the post this evening. It’s a hefty investment well worth it. He’s grabbed 13-plus rebounds in 4 of his last 6 battles. He’s taken at least 15 shots per game during that stretch. He’s grabbed steals in seven of his last 10 games and he blocks 1.8 shots per contest. Let’s not forget the assist-help he provides as he dishes nearly six dimes per outing. He doesn’t even need 33-35 minutes to put up huge numbers. The Hornets are a bottom five team in the league at defending power forwards and Antetokounmpo is the best the league has to offer at the position. He’s scored 26-plus actual points in 3 of his last 5 games.
C: Karl-Anthony Towns: The Wizards are 19th in league at defending centers and Towns has been scoring a lot of points lately and with other Minnesota mid-court players questionable, it can only benefit Towns if others sit because the ‘Wolves will have to force-feed him the rock. He’s scored 25 or more actual points in 4 of his last 5 outings. His rebounding has been down a bit, but he’s starting to make up for it more with his scoring. He’s taken 15 or more shots in 6 of his last 7 contests. He’s dished over three dimes per game and he’s blocked one shot per outing. He’s shot 50 percent or better from the field in his last 3 games. The Wizards have been shifting their centers around and it will be hard for either Daniel Gafford or Montrezl Harrell to keep up with Towns who will move to different parts of the court and not just line up in the post calling for the ball.